Syracuse Earns Season Sweep Of Pitt

Tuesday, January 16

Pittsburgh, PA

7 PM

Syracuse University

12-5,3-3ACC

Pittsburgh

10-7,1-5ACC

Syracuse

Pittsburgh

1/16/2024 9:16:00 PM | Men's Basketball

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The Orange made 10-of-17 (.588) 3-pointers, their best performance from beyond the arc this season, and Syracuse (12-5, 3-3) took down Pittsburgh (10-7, 1-5) in the Peterson Events Center, 69-58.

Three Syracuse performers scored in double-figures: sophomore guards J.J. Starling (17 points) and Judah Mintz (14), and sophomore forward Chris Bell (10). Mintz grabbed a career-best nine rebounds to lead the team.

The win earned the Orange a regular-season sweep of the home-and-home series with the Panthers and gave the squad their first road ACC win this season.

Pitt guard Jaland Lowe, a freshman, scored 16 of his career-high 20 points in the second half to help keep the Panthers within reach.

WHEN THE GAME WAS DECIDED
With 18 minutes left in the contest, the Orange were in front, 42-29. The Panthers narrowed the gap to eight points with a 7-2 run, four of which came from Lowe. The Syracuse defense stepped up, forcing a 4:12-long Pitt scoring drought while the Orange produced seven unanswered points to extend their advantage to 51-36. Lowe scored the next 12 of Pitt's 17 points to bring the Panthers within nine, 62-53, with 3:44 to go. Mintz and Starling each made two at the line and Starling cashed one from deep to put the Orange ahead, 69-53, and cement the victory.

SYRACUSE STRENGTH FROM BOTH SIDES
Syracuse held the top 3-point shooting team in the ACC to five-of-26 (.192) from long range and 1-of-12 in the final 20 minutes. The Orange defense limited the Panthers to just two field goals and two made free throws in the final 10 minutes of the first half.

The Orange squad also made their shots, shooting 15-of-29 (.517) from the field and scoring six-of-10 (.600) from long range in the first half. Syracuse also converted eight-of-ten free throw attempts in the second half.

ORANGE SURGE LATE IN FIRST HALF
Syracuse trailed Pitt 11-10 at the 15:29 mark in the first half. The only field goal for either side in the next 2:42 of the contest was a driving layup from Mintz that gave Syracuse a slight edge, 12-11. After a bucket from sophomore guard Kyle Cuffe Jr., the Panthers made three consecutive 3-pointers to take back the lead, 20-14, with 10:19 to go in the half.

Syracuse responded with stout defense, holding Pitt without a point for a 3:57 span and scoring nine in the meantime. The Orange strung together an 11-4 run to take a double-digit advantage with 2:41 before the end of the half, 34-24. The teams went into the intermission with Syracuse ahead, 37-26. Sophomore guard J.J. Starling extended the Syracuse lead, 40-26, with a bucket from beyond the arc to start the second half.

LOWE KEEPS PANTHERS IN REACH
Lowe scored 16 of Pitt's 32 points in the second half to help keep Pitt in contention. With the Orange ahead 15, Lowe sparked an 8-2 rally, scoring all eight points, to bring Pitt within nine with 3:44 left. Lowe went seven-of-13 from the field in the second half and made both of his shots from the line.

NOTABLE NUMBERS

Seven different Syracuse players made at least one 3-pointer: Starling (2), Bell (2), sophomore forward Justin Taylor (2), Mintz (1), Cuffe Jr. (1), junior forward Benny Williams (1) and sophomore swingman Quadir Copeland (1).
Mintz and Brown came into the week tied for first in the ACC in steals per game with 2.19. Each of them had two steals in the affair.
The Orange dished nine assists and gave up just two turnovers in the first half.
Bell's 10 points marks his third consecutive game in double-figures. He is nine-of-15 on 3-point shots over the three-game span.
Lowe (20 points) and senior forward Blake Hinson (12) combined for 32 of Pitt's 58 points. Hinson came into the week with the third most points per game in the ACC (18.4 ppg).
Syracuse improved to 76-50 in the all-time series against Pitt.
Pitt is the third most frequent opponent and most repeated ACC foe for Syracuse.

UP NEXT
Syracuse returns to the JMA Wireless Dome to face Miami on Saturday, January 20. Tipoff is set for 12 p.m. and the game will be televised on ESPN2.

TICKETS
Syracuse men's basketball tickets are available online (cuse.com/tickets), by phone (1-888-DOMETIX), and at the Dome Box Office (Gate B).

For complete coverage of Syracuse men's basketball, follow the team on Twitter (@Cuse_MBB) and Instagram (@cuse_mbb).

Gallery: (1-16-2024) Syracuse vs Pitt