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Miami, the last-place team in the Atlantic Coast Conference, did something no other conference foe has done against Syracuse this season: score over 90 points in regulation. Facing the Hurricanes was a must-win game for SU as it tries to secure its spot in the ACC Tournament.

It’s the sad reality of where the program is. Typically, the Orange are fighting to make the NCAA Tournament. Instead, SU has all but sealed its fate in missing March Madness for the fourth straight year — the program’s longest drought since missing six straight from 1967-72.

Tuesday marked a new low in Adrian Autry’s second year at the helm, as Syracuse (11-14, 5-9 Atlantic Coast) fell 91-84 to Miami (6-18, 2-11 Atlantic Coast). A win would’ve boosted the Orange to ninth in the conference’s standings and one game under .500. Instead, a dreadful Hurricanes squad, which saw head coach Jim Larrañaga step away six weeks ago, shot 55.4% from the field and made 10-of-20 3-pointers to put the Orange at 14th in the ACC’s standings.

“It’s just unacceptable,” Autry said of SU’s performance postgame.

The problem for Syracuse this season hasn’t been against bottom-feeder teams. While the Orange haven’t played great basketball against weak opponents, as highlighted by a triple-overtime marathon win versus Boston College Saturday, they won 10-of-11 Quad 3 and 4 games before facing the Hurricanes.

But SU could never find its footing against Miami. In the first half, its only lead was when it had a 6-5 advantage, leading to a 43-37 halftime deficit. The Orange tied the game at 25-25 and 30-30 on the backs of Eddie Lampkin Jr. (22 points) and Chris Bell (14 points), but Miami ended the first half on a 13-7 run.

Following a miserable first-half 3-point shooting display, where SU made 3-of-11 triples, Jyáre Davis canned a top-of-the-key triple to start the second half. Lampkin followed by quickly hammering home a dunk in transition to cut SU’s deficit to 45-42.

But Miami extended its lead to eight behind leading scorer Matthew Cleveland — who scored a game-high and career-high 32 points — nailing a mid-range jumper and a Jalil Bethea 3. It seemed like the Hurricanes were on the cusp of finally extending their lead to double digits. Yet, again, they failed to do so.

That was thanks to J.J. Starling. Despite scoring six quick points, the junior was contained through most of the first half as Syracuse relied on Lampkin and Bell to score. Following the Hurricanes’ run, Starling scored SU’s next seven points to cut its deficit to three just 4:19 into the half. The guard finished with a team-high 25 points.

While both teams entered the game amid disappointing seasons, their bright spots have been their star guards. Cleveland has been one of the best players in the conference lately, entering the bout versus SU averaging 24.4 points over his last five games. Meanwhile, Starling’s 18.2 points per game are a career-high — which would be the fifth most in the ACC had he qualified; Starling missed seven games with a broken left hand.

Following Starling’s barrage, Kyle Cuffe Jr. propelled Syracuse to its first advantage since early in the first half with a 3-pointer — SU’s fourth straight make from beyond the arc — and a transition layup. Following their brutal start from outside, the Orange finished 8-of-21 from 3.

But that momentum quickly flipped, as Syracuse’s defense failed to continue stringing stops together. The Hurricanes scored six straight points, regaining a 58-54 lead at the 12:22 mark.

Still, the Orange kept Miami within arm’s length. First, Jaquan Carlos set up a layup for Bell in transition to cut the deficit in half. Then, Carlos, a 29.4% 3-point shooter, canned a triple to regain SU a 59-58 lead. Following a defensive stand, Carlos set up Lampkin under the rim before the center scored his 16th point, forcing a Miami timeout.

Yet, the trading of runs continued out of the timeout. Miami’s Paul Djobet instantly tied the game on a 3-pointer before Bethea regained the lead by making two shots from the charity stripe. Then, Cleveland canned a triple, extending Miami’s lead to 66-61 at the 7:39 mark.

“We gave up 90 points, you just can’t do that,” Autry said of SU’s defense.

While a Petar Majstorovic layup stopped the bleeding, Bethea — who had a career-high 21 points — answered by draining a triple. Though Carlos drew nylon on the Orange’s following possession, another Djobet long-range snipe gave the Hurricanes a 72-66 lead with just minutes remaining.

Djobet, who finished with 13 points, then capitalized on a layup to extend the Hurricanes’ lead to eight. Yet again, Miami couldn’t get its lead to double-digits. Starling converted an and-one, cutting SU’s deficit to 74-68 with 4:08 remaining.

While SU and Miami traded baskets, that’s all the Hurricanes needed to do to capture their second conference win. Despite SU cutting its deficit to 84-79 with 50.7 seconds remaining, Miami closed the game from the charity stripe.

“It wasn’t about the offense. It was about us getting stops. I thought we would be able to lock in with eight minutes to go and we didn’t,” Autry said.

While Syracuse is still in a position to qualify for the ACC Tournament — as Miami, NC State and Boston College are on the outside looking in — Tuesday’s loss was another embarrassing loss as the program continues to prove it’s far from the “Orange Standard.”

Published on February 11, 2025 at 9:19 pm

Contact Justin: justingirshon@gmail.com | @JustinGirshon