WASHINGTON, D.C. — A quick take on Syracuse’s 89-79 loss against longtime rival Georgetown Saturday afternoon, in front of an enthusiastic crowd at Capital One Arena in the nation’s capital:
WHAT HAPPENED: Wearing the orange road version of a new incarnation of throwback jerseys that are a big hit with many in Orange Nation this holiday season, Syracuse (5-5, 1-1) fell to its former longtime Big East foe because it simply could not hit enough outside shots. SU finished 14-of-32 from three point range, and as the Orange tried to rally to slice into the Hoyas lead in the second half, Georgetown always seemed to have an answer to keep the ‘Cuse from making a comeback. Mac McLung led the Hoyas with 26-points, while big man Omer Yurtseven had 19-points hurting the ‘Cuse underneath.
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ANALYSIS: Georgetown (7-3, 0-0) was determined not to let both Elijah Hughes and Buddy Boeheim beat them with three-point shots, and the Hoyas aggressive man-to-man defense bothered the Orange all game. Syracuse trailed by 12 at the half and continued to struggle in the second half before one last rally cut the lead to eight with under 4:00 to play. But the Hoyas went on a final flurry to win going away. Hughes and Boeheim did combined for 46-points but was too little, too late. Marek Dolezaj was aggressive in the first half (13-points) , but cooled off after halftime.
HERO: Georgetown’s spark-plug sophomore shooting guard McClung burned SU with his game-high point total including three, three-point baskets and hitting 9-of-10 foul shots. McClung also shadowed Boeheim much of the game on defense.
ZERO: Syracuse had no inside offensive presence against the Hoyas trio of big men, as Bourma Sidibe and Jesse Edwards combined for just two points, and the Orange were out-rebounded 41-29 overall, and by nine boards on the offensive glass which contributed to Georgetown scoring often on second chance opportunities.
WHAT’S NEXT: Syracuse returns home to face Horizon League member Oakland on Wed., Dec. 18. The Grizzlies have played, and lost by an average of 25-points, three times in the Dome (2008, 09, 2017) against the ‘Cuse. Oakland (5-6, 0-0) fell to No. 16 Michigan State 72-49 in Detroit Sat. afternoon. Game Time: 8:00 p.m. ET / TV: ESPNU.
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