![\"Tom](\"https:\/\/platform.nunesmagician.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/116\/2026\/01\/Screenshot-2026-01-13-at-10.05.46-PM.png?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0,0,100,100\")
<\/a><\/p>\nTom Windhausen Photography<\/p>\n
Out of the break Autry went back to the 2-3 zone as Freeman converted a three point play on the other end and Kyle had a dunk to set the tone. Chants of \u201cLet\u2019s go Orange\u201d broke out from a sparse dome crowd for the first time of the night. Kyle threw down another dunk to lift the lead to double-digits although Florida State whittled it back to five before Kyle\u2019s third dunk of the half. Kyle gave it right back on a goaltend for an and-one, however. Then a Starling layup and transition three by George got it back to ten. Loucks called his penultimate timeout with 16:28 to play.<\/p>\n
Florida State started to full-court press which seemed to ignite its 8-0 run. Kingz picked up his third foul after a turnover as Magee converted a three point play, which capped the run. The Seminoles showed a zone press and George made them pay by firing a laser to Betsey on the backside for a corner three \u2013 his fifth long-ball of the game. The Seminoles saw Syracuse\u2019s triple and raised it a triple on a Jones corner three and another by Martin Somerville to knot the game at 61.<\/p>\n
Back and forth it went as Syracuse went up three, only for Florida State to take the lead at 65-64. George \u2013 having a strong night scoring and dishing the ball \u2013 then threw an inexplicable no-look pass to nobody in particular that landed out-of-bounds in the hands of the Syracuse bench.<\/p>\n
With Florida State denying Syracuse\u2019s offense into Freeman, a strong drive and finish by White gave Syracuse the lead back. A McCray floater neutralized the White bucket. Thereafter, Syracuse found Betsey on an out-of-bounds under for three that gave the lead back to the Orange. White extended it to four after a putback layup. Then a White transition dunk off a lob from Starling got the crowd on its feet and gave Syracuse a three possession lead with eight minutes left. White, however, was whistled for a technical foul \u2013 his second of the season.<\/p>\n
Magee made both technical free throws and Somerville made a pair to make it a one possession game. On the ensuing possession, Anthony found Kingz for a corner three, and possessions later \u2013 following a Freeman swat \u2013 shoveled a pass to the Syracuse star on the break for a bucket and foul. Freeman converted the free throw for a three point play. The Orange led 82-75 with six minutes to play.<\/p>\n
Down the stretch was Freeman time. He spun into a jumper that found the bottom of the net. He made a pair of free throws and Syracuse held a 86-79 lead with over four minutes left. His putback (while fouled) made it 90-82 with 100 ticks left.<\/p>\n
Later, with just 30 seconds left, Kyle\u2019s dunk effectively put the game away at 92-86. On the last offensive play Starling, leaving no holds barred, threw back a dunk for good measure with ten seconds left and let out an emphatic, \u201cLet\u2019s [expletive] go!\u201d as Syracuse walked away with an eight point win.<\/p>\n