Syracuse Topped By Texas Tech At Legends Classic
11/22/2024 8:50:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Chris Bell and J.J. Starling combined for 49 points Friday night for Syracuse (3-2) against Texas Tech (5-1) in the third-place game of the UKG Legends Classic at the Barclays Center, but the Orange dropped a tight battle to the Red Raiders, 79-74.
How The Game Was Decided
With the score tied at 38-38 early in the second half, Texas Tech launched a 21-9 run to take control of the contest. Chance McMillan ignited the stretch for the Red Raiders with consecutive 3-pointers. The Orange clawed back to within four before a JT Toppin dunk and five unanswered points from Darrion Williams moved Texas Tech ahead, 55-44.
The Red Raiders extended the advantage to 59-47, their largest lead of the game, with 8:50 left on the clock after Toppin hit a jumper and Kevin Overton delivered a pair of made free throws. Although the Orange trimmed the margin to as few as five, Texas Tech did not surrender the lead the remainder of the game.
Orange Fight Back
Syracuse chipped away at the Texas Tech's advantage down the stretch. An Elijah Moore layup with 5:32 remaining cut the Red Raiders lead to five, which Starling matched on the next Orange possession with a pair of free throws to make the score 66-61.
Although the Orange could not get closer than five in the closing minutes, they had opportunities to make it a one-possession game late. Moore missed a free throw with 1:54 on the clock that would have made it a four-point deficit, and Bell rimmed out a corner triple on the next Orange possession that could have brought Syracuse within two. After Bell's miss, Williams delivered a basket on the next Texas Tech trip to push the margin back to seven with just over a minute left.
Starling Closes First Half Strong
Starling helped the Orange erase a seven-point deficit late in the first half. With Syracuse trailing, 19-16, Starling tied the game with a triple. Texas Tech followed with a 10-3 run before Starling converted a layup to get the Orange back within five.
On the next Syracuse possession, Starling scored another basket to make the score 29-26. After a Texas Tech layup, Bell made a pair of free throws to narrow it to 31-28 game. Following a Syracuse timeout with 56 seconds remaining in the period, Starling knocked down a step-back triple to even things up, 31-31, going into intermission.
Seesaw Start
The Orange and Red Raiders traded early baskets and momentum in the opening stages of the first half, with the first 10 minutes of action featuring five ties. Toppin opened the scoring for Texas Tech with a bucket before Syracuse answered with five straight via a Starling layup and a Bell 3-pointer. The Red Raiders retook a 7-5 advantage before Jaquan Carlos again knotted the score with a pull-up jumper.
Syracuse drew even again, 9-9, after Eddie Lampkin Jr. hit a hook shot. Texas Tech scored the next five points, but the Orange answered with a 7-2 run capped by a Starling layup to again level the score, 16-16.
Notable Numbers
Syracuse returns home to the JMA Wireless Dome on Nov. 27 to face Cornell on ACC Network Extra. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m.
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 X (@Cuse_MBB) and Instagram (@cuse_mbb).
How The Game Was Decided
With the score tied at 38-38 early in the second half, Texas Tech launched a 21-9 run to take control of the contest. Chance McMillan ignited the stretch for the Red Raiders with consecutive 3-pointers. The Orange clawed back to within four before a JT Toppin dunk and five unanswered points from Darrion Williams moved Texas Tech ahead, 55-44.
The Red Raiders extended the advantage to 59-47, their largest lead of the game, with 8:50 left on the clock after Toppin hit a jumper and Kevin Overton delivered a pair of made free throws. Although the Orange trimmed the margin to as few as five, Texas Tech did not surrender the lead the remainder of the game.
Orange Fight Back
Syracuse chipped away at the Texas Tech's advantage down the stretch. An Elijah Moore layup with 5:32 remaining cut the Red Raiders lead to five, which Starling matched on the next Orange possession with a pair of free throws to make the score 66-61.
Although the Orange could not get closer than five in the closing minutes, they had opportunities to make it a one-possession game late. Moore missed a free throw with 1:54 on the clock that would have made it a four-point deficit, and Bell rimmed out a corner triple on the next Orange possession that could have brought Syracuse within two. After Bell's miss, Williams delivered a basket on the next Texas Tech trip to push the margin back to seven with just over a minute left.
Starling Closes First Half Strong
Starling helped the Orange erase a seven-point deficit late in the first half. With Syracuse trailing, 19-16, Starling tied the game with a triple. Texas Tech followed with a 10-3 run before Starling converted a layup to get the Orange back within five.
On the next Syracuse possession, Starling scored another basket to make the score 29-26. After a Texas Tech layup, Bell made a pair of free throws to narrow it to 31-28 game. Following a Syracuse timeout with 56 seconds remaining in the period, Starling knocked down a step-back triple to even things up, 31-31, going into intermission.
Seesaw Start
The Orange and Red Raiders traded early baskets and momentum in the opening stages of the first half, with the first 10 minutes of action featuring five ties. Toppin opened the scoring for Texas Tech with a bucket before Syracuse answered with five straight via a Starling layup and a Bell 3-pointer. The Red Raiders retook a 7-5 advantage before Jaquan Carlos again knotted the score with a pull-up jumper.
Syracuse drew even again, 9-9, after Eddie Lampkin Jr. hit a hook shot. Texas Tech scored the next five points, but the Orange answered with a 7-2 run capped by a Starling layup to again level the score, 16-16.
Notable Numbers
- Starling continued his torrid scoring Friday, as the junior guard paced the Orange with 27 points. He went 9-of-15 from the field and made seven foul shots to lead Syracuse in scoring for the third straight contest.
- Starling was the game's leading scorer in the first half with 14 points. He made 6-of-8 field goal attempts in the period, which included a pair of 3-pointers.
- Bell's 22 points set a new season high. He went 11-for-11 on free throws, which were career bests in both makes and attempts, and knocked down three triples, his first time making at least three in a game this season.
- Freshman Elijah Moore also notched a career-best eight points off the bench. He went 3-of-5 from the field, which included a corner 3-pointer in the first half.
- Donnie Freeman pulled down 13 boards to register a new career high. It was his third double-digit rebound effort this season.
- Syracuse's third freshman also made an impact off the bench, as Petar Majstorovic grabbed a career-best six rebounds in 11 minutes of action.
- Lampkin Jr. added eight rebounds, including a team-high four on the offensive glass.
- Syracuse won the battle on the glass, 39-30. The Orange pulled down 10 offensive boards.
- The Orange shot a season-best 85.7% from the line, finishing with a 24-of-28 effort.
- Williams led the Red Raiders in scoring with 20 points in 24 minutes. Three more Texas Tech players reached double figures
Syracuse returns home to the JMA Wireless Dome on Nov. 27 to face Cornell on ACC Network Extra. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m.
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 X (@Cuse_MBB) and Instagram (@cuse_mbb).
Team Stats
SU
TTU
FG%
.415
.429
3FG%
.286
.333
FT%
.857
.810
RB
39
30
TO
12
3
STL
3
6
Game Leaders
Players Mentioned
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