The Orange fell short to the Panthers, 77-73, after leading by one at halftime in the JMA Wireless Dome. Pitt was aiming to snap their four-game losing streak, marking their first win since January 4th and bringing their ACC record back to even. For Syracuse, this was their 11th loss of the season and their 6th in conference play.
Photo Cred: Bryan Bannett/Getty Images
Syracuse jumped out to an early 13-4 lead in the first four minutes, with J.J. Starling, Jyáre Davis, and Elijah Moore knocking down threes. The Panthers responded after the first timeout, with Jaland Lowe and Ishmael Leggett igniting Pitt’s offense.
Pittsburgh continued to battle throughout the first half, eventually pulling ahead 23-21 with ten minutes remaining. Coach Adrian Autry was forced to substitute Starling, who had picked up two fouls. The Orange later tied the game at 43-43 with a triple from Elijah Moore, but Pitt reclaimed the lead when Lowe answered with a floater. Starling returned to the game for Jaquan Carlos and quickly responded with a game-tying layup, setting up a showdown between Starling and Lowe. In the second half alone, Lowe scored 17 points, becoming the X-factor the Panthers needed to secure the tough road win.
Photo Cred: Syracuse.com
Fast forward to crunch time: Syracuse trailed by two with 16 seconds left and was forced to foul multiple times. Zack Austin stepped to the free throw line as a 90% shooter and calmly knocked down both free throws to give Pitt a four-point lead. That proved to be the knockout punch, as Syracuse couldn’t claw their way back into the game. J.J. Starling finished with 16 points, shooting 5-for-13 from the field. Eddie Lampkin Jr. had a career-high 23 rebounds, helping the Orange secure 48 boards in total.
As for Pitt, they played disciplined basketball, committing only three turnovers. Jaland Lowe led the Panthers with 22 points. As Syracuse fights for a spot in the Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament, games like these against teams with similar records will play a crucial role in March seeding. Syracuse will need to target teams slightly ahead in the standings to improve their position.
Looking ahead, Coach Adrian Autry’s management of his bench will be key, particularly with players like Elijah Moore and Donnie Freeman, both of whom were highly sought-after recruits coming into the season. With an exciting future on the horizon, including top 50 recruits Sadiq White and Kiyan Anthony heading to Syracuse, the Orange’s prospects remain bright.
