Second-half struggles cement men’s basketball’s defeat versus Virginia Tech

Syracuse men’s basketball returned to the JMA Wireless Dome with the hopes of taking down the Virginia Tech Hokies. Unfortunately for the ‘Cuse, a second half collapse sunk the ship, giving the Hokies a 76-74 victory.

“We have to have more focus,” said SU head coach Adrian Autry. “We haven’t done that.”

The final minutes explained it all, with Syracuse finding themselves trailing by nine after a second half where they had nearly four minute spells without a field goal. 

Fans had left, upset and disgruntled about how the team couldn’t get anything going down the stretch, similar to the BC loss.

Out of nowhere, the ‘Cuse found themselves within a possession, but missed their chances to tie it, and on top of it all, allowed an offensive rebound off a free throw that shut the door.

Autry expressed his frustration post-game for the lack of hustle that allowed VT to pull away with the win. He emphasized needing to chase rebounds and cut off offensive put-backs.

There were some positives to take from the game, especially in the opening twenty minutes.

Syracuse jumped out to a good lead to open the game, led by redshirt senior Nate Kingz.

Kingz was coming off his 27 point performance in the loss against Boston College, and it seemed that would continue when he scored 8 of 13 for SU.

The team as a whole continued to drain shots from three point range, ending the night with ten made tying the season high. 

“We need to move the ball, put ourselves in good positions,” Tyler Betsey said. “We know we have good players.”

The team also shot well from the free-throw line, knocking in 12 of 14.

Though Syracuse had its chances, fouls and turnovers were once again the difference maker.

J.J. Starling and Naithan George picked up two early fouls, forcing Autry to use the bench more than anticipated.

Though the new unit took a seven point lead into halftime, it was foul trouble that became the issue. Each starter for SU picked up multiple, and three players maxed out and left the game.

Virginia Tech saw 36 free throws because of this, which was enough to make the difference. 

“I’ve got really good basketball players,” VT head coach Mike Young said. “I thought we played a really good ballgame, certainly in the last twenty minutes.”

Ben Hammond ended the evening with twenty-four points and six steals, cashing in half of his points from the free throw line.

Tobi Lawal ended the night with a double-double consisting of 16 points and 11 rebounds.

The Hokies did a great job of taking Donnie Freeman out of the question, who ended the game shooting 3 of 14. 

“He’s a heck of a player,” Young said about Freeman’s abilities. “Cut that right hand off and you can not let him catch face up from fifteen feet.”

This victory raises Virginia Tech’s tournament hopes, with another large test against Louisville coming this weekend.

For Syracuse, though back-to-back losses could show the team is crumbling, players believe that they still have the ability to play deep into March.

“We have all the talent to play at a high level like we have,” forward William Kyle III said. “We just need to do everything that our coaches tell us to do.”

Autry told Orange fans to keep their trust in him and this program.

“We’ll get refocused and we’ll fight,” Autry said. “We have to do the little things better.”

The Orange now sit at 12-7, with their next contest back at the JMA Wireless Dome against the Miami Hurricanes on Saturday. Tip-off is scheduled for 2:00 p.m.