Syracuse basketball notched its second straight Atlantic Coast Conference road victory on Saturday afternoon, as the Orange shot lights out and held off Pittsburgh in the second half for an 83-72 victory at the Petersen Events Center.
With about 14 minutes to go in the second half, the 'Cuse found itself up by 18 points over the Panthers, a long-time foe. Similar to the Orange's game - and eventual win - at Georgia Tech a few days ago in Atlanta, Pittsburgh (7-9 overall, 0-3 in the ACC) mounted a comeback, and things got a little uncomfortable for Syracuse basketball and its fan base.
However, veterans J.J. Starling, a senior shooting guard, and Donnie Freeman, a sophomore power forward, were fabulous to key the 'Cuse to a triumph. With this outcome, the Orange is now 77-52 against the Panthers in their all-time series.
Up next, Syracuse basketball (11-5 overall, 2-1 in the ACC) will host Florida State on Tuesday night at the JMA Wireless Dome, with television coverage on the ACC Network.
How Syracuse basketball beat Pitt on the road.
This is a captain-obvious statement, but when the Orange shoots like this, it can defeat anyone in the country. Syracuse basketball hit on 56 percent from the field, 45 percent from beyond the arc and 83 percent (!!!) from the free-throw line.
Pittsburgh, on the other hand, only made 19 percent from deep, although the Panthers were 11-of-11 from the charity stripe. In key statistical categories, Pitt led 30-28 in total rebounds, 14-8 in second-chance points, 29-19 in bench points, 40-32 in paint points and 3-1 in blocks.
The 'Cuse led 12-11 in turnovers forced, 22-15 in points off turnovers, 12-7 in fast-break points and 14-12 in assists. Each team had seven steals.
All nine Syracuse basketball players who got time against Pittsburgh contributed in one way or another. However, the three main Orange stars were Starling, Freeman and senior center William Kyle III.
Kyle had 11 points, four rebounds and four steals. Starling was 7-of-11 from the field. He tallied 19 points, four rebounds, four assists and also went 3-of-4 from 3-point land. Freeman, who has been stellar since his return from a lower-body injury that sidelined him for nine games, scored a team-high 22 points and had five boards. He went 8-of-13 from the field and 3-of-6 from deep.