Syracuse captures 1st ACC win with 82-72 victory over Georgia Tech
Syracuse produced its best offensive first half of the season en route to an 82-72 win over Georgia Tech. Ave Magee | Photo Editor
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Adrian Autry remembers the feeling of playing against a former team. As a professional overseas, Autry was traded midseason. Naithan George and Akir Souare live in a much different world, instead choosing to transfer in the offseason from Georgia Tech to Syracuse.
Autry said Monday he would address the emotions of the moment with the duo before Tuesday’s tip-off. In their return to Atlanta Tuesday, George and Souare helped Syracuse (10-5, 1-1 Atlantic Coast) take down Georgia Tech (10-6, 1-2 Atlantic Coast) 82-72.
SU caught offensive fire in the first half and built a big enough lead the rest of the way as Donnie Freeman tallied a career-high 27 points. The Orange nearly collapsed drastically, allowing a 20-point second-half lead to fall to five with minutes to play. Syracuse couldn’t buy a shot and turned the ball over at a rapid pace. But Freeman closed the door on the Yellow Jackets.
George gave SU some early energy as he forced an offensive foul on an illegal screen, shouting in celebration just feet away from his new team’s bench. A minute later, he splashed a 3 from the right wing.
While George was primed to be the catalyst in Syracuse’s first true road game of the year, the obvious difference maker was Freeman. The star sophomore made his first start in 49 days following a foot injury. He returned off the bench in the ACC opener versus Clemson, and scored 18 to nearly lead a victory.
Early on, Freeman knocked down a straightaway 3 as the Orange climbed in front. Despite poor 3-point shooting throughout the season — ranking second-to-last in the ACC at 30.9% — SU attempted six 3-pointers less than five minutes into the contest. It hit three of them, taking an 11-8 lead.
For an offense that has been ridiculed, for good reason, all season, Syracuse looked fluid throughout the first half. There were a few big alley-oops. Guards drove the rim. 3-point attempts were open. The presence of Freeman, even when he was on the bench, was apparent.
Georgia Tech center Mou Sylla missed the contest with an injury, and SU made it pay. The Orange often drove to the rim with ease as they scored their most points in a first half this season (44). It became even easier as forward Baye Ndongo went down with a knee injury in the closing minutes of the first half. George found a groove inside with a flurry of hesitations and pump fakes, racking up nine points in the opening 20 minutes as SU took a 14-point lead into the half.
GT head coach Damon Stoudamire knew the keys to victory against the Orange. Monday, he said if his squad “shrunk the court” and limited transition points, they’d have a good chance to take down SU. Syracuse had its way with Georgia Tech early on.
Ndongo returned to action in the second half but fell into foul trouble as Freeman targeted him and produced a personal 9-0 run to build a 20-point lead. As time dwindled down on the Yellow Jackets and their frontcourt’s foul tally increased, the Orange still found a way to fall apart.
Souare muscled inside for an and-1 finish, with Autry delivering a fist pump in sync with the ball rolling into the hoop. Souare eventually fouled out in his return, totaling five fouls in eight minutes. While George scored 17 points, he committed six turnovers.
Syracuse’s biggest margin of victory in the ACC last season was 14 versus NC State and Virginia. The Orange stayed above the double-digit mark for much of the second half and took home their first conference win despite a nearly-disastrous blown lead.
