The second half wasn’t always pretty last night, but Syracuse found a way to beat NC State 87-83 on the road. SU’s inconsistency continues to show each game. It’s fair to say we saw both sides of Syracuse during the course of 40 minutes in Raleigh, NC. Let’s break down the main takeaways from Tuesday’s game:
First Half
Syracuse shot 61% in the opening frame, and 69% from beyond the arc. SU went 9-13 from the three-point line. The Orange were hot, thanks to forward Chris Bell. Quadir Copeland and JJ Starling had 12 and 11 points, respectively, in the first half.
Judah Mintz
Mintz didn’t score in the first half. But that’s not the point. The sophomore notched his 1,000 career point in Syracuse’s victory.
Mintz scored all 15 points in the second half, including going 7-7 from the free throw line.
Second Half
Aw yes, the second half. Syracuse made just 39% of its shots from the floor. Here’s the difference: SU didn’t make one three-pointer in the second half. The Orange only shot two times from downtown. NC State connected on 48% of its field goals and 50% from beyond the arc.
Syracuse led by 15 points at halftime. Head coach Adrian Autry witnessed that lead slip away with 3:21 left late in the second when the Wolfpack led 82-81. However, SU closed out the game on a 6-1 run with a Mintz layup and clutch free throws from Copeland and Mintz.
Chris Bell
Syracuse’s offense is dangerous when Bell is on fire. He knocked down his first eight three-pointers of the game, all of which came in the first half. Bell went 0-2 in the second half, but finished with 26 points. He tied his career-high from beyond the arc with his performance against Louisville at home a couple weeks back when he also went 8-10.
SU’s offense can be really good, but a lot of it relies on Chris Bell. He’s notched four double-digit point games in Syracuse’s last five contests. Bell is 25-44, or 57% from beyond the arc in the last five games. Ride the hot hand while it lasts.
Looking Ahead
Syracuse returns home to face Notre Dame on Saturday. The Orange will recognize 47-year head coach Jim Boeheim.
