Texas 70, Syracuse 66: Orange second-half rally falls short

Ladies and Gentlemen: The Syracuse Orange experience

The Syracuse Orange trailed by as much as 16 points against the Texas Longhorns. However, an improved second half saw the Orange come all the way back and take the lead momentarily with just over six minutes remaining in the second half. After a back-and-forth stretch to close the game, the Longhorns held on for just long enough for a 70-66 win in the Legends Classic at the Barclays Center.

Syracuse struggled early against Texas. The Orange couldn’t find any space inside to generate offense and settled for threes. As a result, SU missed its first five field goals, all from three. J.J. Starling finally ended the stand and clap at 15:58 with a three.

On the flip side, Texas identified the common weakness with Syracuse’s defense. Drives into the paint generated offense either below the basket or on kick-out opportunities for three. As a result, the Longhorns started the game with a 9-0 run that forced an early timeout from Red Autry.

What temporarily stopped the Texas offense was an old friend – the 2-3 zone. Autry took out Eddie Lampkin and Donnie Freeman for Naheem McLeod and Jyare Davis. Texas took a small time to adjust but still held a comfortable double digit lead, as much as 14 in the early stages of the half.

Syracuse switched back and forth between zone and man. However, the Longhorns kept scoring. Texas went back to the well and easily drove into the paint to challenge Lampkin. The constant drives left Lampkin one-on-one alone to defend the rim, which he couldn’t do by himself. Even as the Orange started to develop its own offense in the paint, the Longhorns maintained their double-digit lead.

The Orange slowly found offense as off-ball movement gradually increased. Syracuse kicked away the looks from three in favor of more drives and passes to the post. It took a bit of time for that offense to work as the Orange fell into a familiar pattern of isolation basketball. Looks to Davis and Freeman started to generate the inside offense to liven up the SU scoring.

However, Texas seemingly had an answer inside at every moment. Arthur Kaluma thrived as the triple-threat man against the zone or in one-on-one matchups at the rim. He led all scorers at the half with 10 points on 4-5 shooting. Kaluma also had five rebounds and three assists. Talented Texas freshman Tre Johnson wasn’t far behind with his drives and isolation dribbles giving him eight points. Starling led Cuse with eight points on two threes, but the Orange trailed 41-30 at halftime.

That’s when Lampkin turned on the afterburners. The Orange stopped settling for threes and started working the ball into the paint and post with increased frequency. That gave the green light to Lampkin, Freeman and Davis to get looks inside and go to work in their one-on-one matchups. Lampkin himself went on a personal 7-0 run in under a minute to cut the Syracuse deficit to 52-49 with 10:59 left in the 2nd.

The Orange continued attacking the rim and playing lockdown defense to eventually take the lead. The inside pressure from the forwards opened up lanes for Starling to join in on the attack at the rim. It was a Starling layup that eventually tied the game and a Lampkin free throw that gave Syracuse its first lead of the game with 4:07 left in the game.

Perhaps in a weird twist of ironic fashion, an old Syracuse problem of old flared up towards the end of the game: free throws. Syracuse’s attacks at the rim gave the Orange forwards trips to the line, but the Orange couldn’t capitalize. What also didn’t help Syracuse’s cause was a switch back to jump shots. The Orange went away from attacking the rim and missed jump shots that gave Texas an avenue back into the game. The Orange finished 9-18 from the line.

The Orange return to the floor at the Barclays Center tomorrow to take on the loser of Texas Tech and Saint Joseph’s. Tip-off will be at 7:00 pm ET.