Syracuse, N.Y. ― The Syracuse Orange dropped a 70-69 decision to Hofstra that left the Hofstra players celebrating and the Syracuse coaches, players and fans fuming after the final buzzer.
On a day when the referees spent a majority of their time reviewing calls, the biggest play of the game came down to a no-call.
With time running out, Syracuse freshman Kiyan Anthony drove to the basket for a potential game-winning bucket. Anthony looked like he was hacked by Hofstra’s Biggie Patterson, but he didn’t get the call.
Hofstra ran out the clock for the upset win over the Orange at the JMA Wireless Dome.
Anthony’s futile drive might have capped a Syracuse rally from a 10-point deficit in the game’s final minutes.
The Orange trailed 67-57, but scored 11 straight points to take a 68-67 lead on William Kyle’s two free throws with 56 seconds left.
Hofstra grabbed the lead back on German Plotnikov’s corner 3-pointer with 31 seconds left.
Sadiq White got Syracuse within one point, but he made only one of his two free throws on his trip to the line with 18 seconds remaining.
Syracuse got the ball back by forcing Hofstra into a 5-second violation on its inbounds play.
That set Anthony up for a chance to tie or win the game, but Patterson stripped the ball away on his drive.
The loss dropped Syracuse’s record to 6-4 on the season. Hofstra improved to 8-4. It was Hofstra’s second win over an ACC team this week as the Pride defeated Pittsburgh last Sunday.
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Syracuse Orange Mens Basketball 2025-26: Syracuse vs. Hofstra
Syracuse could not contain the Hofstra backcourt combination of Cruz Davis and Preston Edmead. Davis, a junior transfer from St. John’s, scored 22 points and dished out nine assists. He played the entire game.
Edmead, a freshman, sat out 12 minutes in the first half due to foul trouble, but he scored 12 points and never came out in the second half.
A potentially game-changing call early in the second half got waved off upon review. Syracuse’s Nate Kingz grabbed an offensive rebound and went up for the shot. He made the basket and was fouled by Edmead with 17:02 left in the game.
It would have been the third foul on the Hofstra point guard. Hofstra coach Speedy Claxton successfully challenged the call, not only wiping out Kingz’s bucket, but also taking away the critical third foul on Edmead.
The game turned midway through the second half as Hofstra went on a 19-to-4 run, flipping a 45-38 deficit into a 57-49 lead.
Syracuse’s offense stalled when Hofstra went to a zone defense. Suddenly, the 3-pointers and open alleys for drives to the basket disappeared. The Orange couldn’t find quality shots.
Davis led Hofstra’s rally.
Syracuse had the ball down four points with seven minutes to go, but instead of cutting the deficit to two points, the Orange would quickly find themselves facing a 10-point margin.
Syracuse missed two shots on the same offensive possession, missing chances to make it a two-point game.
Hofstra extended its lead to 10 points, 67-57, as Davis and Edmead hit back-to-back 3-pointers. It was Hofstra’s biggest lead of the game to that point.
Neither team could stop the other in the first half.
Syracuse took a slim 37-36 lead into the break after White bounced in a short hook shot in the final seconds.
Hofstra made 50% of its field goal attempts, including 6-for-11 shooting from beyond the 3-point arc. The Pride survived the final 12 minutes of the half without Edmead, who picked up his second foul at the 12-minute mark.
Davis had 10 points and five rebounds in the half, while Jaeden Roberts scored 11 points on three 3-pointers.
JJ Starling got off to a hot start, scoring 12 of Syracuse’s first 15 points.
Syracuse shot the ball well overall (14-for-30) and from 3-point range (5-for-13), but once again struggled at the free throw line. The Orange went 4-for-9 at the line in the first half.