Jim Boeheim and the Syracuse Orange knew that, win or loss, their season would come to an end.
Their opponent, the NC State Wolfpack, knew that their NCAA Tournament chances could come to an end with a loss.
It was a matchup between two programs going in opposite directions and the results showed in Raleigh. The Wolfpack (19-12, 10-8 ACC) closed the regular season with a 71-57 win over the Orange (18-13, 9-9) in PNC Arena, sending Syracuse off with a fitting ending to a frustrating season. For the first time since 2008, there won't be any NCAA Tournament games to look forward to for the Orange.
The game began just about 24 hours after the NCAA's Committee on Infractions released its 94-page report on school violations. That ruling resulted in, among other punishments, scholarship losses, financial penalties and a nine-game suspension for Boeheim for more than a decade's worth of NCAA transgressions.
Boeheim wasn't made available in the postgame press conference, instead sending a printed statement and assistant coach Mike Hopkins to answer on his behalf.
"I want to make sure today, as we play our last game and are together for the last time as team, that the focus is on our players, and all they have done to make our University proud," Boeheim said in the statement.
The Orange jumped out to a 25-17 advantage with 3:23 left in the first half, thanks to a scoreless drought by the Wolfpack that lasted nearly four minutes. But it was an early lead that wouldn't last, as was the case in Syracuse's prior game against Virginia.
Trevor Lacy and Ralston Turner scored 19 points apiece for the Wolfpack, who took control of the game on a 27-2 run that took place over two halves. The Wolfpack head to next week's ACC Tournament having won five of their last six games, while the Orange heads to a long offseason.
Hopkins admitted that he was fighting back a few tears in the press conference, his first time filling in for Boeheim. Though he refused to comment on the NCAA's sanctions, he said that the off-the-court news didn't affect the team's performance.
"We're playing Timbuktu University, we play the hardest we can and try to win every game," Hopkins said. " Unfortunately, we ran into a really good team tonight. N.C. State is playing really well. They made some shots in the second half and got some separation. They're a very good basketball team."
Boeheim said last week that this season wouldn't end any differently than others because every year, aside from 2003, has ended in disappointment.
"These guys kept fighting and coach kept asking them to just bring it every night. And they did. And they fought. They played hard and played together." -Mike Hopkins on playing through adversity
But this season had a predetermined expiration date and one last swan song for Rakeem Christmas to prove his value to NBA scouts and GMs. Instead, Christmas turned the ball over in the first minute of the game and proceeded to miss seven shots in a row. He finished with 15 points, but it took an inefficient 5-16 shooting day to get to his 12th double-double of the season.
Tyler Roberson led all Syracuse scorers with 16 points, while Michael Gbinije chipped in ten points.
Syracuse's season concluded on a three-game losing streak, a second postseason ban under Boeheim and its first season without reaching 20 wins since 1996-97.
One of the most turbulent seasons during Boeheim's tenure finally came to a troubled end.
Said Hopkins, "We're not used to losing 13 games. I know our guys will be in the gym, trying to get better every day. We'll try to learn from this season and move forward. That's all you can do."