Syracuse basketball suffered a bad loss at Boston College on Saturday afternoon, as the Orange committed way too many turnovers and failed to close out the game at the end of regulation.
The 'Cuse was up three points in the waning seconds of the second half, but sophomore power forward Donnie Freeman missed the front-end of a one-and-one, Boston College hit a 3-pointer, and the Orange turned the ball over, forcing this Atlantic Coast Conference clash into an extra session.
In overtime, Syracuse basketball didn't really have a chance. Even with a pro-Orange crowd, the Eagles, at home inside the Conte Forum in Chestnut Hill, Mass., had all the momentum in overtime, outscoring Syracuse basketball 17-9 to prevail by a final count of 81-73.
This is an awful quadrant-three setback for the 'Cuse. The eight-point defeat also snapped the Orange's three-game winning streak, while Boston College halted a four-contest skid. Syracuse basketball is now 60-28 in its all-time series with the Eagles.
Next up, the 'Cuse (12-6 overall, 3-2 in the ACC) will host Virginia Tech on Wednesday night. Saturday's outcome was the Orange's first true road loss of the 2025-26 campaign.
Syracuse basketball was way too careless with the ball at Boston College.
The 'Cuse shot 44 percent from the field, 39 percent from beyond the arc and 64 percent from the free-throw line. The Eagles made 41 percent from the field, 40 percent from deep and 72 percent from the charity stripe. Boston College scored seven more points than the Orange at the free-throw line. That was big.
In other statistical categories, the Orange led 40-38 in total rebounds, 31-28 in defensive rebounds and 36-32 in paint points. The Eagles led 18-8 in turnovers forced, 22-8 in points off turnovers (that was pivotal), 10-9 in offensive rebounds, 12-4 in second-chance points, 20-2 in bench points, 10-6 in fast-break points, 5-4 in blocks, 11-4 in steals and 13-10 in assists.
Individually speaking, redshirt senior small forward Nate Kingz was tremendous. He finished with 27 points, six rebounds and three assists while going 8-of-12 from the field and 5-of-6 from downtown.
Freeman had 19 points, 14 rebounds and seven turnovers. He went 7-of-14 from the field, but his missed free throw near the end of regulation stung. Senior shooting guard J.J. Starling had 12 points, five boards, two assists and three steals.
Junior point guard Naithan George, who was great in the Orange's home win over Florida State earlier this week, struggled against Boston College. He had six points, just two assists and seven turnovers.
Senior center William Kyle lll tallied seven points, four rebounds and three blocks. The rest of the Syracuse basketball roster did positively nothing in a result that could come to haunt the 'Cuse on Selection Sunday, should the Orange ultimately reside on the bubble for March Madness.