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Syracuse University
Tennessee
Orange Host #13/13 Tennessee In ACC-SEC Challenge
12/1/2025 10:02:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Game Details:Â Tuesday, December 2nd, Syracuse, N.Y., 7:00 p.m.
Live Stream:Â ESPN2
Live Coverage:Â Stats
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Syracuse Links: Notes | News | Roster | Schedule
Tennessee Links: Notes | News | Roster | Schedule
After a couple of weeks away from home, the Syracuse Orange (4-3) return to the JMA Wireless Dome to take on #13/13 Tennessee (7-1) in the ACC-SEC Challenge on Tuesday.
Returning Home
Syracuse is back on its home court for the first time since November 18th when the Orange took down the Monmouth Hawks.
The Orange have flourished on Jim Boeheim Court thus far, going 3-0 in their games at the JMA Wireless Dome this season. Syracuse is averaging 82.0 points per game while holding opponents to just 54.3 points in those contests.
Notably, the Syracuse defense has held opponents to just 51-of-167 (.305) shooting on its home court and has forced 49 turnovers over the three games.
Recapping Las Vegas
Syracuse was in Las Vegas, Nev., taking part in the Player's Era Championship last week, and matched up with three teams from the Big 12. The Orange started with #3/2 Houston and pushed last year's national runners-up to the edge, narrowly falling in overtime. The Orange were edged late by Kansas in their second game of the event before falling to the #15/13 Iowa State Cyclones in the finale.
With leading scorer sophomore Donnie Freeman out, the Orange spread the scoring around. Syracuse relied on sophomore Tyler Betsey to provide a spark over the three games, and he led the team with 12.7 points per game in Las Vegas. The Cincinnati transfer posted a career-high 16 points in the overtime thriller against Houston, including burying the game-tying three that forced overtime. He finished shooting 10-for-28 (.357) from beyond the arc at the event.
Senior J.J. Starling was consistent, scoring 31 points over three contests for an average of 10.3 per game. He knocked down at least one three pointer in each outing while also grabbing 13 boards. Starling played a key role in running the offense, recording 10 assists, trailing only junior Naithan George's 12 at the event.
With Freeman sidelined, freshman Sadiq White Jr. drew the starting assignment in all three games in Las Vegas. The rookie was efficient in the loss to Iowa State, scoring a career-high 14 points on 6-of-7 (.857) shooting.
Scouting #13/13 Tennessee
The Volunteers enter the contest with a 7-1 record after going 2-1 at the Players Era Championship. This is Tennessee's first true road game of the season after five home games and three neutral-site games in Las Vegas.
Tennessee opened the tournament with an 85-60 rout of Rutgers before edging #3/2 Houston, 76-73, on Tuesday. The Volunteers finished the week with an 81-76 loss to Kansas in the third-place game on Wednesday, after squandering a 12-point second-half lead.
Senior guard Ja'Kobi Gillespie leads the Volunteers' attack, averaging 18.5 points and 5.2 assists per game. The senior made an impact in Las Vegas, scoring a career-high 32 points against Rutgers, and hit clutch free throws down the stretch against Houston. Gillespie shot 6-of-10 from three-point range in the Rutgers victory and made all nine of his free throws against the Cougars.
Freshman forward Nate Ament provides the Volunteers with a versatile threat, averaging 17.9 points while grabbing 7.6 rebounds per game. Senior center Felix Okpara anchors the paint, averaging 8.8 points and 5.6 rebounds per game. He has also blocked 14 shots this season. Vanderbilt transfer Jaylen Carey has provided a spark off the bench, scoring 13 points against Houston while grabbing seven rebounds.
Tennessee is led by Rick Barnes, who is in his 11th season at the helm of the Volunteers. Barnes has compiled a 240-109 record at Tennessee and ranks first among active Division I coaches with 843 career victories. He guided the Volunteers to back-to-back Elite Eight appearances in 2024 and 2025 and won the 2019 Naismith Coach of the Year award.
Series History
The Orange and Volunteers have met eight times before, with Tennessee holding a narrow 5-3 edge. The two teams met a year ago in Knoxville with Tennessee winning, 96-70.
TICKETS
Syracuse season and individual tickets are available at cuse.com/feature/basketball-tickets.
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