Syracuse basketball hung tough with North Carolina. One key reason why 'Cuse lost.

Syracuse basketball never had a lead against North Carolina on Saturday night at the JMA Wireless Dome. The Tar Heels led for about 90 percent of this Atlantic Coast Conference clash, with UNC's largest edge coming early in the second half, at 52-41.

Yet the Orange didn't throw in the towel, and 'Cuse players fought tough against a North Carolina team that is hovering around the proverbial bubble for the 2025 NCAA Tournament.

Candidly, even though UNC seemingly dominated this encounter, by and large, the Orange had a shot to win late in the second half. Credit Syracuse basketball players for making their free throws, but North Carolina's effective shooting from long range is what did the 'Cuse in, with the final result being an 88-82 setback for the Orange.

Syracuse basketball (11-15, 5-10 in the ACC) will next head to Pittsburgh this coming Tuesday night, with the 'Cuse looking to avenge a four-point loss to the Panthers in late January.

Syracuse basketball couldn't quite get over the hump against North Carolina.

Not to oversimplify things, but the Orange's loss to UNC (15-11, 8-6 in the ACC) mainly boiled down to 3-point shooting. Both entered Saturday evening's encounter making about 32 percent from deep.

In this affair, the Tar Heels went 13-of-28 from 3-point land. Syracuse basketball went 4-of-13. Ball game. The 'Cuse kept things close by connecting on a strong 20-of-22 from the charity stripe, while UNC was 15-of-23 there.

Syracuse basketball was plus-four on the glass. The Orange also had a 10-point advantage in paint points and a five-point edge in second-chance points. On the flip side, North Carolina led 34-15 in bench points and had that huge advantage from beyond the arc.

UNC freshman guard Ian Jackson, a former 'Cuse recruiting target, had struggled in recent games, but he torched the 'Cuse for 23 points, including 8-of-15 from the field and 5-of-10 from deep.

For the Orange, junior guard J.J. Starling and graduate student center Eddie Lampkin Jr. paced the team. Lampkin has put forth some massive performances of late. Against the Tar Heels, he tallied 26 points and 11 rebounds.

Starling picked up two fouls early in the first half and didn't do much in the first 20 minutes. However, in the second half, he turned on the jets. Starling would finish with 22 points, six boards, four assists and two steals.

Freshman forward Petar Majstorovic, who was averaging around 13 minutes per game before Saturday, logged 25 minutes versus UNC. Majstorovic had seven points, four rebounds, one assist and one block.

With this win, North Carolina moves to 18-7 in its all-time series with Syracuse basketball.