Syracuse men’s basketball drops fourth straight in 88-68 loss at NC State

For the first time in the Adrian Autry era, Syracuse men’s basketball (12-9, 3-5 Atlantic Coast Conference) has dropped four straight games. Its latest setback— an 88-68 loss to NC State (15-6, 6-2 Atlantic Coast Conference) — marked the second time this season that the Orange trailed from start to finish.

“The first half our guys fought. The second half — too many breakdowns, and they made us pay every time,” head coach Adrian Autry said postgame. “They capitalized on every mistake, and in this league, you can’t do that. These teams are too good. We dug ourselves a hole, and we couldn’t get out of it.”

That frustration was amplified by the emotion surrounding the matchup itself. Former Syracuse guard Quadir Copeland, now a senior at NC State, faced his former team for the first time.

Copeland, then a sophomore at Syracuse, drilled the game-winning three to seal a 72-69 victory over Miami in January of 2024, marking the program’s first buzzer-beater in seven seasons. That night, Copeland finished with 11 points on two made field goals.

The guard has since taken on a larger offensive role with the Wolfpack, scoring in double figures in six straight games, including a 19-point performance against the Orange — tied for his third-highest output this season.

“My teammates helped me in every way possible,” Copeland said postgame. “They knew how important this game was to me. This whole weekend, they’ve been letting me know they got my back.”

“We were trying to guard him and make it difficult for him. He’s probably playing at an All-Conference level right now,” Autry said. “He’s a lot to handle. A 6’6” guard that can move, wiggle, see all the traps — he’s the main guy on the scouting report.”

Between Copeland’s two seasons in the 315 — one under former head coach Jim Boeheim and one under Autry — Copeland made just one start. He left Syracuse following the 2023-24 season, spending a year at McNeese State under head coach Will Wade before following him to Raleigh.

“I appreciate Coach Wade. He puts you through the dirt to see if you’re gonna come out and survive. But that’s what I grew up off of and he knew that. The tough love — it’s all love at the end of the day,” Copeland said postgame.

He felt his return to face Syracuse was also a reflection of his growth.

“I didn't let this game get to my head. All the stuff I've been working on, my maturity, just letting things go, so I can be a better person to be a better basketball player,” he said.

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Syracuse struggled to generate sustained offense and were unable to keep NC State’s guards at bay. After securing a four-point lead at the break, the Wolfpack continued right where it left off, pushing the pace to advance back to double digits.

When SU showed brief signs of life behind captain JJ Starling, the Orange couldn’t string together enough stops to close the gap. Autry pointed to defensive breakdowns as the turning point.

“Fundmanetally, we did a horrific job,” he said.

NC State continued to capitalize on straight-line drives and second-chance opportunities. At this point, more than halfway through the regular season, members of Orange Nation are losing their patience.

Despite the loss, Syracuse sophomore Donnie Freeman stood out as the Cuse’s most consistent contributor. The forward finished with 24 points and 10 rebounds on 9-of-18 shooting, providing a bright spot on an otherwise difficult night.

As the final minutes ticked away and the deficit grew, Autry turned to his bench, giving extended looks to younger players — including five-star football recruit and guard Calvin Russell.

“Everything’s on the table now,” Autry said. “We have to keep fighting, getting back, watching film, and trying to get better and get better for the next game.”

Syracuse falls to 12-9 and 3-5 in ACC play. Its next shot at redemption comes Saturday, as it hosts Notre Dame at 6. Our coverage on WAER starts with McClurg Remodeling Countdown to Tipoff at 5:30.