Orange Squeeze Out Signature Win Over No. 13 Tennessee
SYRACUSE, N.Y. — After a brutal gauntlet in Las Vegas left them battle-tested but winless against top-tier competition, the Syracuse Orange finally got their signature moment.
In a gritty defensive battle at the JMA Wireless Dome, Syracuse (5-3) held off No. 13 Tennessee, 62-60, on Tuesday night. The victory snaps a three-game skid and provides a massive morale boost for a squad playing without their leading scorer, Donnie Freeman.
The Deciding Moments
It came down to the final seconds in a game that featured 12 lead changes and eight ties.
With the game knotted at 60-60, Syracuse center William Kyle III—who was a force all night on the defensive end—rolled to the basket off a pass from J.J. Starling. Kyle drew a foul with 13.8 seconds remaining. After missing the first attempt, he calmly sank the second to give the Orange a 61-60 lead.
Tennessee (7-2) had one final chance, but the Syracuse defense swarmed. Kyle, Sadiq White, and Nate Kingz collapsed on Ja’Kobi Gillespie and Jaylen Carey in the paint. Carey’s potential game-winner wouldn’t go, and White tacked on a late free throw to seal the 62-60 victory, sending the Dome crowd onto the court.
A Tale of Two Halves
The first half belonged entirely to Nate Kingz. The Oregon State transfer was electric, pouring in a career-high 19 points on 6-of-10 shooting in the first 20 minutes alone. He single-handedly kept the Orange in the game, giving them a slim 32-30 halftime lead.
Curiously, Kingz did not attempt a shot in the second half, but his teammates picked up the slack.
J.J. Starling took over in crunch time. The Baldwinsville native scored 11 of his 12 points in the second half, including a massive 3-pointer and a midrange jumper that gave SU a 60-56 lead with 2:05 to play.
William Kyle III was a defensive anchor, finishing with 10 points, seven rebounds, and a staggering six blocks.
Sadiq White, filling in for the injured Freeman, played 26 tough minutes, finishing with 10 points, nine boards, and three steals.
The Opposition
Tennessee, coming off wins but struggling offensively early, was led by Jaylen Carey, who scored a game-high 22 points. The Vols fought back from a 50-41 deficit in the second half behind a 10-0 run to briefly retake the lead, but they couldn't execute in the final minute against the Orange's length.
The Sanchez Sideline Takeaway
This was the win Syracuse desperately needed. After dropping games to heavyweights Houston, Kansas, and Iowa State, doubt could have easily crept in. Instead, the Orange proved they could close out a top-15 opponent, even with Freeman sidelined due to a foot injury.
The offense wasn't perfect, and the second-half scoring drought for Kingz is something to watch, but the defensive intensity—led by Kyle's rim protection—proved that this team has the identity to compete in March.
Final Score: Syracuse 62, Tennessee 60
Up Next: The Orange look to build on this momentum as they continue their non-conference slate.
