Bounce Back Game

By: Kylan Watson

The Syracuse Orange men’s basketball team needed a bounce back game. They were reeling after losing by 22-points at home to the Florida State Seminoles and bounce back they did after a 1-7 start from the three-point line. The Orange got hot from deep and went on to rout the Boston College Eagles by a score of 67-56.

Buddy Boeheim was a big part of the three-point attack. He hit 4-5 three pointers for 14-points and was the spark the Orange needed off the bench.  Boeheim hit the most threes during the game, and over the past few games has been emerging. As the consistent shooter that the team needs to continue to win games late in the season.

He was not the only one though. As Tyus Battle also had a big game, he scored 21-points, made 8-12 baskets, and grabbed three steals.

During the early stages of the second half, Battle got a steal and finished the drive off with a rim rattling dunk. 

The Orange were able to take advantage of Boston College’s early mistakes in the second to cement their lead. They forced the Eagles into 17 turnovers.

The turnover battle really made a difference for the Orange who lost the rebounding battle 37-32.  

In one drive Elijah Hughes received the outlet pass and was able to get it to Tyus Battle for an alley-op slam dunk to cap off an offensive surge.

Boston College would not go away quietly as they went on a 14-0 run late in the second quarter, to cut a 20-point lead down to six.

Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim said, “A 20-point lead is nothing, they make two threes, and two twos and now it’s down to a 10-point lead. You just can’t play poorly like that. We had guys out there that we should not have had that problem at all.”

 The Eagles were led by Ky Bowman who had 21-points. Bowman also hit five of seven three pointers.  He was not the only one though.  The Eagles got hot from deep they went 6-12 in the second quarter.

Boeheim said, “We did a good job on Bowman until the end he made a couple of tough shots.”

The Orange were able to withstand a late run from BC because of the play of Tyus Battle, who just would not be denied in the late stages of the game. He kept attacking the Eagles defenders inside and finding ways to get to the line to keep his team ahead.

The Orange picked-up their 17^th win of the season. This was a staple win for the Orange, who needed to have one as they head into to a tough late-season slate of games that features five ranked teams. NC State, Duke, Louisville, UNC, and Virginia.

                                         (c) Kylan Watson 2019