In a commanding display, Duke overwhelmed Syracuse with a 101-64 victory, showcasing why they're ranked third in the nation. This loss drops Syracuse to 15-12 overall and 6-8 in conference play.
Next on the docket, Syracuse will face off against 16th-ranked North Carolina at home, with the game set for a 1:00 p.m. Eastern tip-off on ABC.
Syracuse initially showed promise, jumping to a 9-7 lead five minutes in. However, Duke quickly responded with a 9-0 run, setting the tone for the rest of the game. Despite Syracuse's efforts to stay competitive, trimming the lead to five with a Naithan George jumper, Duke closed the first half with an 11-0 run, taking a commanding 16-point lead into halftime.
The second half saw Duke extend their dominance, pushing the lead beyond 20 points early on, and Syracuse was unable to close the gap. Duke's shooting was clinical, hitting 62% from the field and 60% from beyond the arc.
In contrast, Syracuse managed 41% overall and 37% from three-point range. The Blue Devils also controlled the boards, out-rebounding Syracuse 39-29, and dominated points in the paint 52-30.
For Syracuse, only William Kyle and Nate Kingz reached double figures, scoring 12 and 10 points respectively. Naithan George struggled with turnovers, giving up the ball four times, while JJ Starling had a tough shooting night, going 3-13, though he contributed four assists without turnovers. Donnie Freeman added nine points on 4-8 shooting.
Duke's Cameron Boozer led the charge with a game-high 22 points and 12 rebounds, one of five Blue Devils scoring in double figures. Isaiah Evans also shone with 21 points, highlighting the depth and skill that make Duke a formidable opponent.
As Syracuse regroups for their upcoming clash with North Carolina, they'll need to address these gaps and find a way to counter such high-powered offenses.