LISTEN: @Cuse_MBB fell for the first time this season in the opening round of the Maul Invitational to No. 7 @Vol_Hoops 73-56. @JoePuccio_ and @Jackgordon10_ had the call from Honolulu. pic.twitter.com/XVAgpV708w
— WAER Sports (@WAERSports) November 20, 2023
While Syracuse (3-1, 0-0 Atlantic Coast Conference) only trailed by five points with nearly three minutes remaining, No. 7 Tennessee (4-0, 0-0 Southeastern Conference) finished the game on a 12-0 run to secure a 73-56 victory.
In a game full of runs, the Orange raced out to an early 19-11 lead. The early advantage for SU marked the first time Tennessee had trailed all season. However, the Volunteers settled in and held the Orange to no field goals in the final 5:39 of the first half. Offensively, guard Dalton Knecht played an important role in giving Tennessee a 30-25 advantage at the break. The fifth year notched 15 of his game-high 17 points in the opening frame.
The Vols took an 11-point lead early in the second half but the ‘Cuse continued to keep the contest within reach. For most of the second half, the Orange kept it a two-possession game. That was due in large part due to sophomore Judah Mintz coming alive in the final 20 minutes. The guard scored just two points in the opening frame but tallied 13 after halftime. Forward Chris Bell was SU’s other double-digit scorer, finishing with a team-high 16 points. Fellow sophomore J.J. Starling chipped in nine points and junior Benny Williams notched his first points of the season, finishing the morning with eight.
“We showed a lot of who we are today with Tennessee being an older team,” said Chris Bell. “I think we can be one of the top teams in the country.”
Defensively, junior Naheem McLeod recorded four blocks, his third consecutive game with at least three.
LISTEN: @Cuse_MBB Center Naheem McLeod picked up right where he left off after the first half and added another block to his stat line. @Jackgordon10_ called the junior's fourth rejection of the afternoon. pic.twitter.com/kPha8sk5RK
— WAER Sports (@WAERSports) November 20, 2023
Sophomore Justin Taylor led the Orange with seven rebounds but the rest of the team struggled to compete with the Volunteers on the boards. Tennessee ended up with 48 rebounds compared to SU’s 33. The two Vols that led the way in the rebounding department both finished with double-doubles. Junior Jonas Aidoo racked up 14 points and 11 rebounds and fifth year Josiah-Jordan James collected 15 points and 12 rebounds.
“You gotta go get the ball,” said Syracuse head coach Adrian Autry. “It’s not just about the big guys. I think this group is still learning, we’re all starting to learn what it takes.”
Tennessee also had the firm edge at the charity stripe. The Vols were 20-for-27 at the line and the Orange struggled mightily, going just 8-for-17. In addition to the discrepancy in rebounds and free throws, a number of Syracuse players found themselves in foul trouble. Maliq Brown and Judah Mintz both had four while J.J. Starling, Chris Bell and Benny Williams all had three.
“I didn’t play much of the first half because of foul trouble,” said Judah Mintz. “When I got back into the game I had my way.”
The win for the Volunteers gives them the 7-6 all-time series edge over the Orange. Monday marked the first meeting between the programs since 2002. No. 7 Tennessee next faces No. 2 Purdue (4-0, 0-0 Big Ten) in the semifinals of the Maui Invitational on Tuesday.
Syracuse aims to bounce back from its first loss of the campaign in its second game of the Maui Invitational against No. 11 Gonzaga (2-1, 0-0 West Coast Conference) on Tuesday. Game time is set for 2:30 p.m. and WAER’s coverage begins at 2 p.m. with McClurg Remodeling Countdown to Tipoff.