Syracuse is set to face Saint Joseph’s in a thrilling showdown on Thursday evening, December 11th, at the JMA Wireless Dome. The game is scheduled to begin at 9:00 p.m. and will be broadcast live on ACC Network.
Syracuse’s Recent Performance
The Syracuse Orange enter this matchup with a record of 5-3. They are looking to build on their recent success after defeating the 13th-ranked Tennessee Volunteers in the ACC/SEC Challenge on December 2. This victory came down to a highly contested finish, where Syracuse secured a 62-60 win, thanks in large part to critical plays from senior guard J.J. Starling.
Starling played a pivotal role, scoring a late go-ahead three-pointer and assisting teammate William Kyle III, who contributed crucial points down the stretch.
Home Court Advantage
Syracuse has proven to be formidable at home, boasting a perfect 4-0 record at the JMA Wireless Dome this season. In their home games, they are averaging 77.0 points while holding opponents to just 55.8 points.
- Shooting stats: Syracuse has converted 115 out of 224 shots, translating to a shooting percentage of 51.3%.
- Defensive prowess: They have limited opponents to 75 of 225 shooting, giving them a shooting percentage of 33.3%.
- Defensive highlights: The Orange average 8.3 blocks and 8.8 steals per game, winning home contests by an average margin of 21.3 points.
Key Contributors
Over the past four games, four Syracuse players have consistently scored in double digits. J.J. Starling and Nate Kingz lead the team with averages of 10.8 points per game. Kingz notably contributed 19 points in the victory against Tennessee.
Meanwhile, William Kyle III has established himself as a defensive force, achieving 22 blocks this season, including six against Tennessee. Freshman Sadiq White Jr. has also solidified his position in the starting lineup, averaging 9.3 points and 4.5 rebounds.
Saint Joseph’s Outlook
Saint Joseph’s enters this game with a 6-3 record, having recently won four consecutive games. Their latest victory was a dominating 87-65 performance against Coppin State.
- Star player: Sophomore Deuce Jones II leads the Hawks with an average of 15.6 points per game.
- Defensive anchor: Justice Ajogbor has earned recognition as an Atlantic-10 All-Defensive Team member and has a total of 16 blocks this season.
- Emerging talent: Jaiden Glover-Toscano scored a career-high 25 points in the recent win over Coppin State.
Saint Joseph’s has impressed with their scoring ability, averaging 77.3 points per game while leading Division I in free throw percentage at 81.3%.
Coaching and Series History
Head Coach Steve Donahue is in his first season with the Hawks, bringing 25 years of coaching experience at the Division I level. The history between Syracuse and Saint Joseph’s is competitive; both teams have won four games apiece in their previous encounters. Their last meeting was on November 11, 2007, where Syracuse triumphed in a close 72-69 game.
Fans can buy tickets for the game at cuse.com/feature/basketball-tickets. Don’t miss this exciting clash in college basketball!
