The Syracuse Orange defeated the Cal Golden Bears 75-66. Both teams are vying for a higher position in the ACC standings, and Syracuse knew this game was crucial for staying alive in the race, with aspirations of finishing in the top 15 in the conference. The Orange entered the matchup coming off a tough loss at Stanford, where they fell behind 25-2 early in the game. This time, however, Syracuse came out strong, leading Cal for nearly the entire game.
Photo Cred: The Daily Orange
The Orange played a complete, balanced game from start to finish. Although Cal closed the gap to seven points late in the game, Syracuse never allowed them to take the lead. Road struggles have been a recurring theme for Syracuse this season, as they entered the game with a 2-5 record away from home.
On the road, the team has often lacked energy and sharp play to start games. But against Cal, the Orange came out with intensity, scoring the first 9 points and maintaining the lead throughout. This strong start, while unexpected, was essential and fueled their energy for the rest of the game. Junior JJ Starling led the offense, setting the tone for Syracuse.
Starling contributed 18 points on 6-of-18 shooting from the field. The guard took the most shots on the team by a wide margin, attempting 10 more shots than the next highest player. Syracuse relies on Starling to set the pace, as getting him involved early generates energy for the entire team.
While Starling set the tone, it was Georgia State transfer Lucas Taylor who stole the spotlight. Taylor led Syracuse in scoring with 19 points on 5-of-8 shooting from the field. The guard was particularly efficient, knocking down three three-pointers. Recently, Taylor has found his rhythm, increasingly focusing on his three-point shooting, and his scoring ability has become a key catalyst for the Orange.
Photo Cred: Reuters
If he continues to shoot confidently, it will only help Syracuse as they look to climb the ranks in the ACC. This important ACC victory allowed Syracuse to move past Cal in the standings. However, the challenges ahead won’t get any easier, as the Orange will host Duke in their next game. As the competition toughens, Syracuse cannot afford to start games without energy and intensity.
