Syracuse survives Youngstown State 104-95 in double OT, improving to 3-0

SYRACUSE, N.Y. - With just around a minute left in overtime, Syracuse led Youngstown State 86-78 following a layup from guard JJ Starling. However, the Penguins pulled off the improbable, going on an 8-0 run down the stretch to send the game to double overtime. Luckily for SU, the Orange took care of business in the second extra frame thanks to seven straight points from center Eddie Lampkin to put the game out of reach.

After a nail-biter of a contest, Syracuse (3-0, 0-0 in Atlantic Coast Conference) narrowly took down Youngstown State (1-2, 0-0 in Horizon League) 104-95 in double OT.

Following Tuesday’s two point victory against Colgate, nothing was guaranteed for the Orange coming into this game. Yet, the expectation was that this game was not going to go to double overtime.

Fortunately for Syracuse, Starling had himself a career day. The junior recorded a career-high 38 points and 49 minutes of play, including 31 tallies in the second half and both overtime periods.

“J.J. Starling, that’s the J.J. Starling that we know,” SU head coach Autry said postgame. “He’s the guy for us. He’s important to us. And he had a big time.”

Starling came up clutch in the final minute of regulation, hitting a layup to tie the game at 73 with eight seconds left.

“It was straight attack mode,” Starling said postgame. “My teammates just trusted me with the rock, and I was able to just make big plays.”

With Starling sending the game into overtime, the Orange had a chance to ice the game in the first extra frame leading by two with 17 seconds left on the clock. After a foul from Penguins guard Juwan Maxey, guard Jaquan Carlos stepped up to the line for two shots. The Hofstra transfer would miss both, with Youngstown State tying up the contest on the ensuing possession. The charity stripe was a struggle for the Orange in this game, missing 13 free throws.

Despite the struggles in the first overtime, a familiar face stepped up in double OT. Lampkin finished the afternoon with his second straight double-double, notching 20 points and 13 rebounds along with seven assists. The Colorado transfer essentially won the game for Syracuse in double overtime, just like he did against Colgate in SU’s last contest.

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“He’s generating a lot of offense for us when our offense is not playing well right now,” Syracuse head coach Adrian Autry said post game. “He’s the reason why we’re still scoring 80 and 100 points."

While Lampkin might’ve played the hero for Syracuse in this game, the contest should’ve never gone to double overtime. The Orange as a team shot 5-22 from behind the arc. Headed into halftime, the Orange were shooting 7% from three point land. It's not like the struggles from three are anything new either. SU hit just four triples in its opener against Le Moyne. As a team this year, Syracuse is shooting just over 25% from three.

To add onto the concern for SU, the Orange let up 70+ points for a third straight game. Syracuse let up 14 fastbreak points, and 14 scores off of turnovers.

“Obviously the defense is a concern,” Autry said. “We got to get better at it.”

Despite the negatives, at the end of the day, a win is a win. Syracuse will seek to stay undefeated in its biggest test of the season thus far on Thursday against Texas. The Orange and Longhorns have only faced each other once in program history, all the way back in the Final Four of the 2003 NCAA tournament. Syracuse would come out on top in that one 95-84 behind 33 points from Carmelo Anthony. Find out if the Orange can replicate some of their national championship magic on Thursday. Tip-off is set for 7, with WAER's coverage starting at 6:30.