Fresh off its 71-63 win over Saint Joseph’s at the Dome on Thursday, Syracuse Men’s Basketball returned to action to play its second game in three days. The Orange would have its undefeated record at home snapped in a 70-69 loss to Hofstra.
The contest was the second match of what’s supposed to be a larger five-game tune-up stretch for SU before it tips off conference play with Clemson at home on New Year’s Eve. The Pride entered this one riding two-straight wins, including a road win over Pittsburgh and a 69-point victory over Old Westbury. For the Orange, it was their highest ranked opponent (No. 119) over this current stretch.
The first half featured an explosive offensive display from both sides. SU was fueled by JJ Starling, who tallied 12 of its 17 points to open the game. Hofstra countered with a highly efficient 50% shooting from the field and 55% from behind the arc, along with double-digit halves from both Daivs Cruz and Jaeden Roberts. The Pride’s 36 first-half points were the second-most surrendered by Syracuse to open a game this season, only behind Houston’s 37 in the Player’s Era Tournament.
Despite closing the first half with a one-point lead thanks to a late bucket from Sadiq White, Syracuse looked lackadaisical for much of the second half. Hofstra smelled blood in the water out of the locker room, opening on a 21-12 run.
All things considered, the Hofstra lead would grow as large as 10 points with 4:34 in regulation before Syracuse responded with an 11-0 run to reclaim the lead with a minute remaining. But it wouldn’t be enough. A three pointer from German Plotnikov would give Hofstra a two-point lead with 34 seconds remaining. On the other end, Sadiq White was fouled and had a chance to tie it at the stripe but hit just one of two. Syracuse squandered one last chance to take the lead after a questionable missed foul call on Kiyan Anthony, and Hofstra escaped with the upset victory.
Davis Cruz came into this one as just one of 33 players in Division 1 Hoops to average 20 points per game, and he did not disappoint. Hofstra’s leading scorer finished with 22 on 57% shooting. Freshman guard Preston Edmead added two critical three pointers in the second half, finishing with 4 buckets from behind the arc on a season-high 67% shooting from that range.
The story in this one was clear, the Orange had their worst defensive performance of the season by a mile today, and despite getting double digits from White, Starling, Kingz, and Kyle, they failed to overcome the hole they dug for themselves in the second half. This loss certainly puts its dreams of dancing in jeopardy, and will require SU to have a lot go right for it down the road.
Syracuse is back in action on December 17th when it hosts Mercyhurst.
