Orange Lose to North Carolina in OT

Monday, February 28

Chapel Hill, NC

7 PM

Syracuse University

15-15,9-10ACC

North Carolina

22-8,14-5ACC

OT 1

Syracuse

North Carolina

2/28/2022 9:29:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score Highlights Jim Boeheim Press Conference Cole Swider Press Conference Photo Gallery

CHAPEL HILL, N.C.- Despite Cole Swider's career-high 36 points, Syracuse (15-15, 9-10 ACC) fell to North Carolina (22-8, 14-5 ACC), 88-79 in overtime, on Monday night.

Swider's offensive performance represented the most points by a Syracuse performer since Tyus Battle tallied 37 in an overtime game at Florida State on Jan. 13, 2018.

North Carolina's Armando Bancot produced his 23^rd double-double of the season with 22 points and 18 rebounds.

HOW THE GAME WAS DECIDED
After Joseph Girard III's last-second basket sent the game into overtime, the Tar Heels began the extra session with eight unanswered points to establish an insurmountable advantage.

SWIDER STRIKES
Syracuse came out firing and quickly tallied nine straight points, including five from Swider. A 3-pointer from Buddy Boeheim had the Orange in front, 15-6, with 17:34 left in the first half.

The host Heels gradually got back into the contest and a dunk by Bacot followed by a free throw from Puff Johnson tied the score at 24-24. A 9-0 North Carolina run that featured back-to-back baskets by Brady Manek had the Heels ahead, 35-28. Swider answered with consecutive 3-pointers. By the intermission, Swider had 21 points, but the Tar Heels led, 41-36.

A FAMILIAR SECOND START
The second half opened in a similar manner to how the first had, this time with the Orange scoring 10 of the first 11 points. Consecutive 3-pointers from Buddy Boeheim and Girard, sandwiched around a Manek free throw, pulled Syracuse even, 42-42. A second-chance basket by Jimmy Boehiem gave the Orange their biggest lead of the second half, 50-45, with 13:11 left in regulation.

The score was tied six times over the final stretch of the period. Two free throws by Caleb Love with 6:43 left gave Carolina the lead, 63-60. Swider responded with a jumper in the paint and a 3-pointer that put Syracuse ahead, 65-63.

Bourama Sidibe scored to provide the Orange with a 71-70 lead with 1:13 on the clock. Following a defensive stop, Syracuse ran the clock down under 15 seconds. A turnover on an inbounds pass allowed North Carolina time and Love converted a 3-pointer that had the Heels in front again, 73-71, with eight ticks left. Girard took the inbounds pass, raced the length of the court and forced overtime with his baseline jumper.

OVERTIME TROUBLE
A basket from Manek, followed by three-pointers by Love and RJ Davis, gave North Carolina the first eight points of the extra session. The Tar Heels never trailed again.

NOTABLE NUMBERS

Swider's previous career-high was a 26-point showing for Villanova against Middle Tennessee in 2019-20.
Swider's 36 points were the second most by an opponent in North Carolina's Smith Center. LaSalle's Lionel Simmons totaled 37 on Jan. 9, 1988..
Syracuse hit its first six field goal attempts of the game.
Buddy Boeheim because the second Syracuse player to reach 300 career 3-pointers. Current assistant coach Gerry McNamara has the record with 400.
Girard III moved into a ninth-place tie with Lawrence Moten on Syracuse career 3-point list. Each has 197.
Buddy Boeheim finished with 14 points and advanced into 13th on Syracuse's career scoring list (1,721 points). He moved by Rony Seikaly (1,716).

UP NEXT
Syracuse concludes its regular-season play on Saturday, March 5 when the Orange host Miami in the Dome on senior day. Tip time is set for 1:00 p.m. on ESPNU.