Syracuse basketball hung tough against a good Clemson team on Wednesday afternoon at the JMA Wireless Dome, but the Orange couldn't quite get over the hump.
The Tigers, inside the top 40 of the NCAA NET rankings, presented the 'Cuse with a quadrant-two opportunity in the Orange's Atlantic Coast Conference opener. Syracuse basketball struggled from the field, although it was excellent from the charity stripe, but too many turnovers and a large deficit in paint points doomed the 'Cuse on New Year's Eve.
In his return after only playing in four games to date during the 2025-26 season, sophomore power forward Donnie Freeman was rusty in the first half, but after the intermission, he exploded for 18 points and nine boards to lead the Orange in both categories, but Clemson prevailed, 64-61.
The 'Cuse (9-5 overall, 0-1 in the ACC) saw its three-game winning streak snapped, while the Tigers (11-3 overall, 1-0 in the ACC) have now won four in a row. Syracuse basketball falls to 6-12 in its all-time series against Clemson. Next up, the Orange will travel to Atlanta to face Georgia Tech on Tuesday, Jan. 6, beginning at 7:00 pm EST.
Syracuse basketball sophomore power forward Donnie Freeman got going after the break.
Freeman didn't score in the first half and took a few bad shots. In the second half, he picked up steam. Freeman, in 28 minutes, went 5-of-11 from the field, 2-of-5 from beyond the arc and 6-of-6 from the free-throw line.
Freeman, one of three Orange players to commit three turnovers, hit a couple of key 3-pointers in the second half, although he had a chance to tie this conference clash in the waning seconds with a shot from deep, but it didn't connect.
Still, Freeman's return after missing the past nine encounters due to a lower-body injury was a welcome sign. The only other 'Cuse player to reach double-figures in scoring was junior point guard Naithan George, who had 10 points, six rebounds, six assists and three turnovers. He made just 2-of-9 from the field.
Clemson got its biggest lead with 13:36 to go in the second half at 43-33, and it felt like things were not going to end well for the Orange. However, credit Syracuse basketball for clawing back, with Freeman leading the charge.
A problem for the 'Cuse in this setback was that it only shot 40.0 percent from the field and 33.3 percent from the perimeter. On the other hand, Syracuse basketball came into this affair making just 59.0 percent from the free-throw line, but against the Tigers, the Orange was 20-of-24 (83.3 percent). That's an encouraging sign.
Clemson made 48.2 percent from the field, 25.0 percent from 3-point land and 50.0 percent from the charity stripe. In other statistical categories, the Tigers led 31-30 in total rebounds, 7-5 in offensive rebounds, 9-8 in assists, 15-12 in turnovers forced, 9-3 in steals, 46-24 in paint points and 7-2 in second-chance points.
Some 'Cuse fans were lamenting the officiating; however, Clemson was whistled for four more fouls, at 18-14. Syracuse basketball led 25-24 in defensive rebounds, 36-18 in bench points, 6-2 in blocks and 13-6 in fast-break points. The teams were tied, 13-13, in points off turnovers.
There's no shame in losing by three points to a Tigers squad that will be in the mix for an NCAA Tournament bid come March. Plus, Freeman's strong second-half performance was awesome to see. At the same time, the Orange being on the losing side against Clemson - much like versus Houston and Hofstra - feels like a game that the 'Cuse had but let slip away.