Miami

Syracuse jumped out to an early lead on Miami (Fla.) Saturday afternoon, but needed to close the game on a 15-3 run to pull out a 64-52 road win. The second-ranked Orange (19-0, 6-0 ACC) led by 18 points in the first half, but actually trailed with under nine minutes in the game before finally putting away the Hurricanes (10-9, 2-5).

What had the makings of a rout early turned into another tightly contested conference game. Syracuse saw its 18-point first half lead evaporate, and the Hurricanes took a 47-46 lead with just over 8 minutes left.

Get used to it. That’s what Syracuse head basketball coach Jim Boeheim said after the Orange rallied for a 49-44 win against Miami in their ACC debut in front of 21,839 fans at the Carrier Dome on Saturday.

It was rarely pretty, but #2 Syracuse remained unbeaten on the season by claiming a 49-44 home win over Miami (Fl.) in their ACC debut on Saturday afternoon. The Orange (14-0, 1-0 ACC) led for most of the first half, but stagnated on offense early in the second half and needed a late 8-0 run to regain the lead and hold off the Hurricanes (8-6, 0-2).

Syracuse shook off a poor offensive afternoon and used a late 8-0 run to take a 43-40 lead with 3:24 left after Miami had led by as many as six. Credit also went to the Orange defense, which held Miami to just two field goals in the final six minutes.

Add Miami among the teams that have switched to a zone defense. The Hurricanes spent most of their surprising 2012-13 run in a man-to-man defense, but head coach Jim Larranaga switched to a 2-3 zone after he was displeased with his team’s early returns this season.