Orange Knock Off #7/5 Tar Heels

Tuesday, February 13

Syracuse, N.Y.

7 PM

Syracuse University

16-9,7-7ACC

North Carolina

19-6,11-3ACC

North Carolina

Syracuse

2/13/2024 9:17:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score Highlights Adrian Autry Press Conference Maliq Brown Interview Judah Mintz Interview Photo Gallery

Syracuse (16-9, 7-7 ACC) avenged an early-season, 36-point loss at North Carolina (19-6, 11-3), and toppled a top-10 team for the first time since 2019 by defeating the #7/5 Tar Heels, 86-79, on Tuesday night in the JMA Wireless Dome.

The Orange shot a blistering 30-of-48 (.625) from the field, the program's top mark since converting .715 (45-of-63) in a 2011 win against DePaul.

The sophomore backcourt duo of Judah Mintz (25 points) and J.J. Starling (23) combined for 48 points of Syracuse's 86 points, leading four players in double digit scoring for the Orange. Sophomore center Maliq Brown produced 14 points and sophomore forward Chris Bell added 13.

The Tar Heels, who entered the game atop of the ACC standings, had four performers score in double-figures: senior guard RJ Davis (19 points), graduate guard Cormac Ryan (18), graduate center Armando Bacot (14) and junior forward Harrison Ingram (14).

WHEN THE GAME WAS DECIDED
Visiting North Carolina had a slight edge, 65-64, with 7:16 to go in the contest before the Orange offense erupted. Mintz and Starling each contributed six in a 12-4 run that put the Orange in front, 76-69, with 2:47 to go. Syracuse extended its lead to as many as eight points before the Tar Heels made one last run. North Carolina came within four with 39 seconds on the clock after Ryan hit a 3-pointer and Ingram made a second-chance bucket. The Orange converted five-of-eight from the charity stripe over the final 38 seconds to secure the win.

SHOTS WERE FALLING
Syracuse made over 60-percent of its shots in both halves. In the first half, the Orange converted 17-of-27 (.630) from the field. The efficient shooting continued over the final 20 minutes when the Orange connected on 13-of-21 (.619).

ORANGE START HOT
In the first eight minutes of the game, Syracuse made eight-of-12 (.667) field goals while holding the Tar Heels to just five-of-13 (.385) from the field. Syracuse also converted three-of-five (.600) 3-point attempts in the early goings, two of which came from sophomore center Maliq Brown - a career-best for the big man. The scoring differential allowed the Orange to go on an 11-2 run and hold a 10-point lead, 23-13, with 11:31 to go in the first half.

The Tar Heels clawed back into the game with an 11-2 run of their own, including six points in a 1:16 span. The rally cut North Carolina's deficit to one, 32-31, with 5:18 to go before halftime. After two made shots from the line by Mintz, the visitors made back-to-back 3-pointers to take back the lead, 37-34, with 3:59 remaining in the opening frame. The squads traded baskets until Starling made two consecutive mid-range jumpers to knot the game at 42. Syracuse held North Carolina scoreless in the final 2:07 of the half and the teams went into the break with the score even.

SYRACUSE GOES AHEAD AND HOLDS ON
The Orange opened the final period with 3-pointers from Bell and Starling to go in front, 48-42. The two 3-pointers ignited a 10-1 run in the first five minutes of the second half for the Orange.The Tar Heels broke their drought with consecutive 3-pointers to cut the deficit to three, 52-49, with 13:51 remaining. North Carolina made five straight points with a Ryan jumper and a conventional three-point play from Davis that evened the game at 58-58 with 10:02 to go. Once the Orange took a lead with 6:45 left, they did not give up their advantage, pushing it as far as nine points with 15 seconds remaining.

NOTABLE NUMBERS

North Carolina defeated Syracuse, 103-67, on Jan. 13 in Chapel Hill, N.C.
Syracuse last defeated a top-10 squad when it outlasted #1 Duke, 95-91 in overtime, on Jan. 14, 2019.
Mintz has now scored 20-or-more points in 12-of-25 games this season, including both affairs against North Carolina. Five of his 12 20-point games came in ACC contests.
The Orange defeated the Tar Heels for the first time since March 1, 2021, when Syracuse won 72-70.
Mintz made nine-of-11 foul-shot attempts in the contest. He entered the game ranked ninth among Division I players in free throws made on the season.
Syracuse led for 32:21 of tonight's victory.
Over the last nine games, Starling has averaged 18.4 points per game while Mintz has contributed 18.1 points per contest.
The Orange (10 steals) finished with 10-or-more steals in a contest for the 12^th time this season.

UP NEXT
Syracuse embarks on a road trip to Atlanta, Ga., to square off against Georgia Tech on February 17. Tipoff is slated for 5:30 p.m. and the game will be televised on The CW Network.

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: (2-13-2024) Syracuse vs UNC