CHESTNUT HILL, MA — Despite the Syracuse Orange (12-6, 3-2) leading for over 33 minutes of action on Saturday, not being able to put away the Boston College Eagles (8-10, 1-4) for good ultimately came
back to bite. Syracuse fell to the Eagles 81-73 in overtime at Conte Forum, snapping a three-game winning streak against the ACC and dropping its second Quadrant 3 game of the season.
Overall, it was a combination of self-inflicted wounds, poor decision-making and timely shots by BC. Syracuse led by as much as nine early on and by multiple possessions throughout, but the Eagles continued to fight the entire way. Donald Hand Jr. of the Eagles had the game-tying shot with just seconds left, and BC would outscore the Orange 17-9 in OT.
Nate Kingz had 27 points on 8/12 shooting (5/6 from three), his most ever with the Orange. Donnie Freeman recorded a double-double (19 points, 14 rebounds and 7 turnovers), while J.J. Staring had 12.
For the Eagles, Fred Payne scored 26 points, while Chase Forte, Hand Jr., and Jayde Hastings all reached double-figures. BC outscored Syracuse 22-8 in points off turnovers. The Orange had 18 of them, compared to eight for the Eagles.
William Kyle would get on the board first with back-to-back scores inside to quickly put the Orange up 4-0. BC would respond thanks to made baskets by Boden Kapke and Hand Jr. before Kingz drilled a three after an 0/3 start to put ‘Cuse up 7-4 by the first media timeout.
After Kapke converted on a hook shot over Donnie Freeman, Syracuse had its first scoring burst of the game. A corner three by Naithan George ignited an 8-0 run that would put the Orange up as much as nine (17-8), capped off by a Freeman and-one. Payne would end the Eagles’ scoring slump after connecting on a corner three of his own.
That would begin a stretch where suddenly, a mix of turnovers and missed shots led to the Orange’s offense being totally stuck in the mud. During a run of over five and a half minutes, Syracuse would not make a field goal. BC’s own offense couldn’t score, but free throws helped it outscore the Orange 11-1 and take the lead for the first time in the game thanks to a three from Forte.
Syracuse would finally get back on the board with a quick five points after George knocked down his second three of the contest. But, despite only shooting 7/24 (29%) from the field with just over three minutes until halftime, BC only trailed by two (26-24).
Despite the sluggish stretch and inconsistent scoring for the remainder of the first half, Syracuse would get back ahead. Starling stole the ball and jammed it in transition, while another triple from Kingz and a late driving basket by Freeman would put the Orange up five (33-28) heading into the second half.
Freeman led both teams with 10 points and 8 rebounds, while Kingz and George combined for 14 points on 4/10 shooting (4/6 from three).
For the Eagles, Payne had eight points followed by Forte with seven and Kapke with six. Syracuse held BC to 29% shooting in the first half, but had four extra turnovers and four less free throw makes compared to the Eagles.
Syracuse would get each of its first three baskets of the second half from a different player. Starling got the offense back on track with a driving layup inside. Freeman converted his third and-one of the game, while Kingz knocked down another perimeter shot from the corner. Those would all be countered by seven straight points from Payne, who kept BC within striking distance.
A slam by Kyle off a pass from George would put ‘Cuse up by six again, but it was the Eagles’ time to strike back. Syracuse’s offense again went cold, going over four minutes without points. An 8-0 run by BC would see Payne knock down his fourth three to put the Orange down two (46-44) with 11 to go.
But, Kingz continued to have the hot hand from three. He would convert on one of them to tie the game back up 47-47, and then another shortly after to give Syracuse a four-point cushion. After BC tied the game up once again thanks to a slam by Jayden Hastings, Kingz then drove inside for a layup plus the foul and the free throw make.
Both sides continues to trade baskets as the clock got closer to zero. Another four points by Freeman got ‘Cuse up seven, but a hook shot by Kapke and a deep three by Hand Jr. over Starling trimmed that lead down to two with 95 seconds left.
On the next possession, it was Kingz again who drove inside and made a layup over Hastings. Up 64-61 with under 2o to go, Freeman missed a one-and-one and BC collected the possession, giving it one last look at getting the Eagles to overtime.
Hand Jr., who was only 2/8 up to this point, delivered. Coming off a screen, he connected on a three with seven seconds left to send the game into overtime.
BC would get the first four points of OT thanks to scores by Aidan Shaw and Forte before Freeman got the Orange on the board. But, the Eagles’ put their foot on the gas. Hastings caught a pass and slammed it down. Another bucket by Hand would put the Orange down six (72-66), its largest deficit all game.
Kingz once more countered, getting Syracuse back within three at multiple points, but free throws by BC kept it ahead and in the end sent Syracuse home with the loss.
The Orange will return to the JMA Wireless Dome on Wednesday night to face the Virginia Tech Hokies (14-5, 3-3). It will be Syracuse’s second Q2 opponent of the 2025-26 season.
