Saturday afternoon, #17 Syracuse closed their season with a thud by getting routed in their Big East finale at long-time rival #5 Georgetown, 61-39.
The Orange (23-8, 11-7) posted their fewest points in a game in 50 years and were almost completely stifled by the defense of the Hoyas (24-5, 14-4), who clinched a share of the final Big East title and the #1 seed in the conference tournament. SU, who shot under 32 percent in the game, including a 1-for-11 mark outside the three-point line, earned the fifth seed in the Big East tournament.
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The Orange posted the first three points of the game, but Georgetown responded with a pair of triples and a bucket for an 8-3 lead. Syracuse scored on consecutive possessions to knot the score, then tied the game again at 11 a side just over nine minutes into the contest, but that was the last time SU would pull even. The Hoyas scored the next five points for a 16-11 lead, but the Orange struck back with a pair of baskets to get within a single point. Georgetown closed the half by outscoring SU by a 9-3 margin for a 25-18 halftime lead.
The Hoyas blew the game open in the opening 75 seconds after the break, scoring seven straight points for a 32-18 lead. Syracuse righted their ship briefly, scoring on three straight possessions for a 7-0 run of their own to get within 32-25, but Georgetown quickly pushed the lead out to a dozen. An Orange jumper got them within ten points, but the Hoyas scored the next seven points of the game to go up, 44-27, with 11 minutes to go. SU got back within 13 points, but an 8-0 Hoya run gave them a 52-31 lead with 7:25 to go, effectively ending the game.
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Michael Carter-Williams was the lone player in double figures in scoring for the Orange, finishing with 17 points, including ten after halftime. C.J. Fair added nine points while Rakeem Christmas had eight.
Syracuse will enter play in the Big East Tournament in Wednesday’s second round as the fifth seed having lost four of their last five games. The Orange will take on the winner of Tuesday’s first round game between #12-seed Seton Hall (14-17) and #13-seed South Florida (12-18). SU faced each team once during the season and defeated both by 11 points in those matchups. ESPN will televise the game on Wednesday, which will start at approximately 2:30 pm.
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