Sports

Syracuse men’s basketball overcomes slow start to beat Cornell 82-72

WAER | By Adam Hipsky

Published November 28, 2024 at 1:24 PM EST

Elijah Moore celebrates a made basket in the Dome.

Guard Elijah Moore's five threes guided @Cuse_MBB past @cornell_mbb 82-72.@RyanRandone and @BurgessLuke03 had the call on Thanksgiving Eve from the Dome. pic.twitter.com/RCk4cokMTO
— WAER Sports (@WAERSports) November 28, 2024

Heading into last night’s game between Syracuse (4-2, 0-0 Atlantic Coast Conference) and Cornell (4-3, 0-0 Ivy League), the Orange were one of only five teams in the country not to give up a 10-0 run, and the only team in the ACC. That streak didn’t last long—Cornell jumped out to a 10-0 lead in under three minutes.

Syracuse trailed by as many as 12 points early in the first half but turned things around. The Orange launched a 20-3 run to erase the deficit, with assists on five of their six field goals during the stretch to take the lead.

Seeking life, @Cuse_MBB turned to an unfamiliar face.@RyanRandone was on the call for SU forward Petar Majstorovic's slam.

📻 @waer883, https://t.co/BG0Q3sGq3P pic.twitter.com/y10KbF5Smn
— WAER Sports (@WAERSports) November 28, 2024

Free-throw shooting had been a concern for Syracuse early in the season. Entering the game, the team had made fewer than 70 percent of its foul shots, but the Orange were perfect at the line in the first half, going 6-for-6 and heading into halftime with an eight-point lead.

Freshmen Elijah Moore and Donnie Freeman helped Syracuse maintain momentum. Moore came off the bench to score 13 points in the first half, surpassing his previous collegiate high of eight. Freeman nearly recorded a double-double in the opening 20 minutes, finishing one rebound short. Freeman led the team with 23 points, while Moore added 19.

Elijah Moore (8, white) does his signature celebration after a three-pointer.

“I thought they (the freshmen) gave us a great boost with energy," said SU head coach Adrian Autry. "I though the freshmen did a really good job tonight."

Heading into tonight, @Cuse_MBB guard Elijah Moore had just six triples on the year. @BurgessLuke03 was on the mic for the freshman's fourth trifecta of the night.

📻 @waer883, https://t.co/BG0Q3sGq3P pic.twitter.com/kIyMTxy6ty
— WAER Sports (@WAERSports) November 28, 2024

The Orange used their success at the foul line to close out the game, finishing 17-for-20, their second-best mark of the season. Syracuse’s free throws were the finishing touches on an 82-72 win, its first double-digit victory of the season.

Despite snapping a two-game skid and extending its win streak over Cornell to 44, Autry expressed dissatisfaction with the team’s overall performance on Thanksgiving Eve.

“I thought we took some steps forward in Brooklyn; tonight, we took steps back,” Autry said.

Syracuse head coach Adrian Autry encourages his team from the bench.

Syracuse may have struggled against Cornell, but they’ll need to bounce back quickly. The Orange head to Knoxville next to face No. 7 Tennessee.

“You know it’s going to be a war. You’re going to need to be tough and battle on the boards,” said Autry after the win over Cornell.

The Volunteers are a perfect 7-0, boasting an average margin of victory of 26 points. Meanwhile, the Orange’s four wins have come by a combined 25 points.

Syracuse and Tennessee square off at 7 on Tuesday. Join us for full coverage at 6:30 when Countdown to Tipoff hits the airwaves.