What looked like a rout turned into a nail-biter as the Orange, down 6-3 at half and looking stymied by the Tar Heel D, stormed back to tie things up at 7 going into the fourth quarter.
Randy Staats scored a career-high nine points on five goals and four assists, and Kevin Rice chipped in with three goals and four assists as Syracuse defeated Cornell, 14-9.
For Syracuse to rediscover its winning ways might just hinge on the most discussed back in the 315 area code. After struggling through the loss to Duke with back pain, Jerami Grant’s play has been limited.
Ever since the Atlantic Coast Conference regular season basketball schedules were released, January 11th was a day for which Syracuse hoops fans had longed. It would be the day the Orange officially arrived in the ACC.
For eight minutes, it looked like North Carolina might get their fourth win over a top-five team on the season. After that, though, it was just another romp for #2 Syracuse, as they pulled away for a 57-45 home win that was not as close as the final score suggests.
Syracuse hosted North Carolina on Saturday afternoon at the Carrier Dome. It was the first time these two teams played each other since the Orange defeated the Tar Heels 87-71 in 2009.
North Carolina has been a cipher, wrapped in an enigma, smothered in secret sauce. On certain nights, the Tar Heels have looked every bit like a championship contender, knocking off Kentucky, Louisville and Michigan State, all in a six-game span.