
Copeland Drains Buzzer-Beater!
1/20/2024 2:12:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Sophomore swingman Quadir Copeland drained a game-winning 3-pointer as time expired and Syracuse (13-5, 4-3) defeated Miami (12-6, 3-4), 72-69, in the JMA Wireless Dome.
Sophomore guard J.J. Starling scored 13 of his 22 points in the second half and sophomore backcourt partner Judah Mintz just missed a triple-double, producing 10 points, a career-high 13 assists and eight rebounds. Sophomore center Maliq Brown posted a double-double with 10 points and 11 boards.
WHEN THE GAME WAS DECIDED
With the contest knotted, 69-69, Syracuse came out its timeout with 18 seconds left. The ball found its way to Mintz, who ran some clock before penetrating the lane and dishing out to Copeland on the left side. Copeland released his attempt just prior to the buzzer to secure the triumph.
It marked Syracuse's first buzzer-beating win since John Gillon converted a 3-pointer on Feb. 22, 2017, to knock off Duke.
ORANGE FIGHT IN FINAL MINUTES
The visitors did not trail for the first 16:50 of the second half. With Miami in front, 55-48, and 7:47 left, the Orange strung together an 8-2 rally to cut their deficit to one, 57-56. Neither team led by more than three points in the last five minutes. Starling drained two 3-pointers of Syracuse's four made threes in the final minutes, the most important of which came with 1:55 to go to put the Orange ahead, 69-66. Syracuse went four-of-four from beyond the arc and six-of-eight from the field in the ending 3:56. Of the 2:35 that the Orange led in the contest, 60 seconds of that came in the final three minutes.
KNOTTED IN THE FIRST HALF
The Hurricanes began the contest with a perfect three-of-three from the field to go up 6-0. After some back-and-forth brought the score to 10-5 at the 16:18 mark, neither team scored for a 2:32-long span. Junior forward Benny Williams broke the drought with a lay-in at the rim. Sophomore forward Chris Bell sank from 3-point range to knot the game, 10-10, with 13:07 to go in the half. From then on, there were five ties and four lead changes before the intermission.
The Orange were ahead, 21-20, with 7:15 left in the period. The Hurricanes then produced nine unanswered points, including five from junior guard Nijel Pack. Syracuse responded with back-to-back 3-pointers from Bell and sophomore guard J.J. Starling to cut its deficit to two, 29-27, with 2:36 remaining in the half. Williams hit from three for the last bucket of the half, and the teams went into the locker rooms with a Miami owning the edge, 31-30.
BATTLE OF THE GUARDS
Starling scored a career-best six 3-pointers, including three-of-five in the final 20 minutes. Miami junior guard Nijel Pack tallied 10 of his team-leading 19 points after the intermission, going five-of-11 from the field in the second half.
NOTABLE NUMBERS
UP NEXT
Syracuse is set to host Florida State in the JMA Wireless Dome on Tuesday, January 23. Tipoff is slated for 7 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).
Sophomore guard J.J. Starling scored 13 of his 22 points in the second half and sophomore backcourt partner Judah Mintz just missed a triple-double, producing 10 points, a career-high 13 assists and eight rebounds. Sophomore center Maliq Brown posted a double-double with 10 points and 11 boards.
WHEN THE GAME WAS DECIDED
With the contest knotted, 69-69, Syracuse came out its timeout with 18 seconds left. The ball found its way to Mintz, who ran some clock before penetrating the lane and dishing out to Copeland on the left side. Copeland released his attempt just prior to the buzzer to secure the triumph.
It marked Syracuse's first buzzer-beating win since John Gillon converted a 3-pointer on Feb. 22, 2017, to knock off Duke.
ORANGE FIGHT IN FINAL MINUTES
The visitors did not trail for the first 16:50 of the second half. With Miami in front, 55-48, and 7:47 left, the Orange strung together an 8-2 rally to cut their deficit to one, 57-56. Neither team led by more than three points in the last five minutes. Starling drained two 3-pointers of Syracuse's four made threes in the final minutes, the most important of which came with 1:55 to go to put the Orange ahead, 69-66. Syracuse went four-of-four from beyond the arc and six-of-eight from the field in the ending 3:56. Of the 2:35 that the Orange led in the contest, 60 seconds of that came in the final three minutes.
KNOTTED IN THE FIRST HALF
The Hurricanes began the contest with a perfect three-of-three from the field to go up 6-0. After some back-and-forth brought the score to 10-5 at the 16:18 mark, neither team scored for a 2:32-long span. Junior forward Benny Williams broke the drought with a lay-in at the rim. Sophomore forward Chris Bell sank from 3-point range to knot the game, 10-10, with 13:07 to go in the half. From then on, there were five ties and four lead changes before the intermission.
The Orange were ahead, 21-20, with 7:15 left in the period. The Hurricanes then produced nine unanswered points, including five from junior guard Nijel Pack. Syracuse responded with back-to-back 3-pointers from Bell and sophomore guard J.J. Starling to cut its deficit to two, 29-27, with 2:36 remaining in the half. Williams hit from three for the last bucket of the half, and the teams went into the locker rooms with a Miami owning the edge, 31-30.
BATTLE OF THE GUARDS
Starling scored a career-best six 3-pointers, including three-of-five in the final 20 minutes. Miami junior guard Nijel Pack tallied 10 of his team-leading 19 points after the intermission, going five-of-11 from the field in the second half.
NOTABLE NUMBERS
- The Orange had five players score in double-figures for the second time this season. The last occurrence was against New Hampshire on Nov. 6, 2023.
- Syracuse held Miami to one-of-nine 3-point attempts in the first half.
- Mintz followed up his career-best nine rebounds at Pitt with eight today. He had four in the first 10 minutes of action.
- Miami scored 38 of its 69 points in the paint, including 24 in the first half.
- Junior guard Matthew Cleveland had his fourth double-double this season with 16 points and 12 rebounds.
- The Orange broke a three-game losing streak to Miami with the win today. Syracuse last defeated Miami on Jan. 19, 2021, 83-57.
- The Hurricanes played without starting forward Norchad Omier, who missed the contest with an injury.
- Syracuse improved its record to 21-12 in the series against Miami and 11-2 in games played in the Dome.
UP NEXT
Syracuse is set to host Florida State in the JMA Wireless Dome on Tuesday, January 23. Tipoff is slated for 7 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).
Team Stats
UM
SU
FG%
.492
.397
3FG%
.348
.375
FT%
.600
.667
RB
34
37
TO
12
8
STL
3
7
Game Leaders
Players Mentioned
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Wednesday, October 15
ACC Tipoff Recap
Wednesday, October 08
ACC Tipoff | Freeman & Starling
Tuesday, October 07
ACC Tipoff | Adrian Autry on ACCN
Tuesday, October 07