A quiet second half pushes @Cuse_MBB to a 73-53 loss against @SMUBasketball in the second round of the ACC Tournament. @IanNicholasTV and @AndrewSelover had the final call of SU's 2024-2025 season. pic.twitter.com/2wIjTh3zy9
— WAER Sports (@WAERSports) March 13, 2025
As the clock struck triple digits, Syracuse Men's basketball faced a difficult reality. The 2024-2025 season officially came to an end. 14th-seed Syracuse (14-19, 7-13 in Atlantic Coast Conference) fell to 6th-seed SMU (23-9, 13-7 in Atlantic Coast Conference) 73-53 in the second round of the ACC Tournament.
The Orange could not generate any offense in the second half. SU only scored 25 points, the lowest number of points tallied in the final 20 minutes this season. In the second frame, Syracuse only made eight field goals and shot 26% from the floor.
“The offense today given credit to SMU’s defense was the difference in the game,” SU head coach Adrian Autry said. “They were physical. They pushed us out of the paint.”
Another disappointment was Syracuse center Eddie Lampkin Jr. After scoring double figures in back-to-back games, The big man struggled. Lampkin only took two shots and finished the contest with 5 points.
“Everywhere they were sending three people at me. It's been like that the whole season,” Lampkin said.
The transfer failed to score more than 10 points in both meetings with SMU this year.
Next up for the Orange is a long offseason. Syracuse Director of Athletes John Wildhack has already stated that Adrian Autry is coming back for a 3rd-season. The question is, who is joining the bench boss?
“The way everything is right now you just don't know who’s coming back,” said coach Autry.
One positive for Syracuse fans is the upcoming recruiting class. SU has one of the 10 best classes in the country. The incoming group of guys is headlined by players like Sadiq White, and Kiyan Anthony.