Syracuse defeats Pitt 72-83
Syracuse Stuns Pitt at Petersen Events Center, 83-72
In a tightly contested conference matchup, the Syracuse Orange (9-4) handed the Pittsburgh Panthers (7-5) their first home loss of the season, 83-72, on Monday night at the Petersen Events Center.
The game was a back-and-forth affair, with both teams trading baskets and neither able to gain a significant advantage until late in the second half. The Orange took control with a 18-point lead early in the fourth quarter, but Pitt refused to back down, forcing Syracuse to dig deep to hold on for the win.
The turning point came at halftime, when Syracuse's Donnie Freeman led his team to a 48-37 advantage despite trailing 35-37. The Orange then outscored Pitt 35-35 in the second half, but Pitt's Brandin Cummings kept the Panthers in the game with 29 points, including 2 three-pointers.
Freeman was instrumental in Syracuse's victory, scoring 22 points and grabbing 5 rebounds while also dishing out an assist. Naithan George added 7 assists to complement Freeman's performance.
The Orange's balanced attack proved too much for Pitt to handle, as they shot 65.4% from the field and converted 83.0% of their free throw attempts. In contrast, Pitt struggled with 44.0% shooting efficiency and just 17.2% from the free throw line.
Syracuse's win is a significant one, coming on the heels of a three-game losing streak that dropped them out of contention for the top seed in the conference tournament. The victory propels them back into the mix, while Pitt falls to 3-5 in Big East play.
The Panthers' loss is their first at home this season and marks a disappointing end to their home stand. With several key players missing due to injury or suspension, Pitt will need to regroup and refocus if they hope to make a push for the conference title.
As the Orange head back to Syracuse for a showdown with No. 3-ranked Gonzaga next week, they'll be looking to build momentum after this thrilling road win. For Pitt, it's back to the drawing board as they look to right the ship and stay in contention for a spot in the NCAA Tournament.