The Syracuse Orange men’s basketball team fell at Georgia Tech on Sunday, 71-65. Taurean Thompson [10] recorded 14 first-half points and Syracuse led by as many as nine in the game’s opening 20 minutes.
But, Georgia Tech (16-11, 7-7 ACC) began the second half on a 10-3 run and SU (16-12, 8-7 ACC) never regained the advantage. The two teams will face each other again in their regular season [11] finale on March 4 in the Carrier Dome.
Here are three takeaways from the Syracuse loss:
Syracuse’s comeback came up just short for the second straight game
A huge dunk by Georgia Tech’s Tadric Jackson [12] put the Yellow Jackets ahead by 13, 60-47, with just 3:21 remaining in the game. But, over the next two minutes, Syracuse launched a 17-7 run to cut its deficit to just three and with 56 seconds left, Tyler Lydon [13]split a pair of free throws to make the score 67-65.
After a missed lay-up by Georgia Tech, Syracuse had the ball and a chance to tie. But, early in the shot clock, Tyler Roberson [14] was called for a moving screen, giving the ball back to the Yellow Jackets. Syracuse would not score again.
On Monday night against No. 8 Louisville [15], Syracuse rallied from a 14-point deficit to force overtime, only to fall, 76-72, in the extra period.
This was a big loss for Syracuse’s NCAA Tournament hopes
Georgia Tech and Syracuse both entered the game on the NCAA Tournament bubble. ESPN bracketologist Joe Lunardi [16]had the Orange as one of the last eight teams in the field while Georgia Tech was one of the first four out. The Yellow Jackets victory could switch those positions.
After winning five in a row from Jan. 24 to Feb. 7, Syracuse has now lost three straight games. The Orange has two top-10 victories on its resume—over Virginia and Florida State—but bad non-conference losses to UConn [17] and St. John’s. [18]
Meanwhile, Georgia Tech has topped Florida State, Notre Dame and North Carolina in 2016-17.
White’s 20-point scoring streak snapped
Andrew White III [19]had scored 20 or more points in seven straight games entering Sunday’s contest at Georgia Tech. He came up three points shy of continuing the streak.
After missing his first three shots of the contest, White tallied 11-points and knocked down three 3-pointers in the last nine minutes of the first half. But, he recorded just six points in the game’s final 20 minutes.
White has play 38 or more minutes in 10 straight games and is averaging a time high 17.9 points per contest.
