Three games back from an even overall record, Syracuse basketball hosted Boston College in a must-win game.
A pregame ceremony to honor JJ Starling and Eddie Lampkin brought smiles to the Orange’s faces, with head coach Adrian Autry presenting the top-performing duo with custom basketballs for reaching 1,000 career points. Then there was the halftime ceremony to honor Syracuse basketball’s 1974-75 squad.
Regulation wasn’t enough. Instead, an 8-0 Syracuse run in triple overtime gave the Orange their must-need win, 95-86, over the Eagles.
Here are three takeaways from Saturday’s game filled with free basketball.
Takeaway 1: Better than last time?
Syracuse’s performance against Boston College, overall, was stronger than its game back in January. Still, it wasn’t perfect.
The Eagles have only won two ACC games this season and kept themselves at bay for the entire rematch. There were eight lead changes between the two teams, with Boston College holding the lead for over six minutes. Most of the Eagles’ lead came in the first half.
Lampkin picked up yet another double-double, his ninth of the year. His point total was behind Starling, who scored 28 points to lead Syracuse.
“I thought, JJ kept his kept his game, kept his focus in the game,” Autry said. “You have to be able to move on to the next play. And I thought he did a phenomenal job with that today.”
But the Orange still had 10 turnovers and struggled from the charity line. There were enough issues that let Boston College stay in the game for nearly all 40 minutes. By the end of the entire game, including those overtime frames, the Orange had 18-32 from the free throw line.
When Eagles’ Fred Payne scored to tie the game at 67-all, Syracuse had missed a plethora of free throws that could’ve sealed the deal before the shot.
Instead, play on.
Takeaway 2: Free basketball three times over
Forty minutes wasn’t enough for these two squads. Nor was 45 minutes.
This game required three rounds of free hoops to determine a winner.
The two teams played nearly three halves of basketball before Syracuse basketball reigned supreme. By then, the Orange had five players in double figures, including Starling’s 28.
“We got down seven and won the overtime,” Autry said. “So we just kept going. We were just making plays. I thought everybody big, big plays.”
The Orange’s game-winning run broke through after both teams couldn’t hold a lead in the first overtime, and then Syracuse had to crawl back to tie it again in the second round. Still, both teams played an extra 15 minutes of basketball — an extra 15 minutes that neither team expected to play for that.
“We’ve been preaching that we have eight games left, it starts now,” Starling said. “we saw a step forward in the right direction. This is a great win to build up, especially going into our next game against us to another tough opponent.”
Takeaway 3: Final Four squad’s words of wisdom
During halftime, Syracuse basketball honored the program’s first team to make the Final Four — the 1974-75 squad. The Orange welcomed back multiple players, staff and former head coach Roy Danforth for a brief ceremony.
The historic squad also had the chance to share some wisdom and stories for their experience wearing the Orange.
“They played together, they lived together, and they won together,” Danforth said. “And each individual had his own individual thing, and it was the beneficial for everybody … And everything that they did, I’m proud of.”
Autry joked postgame that the Orange gave the Final Four team a game to remember, playing basketball for nearly three hours by the end of it.
“We gave them a treat,” Autry said.
Up next for Syracuse basketball (11-13, 5-8): at Miami (5-18, 1-11) – Feb. 11 at 7 p.m. EST
Up next for Boston College basketball (10-13, 2-10): vs. Notre Dame (10-13, 4-8) – Feb. 12 at 9 p.m. EST