Well, that stunk. Syracuse basketball had an opportunity to round out its non-conference docket in the coming weeks at 10-3, but that goal won't occur after the Orange dropped a tough game to fellow Empire State team Hofstra at the JMA Wireless Dome on Saturday.
Sure, the officiating was suspect, but the 'Cuse also couldn't figure out the Pride's zone in parts of the first half and virtually the entire second half. Oh, and Syracuse basketball continues to struggle from the free-throw line, while sophomore power forward Donnie Freeman missed his sixth straight game due to a lower-body injury.
Credit Coastal Athletic Association ("CAA’") school Hofstra (8-4 overall) for fighting hard and not being intimidated by the Orange and the Dome atmosphere. The Pride's 70-69 triumph over Syracuse basketball on the road is a terrible loss for the 'Cuse postseason resume as the Orange (6-4 overall) tries to get back to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2021.
Syracuse basketball power forward Donnie Freeman "is not dressing" today against Hofstra at the Dome, a team spokesperson just told our @DAMNTWIN. Freeman has missed the past five games with a lower-body injury.
— InsideTheLoudHouse (@LoudHouseFS) December 13, 2025
In Syracuse basketball's 13-game non-conference calendar, the best that the 'Cuse can now get to is 9-4, which isn't awful, but it's not great, either. Plus, the Orange's signature win, at home over then-No. 13 Tennessee earlier this month, will now get somewhat overshadowed by this setback to Hofstra, a solid team that also recently won at Pittsburgh but, candidly, is still a mid-major program.
The 'Cuse is 3-1 against the Pride, and next up, the Orange will host Mercyhurst on Wednesday, Dec. 17, at 7:00 pm. Syracuse basketball's NCAA NET ranking dropped to No. 92, while it is at No. 75 via KenPom.
A further look at Syracuse basketball's inexcusable defeat at the hands of Hofstra.
Five Orange players reached double-figures in scoring. Senior shooting guard J.J. Starling led the 'Cuse with 15 points. Senior center William Kyle lll tallied 13 points, six rebounds and four blocks. Redshirt senior forward Nate Kingz had 12 points and five boards.
Freshman forward Sadiq White Jr., starting in place of Freeman yet again, generated 12 points and seven rebounds. Fellow freshman Kiyan Anthony, a shooting guard, chipped in 12 points, three boards, two assists, one block and one steal.
Statistically speaking, things were fairly even between Hofstra and Syracuse basketball, although the Pride was much more efficient from 3-point land and the charity stripe. That was the difference in the ball game.
The Orange made 45.6 percent from the field, 34.8 percent from beyond the arc but just 56.3 percent from the free-throw line. Hofstra connected on 49.1 percent from the field, a whopping 66.7 percent from deep and 100.0 percent from the free-throw line.
The 'Cuse led 15-11 in second-chance points, 30-26 in paint points, 15-8 in offensive rebounds, 34-27 in total rebounds, 9-5 in blocks,15-13 in assists and 10-9 in turnovers forced. The Pride, conversely, led 16-13 in points off turnovers and 6-5 in steals. The teams were tied 17-17 in bench points and 4-4 in fast-break points.
Yes, Anthony got fouled as he drove to the hoop near the end with the 'Cuse down one point. But Syracuse basketball shouldn't have allowed itself to be in that position at that juncture in the game. This is a loss that could haunt the Orange come Selection Sunday next March.