Orange Fall Short in Pittsburgh, Dropping Road Finale to Ranked Panthers
The Syracuse Orange men's basketball team suffered a tough loss on the road, falling to the ranked Pittsburgh Panthers in a tightly contested battle. The game, played at the Petersen Events Center, saw Syracuse struggle to maintain their offensive momentum, ultimately falling to Pitt by a score of 71-68.
Syracuse Struggles Offensively Against a Stiff Pitt Defense
Despite a strong effort, Syracuse struggled to find their rhythm offensively against the tough Pitt defense. The Orange shot a disappointing 41.3% from the field and just 26.3% from three-point range. This lack of efficiency hampered their ability to keep pace with the Panthers throughout the game.
"We just didn't shoot the ball well enough," said Syracuse head coach Jim Boeheim after the game. "Pitt did a good job of defending us, but we also missed some open shots that we normally make."
Pitt Dominates the Boards, Capitalizing on Second Chances
One of the key factors in the Panthers' victory was their dominance on the boards. Pitt out-rebounded Syracuse 40-29, grabbing 14 offensive rebounds that led to crucial second-chance points. The Orange struggled to control the glass, allowing Pitt to capitalize on their missed shots and keep the pressure on.
Individual Performances
Jesse Edwards led the Orange with 19 points, adding 9 rebounds in the game. Joe Girard III contributed 15 points for Syracuse, while Justin Taylor added 11.
For Pitt, Blake Hinson led all scorers with 24 points. Federiko Federiko added 16 points, while Jamarius Burton chipped in 14 points for the Panthers.
Looking Ahead for Syracuse
The loss to Pitt concludes Syracuse's regular season road schedule. The Orange will now turn their attention to the ACC Tournament, where they will look to make a strong run and secure a spot in the NCAA Tournament.
Despite the disappointing loss, Syracuse has shown flashes of brilliance throughout the season. They will need to improve their consistency on both ends of the court if they hope to make a deep run in the ACC Tournament.
The Orange will face [Opponent] in their opening ACC Tournament game on [Date].