Syracuse needed a career day from junior guard JJ Starling to get past Youngstown State in double overtime.
The Syracuse Orange men’s basketball team (3-0) survived its third game in as many tries on the young season, squeaking by Youngstown State 104-95 in double overtime. Syracuse needed all it could get from junior guard JJ Starling, who erupted for a career-high 38 points. His previous high was 26 points against NC State in the dome last season.
“You guys watched me last year towards the end of the season I told you I found my confidence. This year it’s a new team so I’m still trying to find my way, making sure that I’m doing whatever my team needs me to do. But this game is a step forward in the right direction, obviously in the confidence department,” Starling said.
Starling, who had just seven points at halftime, exploded in the second half by attacking his matchup and getting to the rim. Youngstown State simply could not stay in front of the Starling’s quick first step. His 38 points were the most by a Syracuse player since Cole Swider scored 38 in an overtime game at North Carolina in February 2022.
On a day where Syracuse’s defense struggled once again, the Orange needed Starling to step up and be the type of scorer that the team needs. Starling grabbed seven rebounds and dished out three assists as well.
“That’s the JJ Starling we know. He’s the guy for us. He’s important for us and he was big time,” Adrian Autry said. “He played 50 minutes, man. He just kept battling.”
Starling moved to point guard spot for a significant amount of time in the second and looked to attack the basket. Starling, who says he tries to play the game with energy, intensity and passion, came up with the biggest play of the game. Trailing by two with 14.2 seconds remaining in regulation, he dribbled the length of the floor and finished effortlessly at the rim to tie the game and ultimately send it to overtime.
“I just got the ball and knew he couldn’t stay in front of me,” Starling said. “I wanted to hold the ball and run some time down, but it was just too easy of a bucket.”
It was another clutch bucket and while many early season questions about this Syracuse team remain unanswered, Starling’s clutch plays in the early going would seem to indicate he’s ready to be the team’s go-to guy.
“That’s why he’s here,” Autry said. “He’s a guy that we lean on and we need him.”
Starling, who logged 49 minutes in the game, admitted to being tired toward the end of the game. He was running on adrenaline and kept mumbling positive affirmations to himself. His teammates were doing the same, telling him to just keep going and to keep attacking. He didn’t come into the day thinking he had to go off on offense, it’s just how the matchup played out.
“It was just honestly stepping up. Going into the second half, coaches pulled me to the side, my teammates talked to me and said you just need to go (score),” Starling said. “It just happened to be a career day.”
Sam Federman (@Sam_Federman) contributed with the reporting on this article