NEW YORK — Syracuse could not come back late in the game like it nearly did two weeks ago against the same opponent, falling 78-59 to North Carolina on Wednesday night in Brooklyn. The Orange (20-13, 8-10 Atlantic Coast) fell to sixth-seeded UNC (23-9, 11-7) at the Barclays Center in the second round of the ACC Tournament.
The loss means SU likely will not play in the NCAA Tournament for the third time in four years. That has never happened during Jim Boeheim’s 42-year tenure as head coach.
Here are the best images from the game.
With the loss, Syracuse drops to 1-5 at the Barclays Center in its last six outings. Its only win there came Tuesday night against Wake Forest.
Alexandra Moreo | Senior Staff Photographer
As much as Wednesday night was a neutral-site game, Syracuse often benefits from a bevy of SU alumni in the New York City Metropolitan area. Many of them turn out to the games, as was the case Wednesday.
Alexandra Moreo | Senior Staff Photographer
The Tar Heels warm up. They improved their all-time series lead against SU to 11-4.
Alexandra Moreo | Senior Staff Photographer
Syracuse prepares to take the floor against one of its most difficult opponents all year, the same team that knocked SU out of the Final Four two seasons ago.
Alexandra Moreo | Senior Staff Photographer
Syracuse took the floor two weeks removed from a 78-74 loss to UNC in the Carrier Dome. SU had fallen behind by double digits before making a late comeback and tying the game at 74 with three minutes left. That was not enough as UNC pulled away.
Alexandra Moreo | Senior Staff Photographer
SU wore its typical away uniform: all orange.
Alexandra Moreo | Senior Staff Photographer
In the teams' last meeting, SU was marred by turnovers late, most notably guard Joel Berry II’s (pictured) steal out of the hands of Paschal Chukwu.
Alexandra Moreo | Senior Staff Photographer
Freshman forward Oshae Brissett scored 20 points with 10 rebounds to lead the Orange.
Alexandra Moreo | Senior Staff Photographer
Sophomore guard Tyus Battle looks to get to the rim. He finished with 15 points.
Alexandra Moreo | Senior Staff Photographer
Brissett can't get off a shot amid UNC's defense, which held the Orange to just 59 points.
Alexandra Moreo | Senior Staff Photographer
Syracuse has failed to score 60 points in three of its past five games, a clear indication of its teetering offense.
Alexandra Moreo | Senior Staff Photographer
Battle rises up against UNC's Cameron Johnson (13). On the other end, Johnson scored 13 points for UNC.
Alexandra Moreo | Senior Staff Photographer
Battle lofts a floater in traffic, one of his signature moves to finish near the rim. Used especially against taller defenders, he lofts the shot off the backboard from the right block area.
Alexandra Moreo | Senior Staff Photographer
Woody Durham, who spent four decades broadcasting North Carolina men's basketball and football games, died Wednesday at 76. His son, Wes, is a play-by-play announcer for Fox Sports, and he received before the game a plaque honoring his father.
Alexandra Moreo | Senior Staff Photographer
Junior point guard Frank Howard works on Berry II. He scored 12 points.
Alexandra Moreo | Senior Staff Photographer
North Carolina head coach Roy Williams said on ESPN at halftime that his goal was to work the ball inside against Syracuse's 2-3 zone. It worked, as UNC scored 36 points inside the paint.
Alexandra Moreo | Senior Staff Photographer
Brissett and the Orange trimmed the North Carolina lead to nine with 4:17 remaining, but a 12-2 run by the Tar Heels put the game out of reach.
Alexandra Moreo | Senior Staff Photographer
Brissett looks to drive left against Luke Maye. Brissett produced his 12th double-double of the year, shooting 7-of-14 from the field, 5-of-7 from beyond the arc and 1-of-2 from the charity stripe.
Alexandra Moreo | Senior Staff Photographer
SU head coach Jim Boeheim has never had a team not play in the Big Dance three times over a four-year span. That could be the case Sunday if SU is not selected in the NCAA Tournament.
Alexandra Moreo | Senior Staff Photographer
UNC took a 39-29 lead to halftime against Battle and the Orange. North Carolina remained in control early on in the second half and held a 56-35 lead after a 10-2 run.
Alexandra Moreo | Senior Staff Photographer
Boeheim urging his players in timeout. Despite any adjustments SU made, North Carolina shot fairly well throughout the game — 25-of-57 (43.9 percent) from the field.
Alexandra Moreo | Senior Staff Photographer
Battle shot just 4-of-21 from the field over 39 minutes on the floor.
Alexandra Moreo | Senior Staff Photographer
Freshman forward Marek Dolezaj, who erupted for a career-high 20 points Tuesday, drives left. He had six points and took five shots on Wednesday.
Alexandra Moreo | Senior Staff Photographer
Freshman forward Bourama Sidibe played 22 minutes, scoring four points and grabbing 10 boards. He fouled out late in the game.
Alexandra Moreo | Senior Staff Photographer
Howard and Dolezaj didn't develop the connection they had running Tuesday in Dolezaj's outburst. Howard finished with seven turnovers against the Tar Heels.
Alexandra Moreo | Senior Staff Photographer
Battle is stuffed at the rack. UNC had four blocks and eight steals.
Alexandra Moreo | Senior Staff Photographer
The Orange has played with a narrow bench all season. It became even more narrow when junior center Paschal Chukwu fouled out with more than 16 minutes to play.
Alexandra Moreo | Senior Staff Photographer
Battle floats a runner in the lane with Tar Heels defender Luke Maye looming.
Alexandra Moreo | Senior Staff Photographer
Syracuse could host an NIT game next week for the second-straight season.
Alexandra Moreo | Senior Staff Photographer
Syracuse awaits a possible at-large bid into the NCAA Tournament. Or the NIT will be its final destination. The field is announced on Sunday, Mar. 11 at 6 p.m. on TBS.
Alexandra Moreo | Senior Staff Photographer
With the loss, Syracuse enters Selection Sunday with a 20-13 record, right smack on the bubble.
“It all depends,” bracketologist Patrick Stevens told The Daily Orange at halftime.
Alexandra Moreo | Senior Staff PhotographerPublished on March 8, 2018 at 1:52 am Contact Alexandra: amoreo@syr.edu
