Syracuse defeats Mercyhurst 76-63

Syracuse Outlasts Mercyhurst in Non-Conference Thriller

The Syracuse Orange (HOME) hosted the visiting Mercyhurst Lakers on Wednesday evening, and it was a night that would leave both teams with mixed emotions. The Orange emerged victorious, 76-63, behind a strong team effort and some crucial performances from key contributors.

At halftime, the home team led by a comfortable margin of 16 points (39-23), but Mercyhurst refused to back down. The Lakers came out swinging in the second half, cutting the deficit to just 13 points (62-49) with under five minutes remaining. However, Syracuse managed to hold off the late surge and seal the win.

William Kyle III led the Orange with a dominant performance, scoring 15 points on an efficient 87.5% shooting clip while also grabbing 10 rebounds and notching one steal. J.J. Starling chipped in with four assists, two steals, and 15 points of his own.

For Mercyhurst, Jake Lemelman was the primary scorer, putting up 23 points despite struggling from beyond the arc (3-8 3PT). Qadir Martin led the Lakers on the glass with eight rebounds and nine points.

The game was a back-and-forth affair, with both teams displaying their strengths. Syracuse's ability to score in the paint (46 points) and on fast breaks (18 points) proved to be too much for Mercyhurst to handle. The Orange also excelled at protecting the ball, committing just 16 turnovers compared to the Lakers' 15.

Mercyhurst, however, did manage to limit Syracuse's three-point shooting, holding them to a paltry 24% success rate (4-17). Conversely, the Lakers struggled from beyond the arc themselves (32.0%).

The Orange's strong rebounding effort also played a crucial role in securing the win. Syracuse outrebounded Mercyhurst 39-32, including 13 offensive rebounds that helped fuel their offense.

In the end, it was a 19-point difference in the final margin, with Syracuse emerging victorious behind a balanced attack and key performances from its top players.