LISTEN: @Cuse_MBB dominated @LSUBasketball 80-57 in the inaugural ACC/SEC challenge. @bespector and @JesseCookTV had the call. pic.twitter.com/aHywTBT3tV
— WAER Sports (@WAERSports) November 29, 2023
Syracuse (5-2, 0-0 Atlantic Coast Conference) guard Judah Mintz tallied a career-best 33 points to secure the Orange’s first Power Five victory of the season against LSU (4-3, 0-0 Southeastern Conference), 80-57 in the inaugural ACC/SEC challenge.
The sophomore became the first Orange performer to score over 30 points in a game since Buddy Boeheim scored 30 against Miami on March 5, 2022.
“I haven’t seen many guys that can move like Judah does”, head Coach Adrian Autry said. “He’s kind of like a Barry Sanders with the Detroit Lions where he can go really fast and stop accelerating on a dime. He has great control of his body.”
With SU only leading by five at halftime, Mintz dominated right out of the break with eight points less than 90 seconds into the frame. This ignited Syracuse to its first double-digit lead of the evening and what would grow into a 26 point cushion.
“[LSU] wanted to be aggressive with us and I think we showed them that we weren’t backing down from it,” said Judah Mintz. “So I [try to] play like that always.”
Playing second fiddle behind Judah was fellow sophomore Chris Bell, who scored 17 of his 20 total points in the second half. It marks the second consecutive game in which Bell has scored 20 points in the Dome, after notching a career-high 25 points versus Colgate a couple weeks ago.
“I feel like every time if I miss three [shots], the next eight are going in,” said Bell after a dismal 1-6 shot line in the first half. “I've always felt that my teammates tell me to keep shooting and it's hard for you know when not to when everybody else keeps telling me to shoot it so that's what I try to do.”
LISTEN: @Cuse_MBB took down @LSUBasketball last night and one play stood out above the rest. @bespector had the of Judah Mintz' show-stopping slam. pic.twitter.com/a4AOleRYZx
— WAER Sports (@WAERSports) November 29, 2023
In what was a dominating victory for the ‘Cuse, the road woes continued for the Tigers. A season-high 19 turnovers for LSU converted into 26 points for Adrian Autry’s crew. It marked the 13th visiting loss in a row for LSU dating all the way back to February of 2022.
Syracuse looks to continue its momentum in its first ACC tilt in Charlottesville against Virginia (6-1, 0-0 Atlantic Coast Conference) on Saturday. The Orange have dropped their last five to the Cavaliers and haven’t picked up a win against the Hoos since 2020. Game time from John Paul Jones is Saturday at noon. WAER’s coverage begins with McClurg Remodeling Countdown to Tipoff at 11:30 a.m.