After a frustrating one-point loss to Hofstra on Saturday, Syracuse basketball is back on the hardwood Wednesday night looking to reset the tone before ACC play begins. The Orange will host Mercyhurst at the JMA Wireless Dome in what marks the first-ever meeting between the two programs.
Tip-off is set for 7:00 p.m. ET, with coverage available on ACC Network Extra.
This is a must-win stretch for Syracuse - not just for morale, but for the bigger picture. At 6-4, the Orange are trying to claw their way back into NCAA Tournament relevance, something the program hasn’t tasted since 2021.
The Hofstra loss didn’t help that cause. Now, with three non-conference games left before ACC play kicks off against Clemson on New Year’s Eve, Syracuse needs to take care of business - and do it convincingly.
That starts with Mercyhurst, a relatively new face on the Division I scene. The Lakers, based out of Erie, Pennsylvania, are in just their second season at the D-I level, competing in the Northeast Conference.
They went 15-16 last year and were picked to finish fourth in the NEC this season. So far, they’re 4-7 and have dropped five of their last six.
This is a team still finding its footing at the D-I level, and Syracuse needs to make sure they don’t offer them any.
From a numbers standpoint, Mercyhurst doesn’t pose a major offensive threat. The Lakers are averaging just 65.6 points per game and struggle from all three levels - 44.9% from the field, 31.3% from deep, and a rough 58.3% from the free-throw line. That’s not the kind of efficiency that typically travels well, especially into the Dome.
Defensively, this is where Syracuse has a chance to flex. The Orange are allowing just 65.0 points per game, ranking 25th nationally in that category. If they can maintain that defensive intensity and avoid the kind of lapses that cost them against Hofstra, this should be a game they control from start to finish.
That said, the Orange aren’t exactly lighting it up from the free-throw line either. In fact, they’re shooting a nation-worst 56.8% from the stripe - a stat that’s been quietly hurting them in close games.
Against a team like Mercyhurst, it may not come into play. But if that trend continues into conference play, it could be a serious Achilles’ heel.
One thing to monitor is the status of freshman forward Donnie Freeman. He’s missed the last six games with a lower-body injury. His return would be a boost to the frontcourt depth and overall energy - but as of now, it’s unclear whether he’ll be available.
The bottom line? Syracuse has to take care of the next three games - Mercyhurst, Northeastern, and Stonehill - with purpose.
These are all quadrant-four matchups. Wins won’t boost the resume, but a loss to any of them would be a major setback.
Right now, Syracuse sits at No. 92 in the NCAA NET rankings. That’s not where they want to be in mid-December, and it’s certainly not where they need to be come March.
Wednesday night is about more than just getting back in the win column. It’s about setting a tone, building momentum, and showing that this team is serious about making a return to the postseason. The margin for error is thin - and that means every possession, every defensive stop, and every free throw matters.