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Men's Basketball

Superlatives from Syracuse’s 82-81 victory over Clemson

Courtesy of Stephen D. Cannerelli | Syracuse Media Group

Tyler Lydon hit two big free throws to tie the game up late before the Orange won the game.

By Connor GrossmanSenior Staff Writer

Editor’s note: The Daily Orange was not at the Clemson game Tuesday night. Our reporters are providing coverage after watching the game at TV

In another road game coming down to the game’s final possession, Syracuse came out on top again. Tyus Battle hit a buzzer-beating 3 to give SU (16-9, 8-4 Atlantic Coast) an 82-81 win against Clemson (13-10, 3-8) at Littlejohn Arena.

Here’s the best and worst from Tuesday’s game.

Turning point

In a battle of two teams on the NCAA Tournament bubble, the game came down to the final 32 seconds in a 79-79 game. The Tigers ran down the clock to seven seconds before Donte Grantham hit a contested jumper in the paint to give Clemson an 81-79 lead. Syracuse then called a timeout to draw up a play.



On the game’s final possession, Syracuse ran the length of the floor. John Gillon received the inbound from Tyler Lydon before streaking down the court, eventually turning and flipping the ball back to Lydon, who drove and found Tyus Battle open for a corner 3. The freshman guard hit his second shot of the night to give the Orange a clutch win.

Stud: Taurean Thompson

For much of the first half, Syracuse played like the one-dimensional offensive team that struggled through non-conference play. That meant little to no penetration, and a significant reliance on White behind the arc. Like he has most of the season, the fifth-year senior bailed out his teammates. But when Syracuse needed life in the second half, Thompson delivered the interior production SU badly needed. He scored 14 points against Clemson, all in the second half.

The freshman forward scored 10 of the Orange’s first 13 points in the second stanza, many on second-chance opportunities. When Lydon missed a deep 3, Thompson tipped it back in to give Syracuse a 43-42 lead. The 6-foot-11 freshman did the same on a missed White 3 on the next possession, giving him seven straight points.

Thompson’s biggest issue on Tuesday, like it has been all season, is foul trouble. He re-entered the game with five and a half minutes left, immediately laid in a basket and committed his fourth foul on his first defensive possession. That forced Boeheim to rely on Tyler Roberson, who isn’t nearly the post player Thompson is.

Highlight: White’s steal

With 59 seconds to go and Syracuse trailing by two, Clemson lobbed an inbound play near midcourt. White bodied up the Tigers player and wrestled possession away. The ensuing possession ended in a Lydon foul at the rim, and he made both free throws to tie the game at 79. For a player known largely for his offensive contributions, White’s defense has been big in the Orange’s past few games.

MORE COVERAGE 

Lowlight: Roberson’s free throws

If it feels like Roberson hasn’t made a free throw in two weeks, it’s because he hasn’t. The senior only had two attempts from the line but missed both. The last time Roberson made a free throw was against Wake Forest on Jan. 24. Since then, he’s 0-for-10. The forward’s inefficiencies from the foul line weren’t exposed on Tuesday, but Syracuse badly needed those points in a close game. It won’t be long until SU opponents start fouling Roberson in in the final minutes of close games, willing to bet games on his ability to make free throws.





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