Syracuse men’s basketball (4-3, 0-0 Atlantic Coast Conference) entered Wednesday with just one more shot to take away a win from the Players Era Festival in Sin City. Unfortunately, No. 15 Iowa State (7-0, 0-0 Big 12) made sure that didn’t happen. The Orange gave up the most points they have all year en route to a 95-64 loss.
In the Players Era Festival finale, @Cuse_MBB was bludgeoned by No. 15 @CycloneMBB 95-64 for its third straight defeat.@Hudson_Ridley and @BurgessLuke03 were on the mic in Las Vegas. pic.twitter.com/Z1ChrRWfeX
— WAER Sports (@WAERSports) November 26, 2025
This game wasn’t the blowout it was destined to be at halftime. SU trailed by just a point, 35-34, heading into the break. ISU came out firing on all cylinders and dominated the second half with a lopsided 60-30 scoring differential. The Cyclones shot over 70% from the field in the second half. The Orange, on the other hand, barely hit the 30% mark in the last 20 minutes. Head Coach Adrian Autry was quick to isolate the second half as one of the worst of the season.
“We learned a lot about our team. The second half of today’s game is not who we are. We didn’t fight. We fought every half until this last half of today’s game…I’m not a guy to make excuses…we just didn’t fight.”
Aside from the skewed score, the lack of fight was apparent in every facet of the game, including, notably, the turnovers. Syracuse had 10 turnovers in the second half and 19 on the game total. That’s the most SU has had in a game all year. Iowa State, on the other hand, had only two in the second half and 10 total.
Chief among the guilty parties in the turnover department was Guard Naithan George. The Georgia Tech transfer was trusted at the start of the season by Coach Autry to run the point and handle the rock for the Orange offense. So far, that decision had proved to be a good one. Against the Cyclones, though, George coughed the ball up seven times, which led the team by four. Adrian Autry isn’t worried about the leader of his scoring effort.
“As a point guard, it’s tough to fit a new system. We’ve put a lot on him in the offensive and defensive end. I don’t worry about Nait, he’ll be fine.”
"Naithan George has no sense of what he's doing running this offense. I don't think it's his fault. I don't think he's put in a situation to exceed."@adam_gotkin thinks Syracuse's offense doesn't have an identity, but isn't putting the blame on the players.
— WAER Sports Talk (@WAERSportsTalk) November 26, 2025
So then who's to…
There were notable absences on the court for both teams today. For ISU, it was leading scorer Tamin Lipsey, who picked up a groin injury in the Cyclones’ tournament opener against St. John's. His absence clearly didn’t slow Iowa St. down, as evidenced by Cyclones’ head coach TJ Otzelberger’s words after the game.
“So many guys stepped up for us…it should give us a great sense of confidence moving forward.”
Syracuse cannot have that same sense of confidence heading out of Thanksgiving break. Although the Orange fared well against No. 3 Houston on Monday without star forward Donnie Freeman, the Sophomore's presence was missed on Wednesday.
Looking ahead, SU heads into next week with another top 25 matchup against No. 17 Tennessee next Tuesday. The Volunteers also played in Las Vegas and took down Syracuse’s game one opponent in Houston 76-73 on Tuesday. Tipoff between SU and Tennessee is set for 7, but all the coverage will be here on WAER for McClurg Remodeling Countdown to Tipoff at 6:30.