Syracuse has more questions than answers after Colgate loss

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Nov 15, 2022; Syracuse, New York, USA; Syracuse Orange head coach Jim Boeheim speaks with the media following Syracuse's 80-68 loss to Colgate at JMA Wireless Dome. Mandatory Credit: Brett Gustin-The Juice Online.

A new winning streak was started at the JMA Wireless Dome on Tuesday night. A year after snapping their 54-game losing streak to Syracuse, Colgate made it two in a row in the series between the two upstate schools, claiming an 80-68 victory.

After making 18 triples when the two teams met last season, the Red Raiders (3-1) did one better this time around, torching the Orange (1-1) from the outside by hitting 19 three-pointers at a 50 percent clip. Meanwhile, SU made just 38.7 percent of their shots overall and just 3-of-12 three-pointers in the second half while trying to dig out of a big hole.

In a sign of what was to come, Colgate knocked down three treys in an early 16-4 run to grab an 18-9 lead less than eight minutes into the game, forcing Jim Boeheim to use a timeout. Syracuse ran off seven straight points in response, but the Red Raiders responded with four more threes for a 12-2 run and a 30-18 lead with a little over seven minutes left in the opening half.

The Orange briefly got the margin down to eight, but Tucker Richardson connected three times from behind the arc in four Colgate possessions, pushing their lead out to 17 points. Joe Girard III got a three before the break to make it a 44-30 game at half.

The entire second half was SU cutting into the lead followed by the guests pushing the lead back out. Girard scored five straight points to make it a 12-point contest less than four minutes into the second half, but the Red Raiders bounced back with an 8-2 burst for a 57-39 lead.

Judah Mintz had seven points in a 9-2 Syracuse run to draw the hosts within 11 points, but three-and-a-half minutes later, the Colgate lead was 68-52 with 7:45 to play. The Orange only got the score within 11 once more with a little over two minutes remaining.

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Mintz paced SU with 20 points, including 14 in the second half, while Benny Williams added 17 to go with a team-leading eight rebounds. Girard hit four three-pointers for the bulk of his 14 points while Jesse Edwards had ten points and five blocked shots.

Richardson was the leading man for Colgate, connecting on seven three-pointers as he finished with 27 points. Ryan Moffett and Oliver Lynch-Daniels each connected from long distance four times apiece as they added 15 and 12 points, respectively.

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About Jim Stechschulte 894 Articles
A 1996 graduate of Syracuse University, Jim has reported on Syracuse sports for the Syracuse University Alumni Club of Southern California on nearly a decade. He has also written a fantasy basketball column published by NBA.com. He currently resides in Syracuse.