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Defense Lifts Syracuse Over Saint Joseph’s 71-63 To Stay Unbeaten at Home

Defensive grit carried a rusty offense, signaling work ahead before Hofstra.

Overview

  • Syracuse moved to 6-3 as William Kyle III posted 12 points, 11 rebounds and four blocks in a game defined by stops rather than flow.
  • Tyler Betsey scored 16 and Nate Kingz added 14 as five Orange players reached double figures, with the team shooting 47% from the field and 6-for-14 from three.
  • The Orange held the Hawks to 35.7% overall and 5-for-26 from deep, and a second‑half push sparked by Kiyan Anthony’s three‑point play and a Kingz triple put Syracuse ahead for good after a 38-38 tie.
  • Persistent flaws resurfaced with a 44-34 rebounding deficit and a 15-for-28 night at the line, though Saint Joseph’s also struggled at the stripe despite entering as Division I’s top free-throw unit.
  • Sophomore Donnie Freeman missed a fifth straight game with a lower‑body injury as an announced crowd of 12,584 marked a season low; Syracuse is 5-0 at home and hosts Hofstra on Dec. 13.