Syracuse has developed a troubling pattern against so-called “easy-win” opponents, repeatedly lacking head coach Adrian Autry’s required “level five energy” needed to win. SU’s past two outings against Mercyhurst and Northeastern followed that familiar script: control without separation. Against Mercyhurst, the Orange relied on defensive pressure and rebounding to grind out a 76–62 win, but never fully pulled away from one of Division I’s lowest-ranked programs.
Despite forcing turnovers and dominating the glass, stagnant half-court offense and late-game lapses allowed the Lakers to hang around well into the second half. Those same inconsistencies resurfaced against Northeastern. After a sluggish opening stretch, Syracuse flipped the switch with a decisive first-half run and erupted for a season-high 91 points. Still, the Orange struggled to close, allowing the Huskies to cut a 15-point second-half deficit to single digits behind hot three-point shooting and second-chance opportunities.
Photo Cred: SU Athletes
While improved free-throw volume — totaling nearly 71% — and balanced scoring helped Syracuse survive, defensive focus and late-game execution again wavered, as the Orange’s three-point shooting dipped from 33.3% in the first half to just 16.7% in the second. By the time Syracuse faced Stonehill, the trend was clear: the Orange had been competitive enough to win, but not sharp enough to dominate. Stonehill presented Syracuse with a final non-conference opportunity to turn control into conviction before ACC play.
Syracuse came out with a renewed intensity from the opening tip. Their balance and physicality were evident early. Guards Naithan George and JJ Starling pushed the tempo effectively, combining for early baskets that set the tone. The Orange never looked back. Entering the matchup just seven points shy of the 1,000-point mark in his SU career, Starling wasted no time. Less than three minutes into the first half, he picked off a pass from guard Rex Sunderland and went coast-to-coast for an emphatic one-handed slam to reach the milestone.
With the bucket, Starling became the 67th player in program history to do so — a moment that put the pedal to the metal for Syracuse’s offense. The Baldwinsville native finished with a season-high 20 points on .471 shooting, keeping Syracuse firmly in control. Syracuse’s defense — often the team’s most reliable asset — was active from the start. Steals and blocks came in waves, with Sadiq White Jr. and William Kyle III — who combine for 21 steals and 53 blocks this season — anchoring the paint.
The Orange, currently third in ACC standings at 9–4, have allowed opponents just 64.8 points per game on average, showcasing why defense remains their foundation. SU forced five first-half turnovers and converted them into 27 of their 39 points — just over 69% — off miscues. Stonehill never found a rhythm, struggling to respond to Syracuse’s early aggression. The Skyhawks flashed moments behind Davante Hackett and Ridvan Tutic hitting perimeter shots, but disciplined defensive rotations and interior presence from SU created timely stops.
Photo Cred: Syracuse.com
Offensively, Syracuse displayed a balance that had been missing recently. Starling, averaging 11.3 points entering the matchup, attacked the rim efficiently, while White Jr. added putbacks and cuts inside. Syracuse was dominant in the paint, scoring 36 first-half points at the rim — a clear display of physicality and control. They also found success from deep, knocking down a season-high nine threes for 27 points, with four different players connecting at a .455 clip from beyond the arc.
Kyle III carried momentum from his strong Northeastern outing (.667 FG, 14 points, 3 blocks) into Monday’s matchup. His presence at the rim — highlighted by three blocks in the first half — embodied Syracuse’s heightened defensive focus, repeatedly turning stops into transition opportunities and building a 39–27 halftime lead. The Orange moved the ball with purpose, recording 11 first-half assists and shooting 51.7% from the field — far above Stonehill’s 31% — and marked improvement from prior slow starts, such as Northeastern shooting 46.7% and Hofstra 50% in opening halves.
In the second half, Syracuse maintained control, never allowing Stonehill to threaten. SU shot 44.4% from the field and 40% from deep, capitalizing on turnovers to score 54 of their 77 total points off Skyhawk miscues. White Jr. proved unstoppable inside — scoring on drives, an alley-oop, and trips to the line — while George added timely threes and free throws to stretch the lead. Syracuse won the board battle 27–19, including 11 offensive rebounds, and dominated paint points 36–8.
Defensively, SU smothered Stonehill to 20.8% shooting and just 3-of-12 (.250) from three, piling up 6 blocks and 3 steals while controlling tempo and transition chances. A 23–4 run with eight minutes left sealed the outcome, with Starling finishing the surge on a smooth up-and-under layup. During that stretch, Stonehill shot just 1-for-7 (.143). With a 64–45 lead late, Hackett turned the ball over, leading to a Nate Kingz layup — a fitting finish to a night defined by defensive pressure.
The Orange tied their season-high with 12 blocks, matching their output against Delaware State. One standout sequence came when Kingz drove baseline, drew defenders, and kicked to Starling in the corner, where he calmly buried a three with three minutes left. Rebounding further separated Syracuse, who won 29–26 on the glass with 13 defensive boards that limited Stonehill’s scoring windows.
Photo Cred: The Orange Daily
SU committed only five turnovers to Stonehill’s 15, generating transition chances that produced 10 fast-break points. The five-turnover mark tied their season-low, first set against Binghamton. From start to finish, Syracuse’s blend of scoring efficiency, rebounding, and defensive intensity produced a second-half showing that left no doubt.
Following commanding wins over Binghamton (85–47) and Delaware State (83–43), the 77–48 victory over Stonehill marked the third time this season Syracuse has held an opponent under 50 points. The Skyhawks shot just .264 (14-for-53) — SU’s second-best defensive performance this year, trailing only Binghamton’s .215 (14-for-65). By the final buzzer, Syracuse had secured a convincing 77–48 win — a clear statement heading into ACC play.
