Syracuse Suffers Third Straight Loss in Las Vegas Against Iowa State

The Syracuse Orange suffered their third consecutive defeat during the Players Era Festival in Las Vegas, falling to No. 15 Iowa State with a score of 95-64. This game concluded a challenging stretch where Syracuse faced three ranked opponents in a single week, including teams renowned for their defensive prowess.

Syracuse Orange’s Vegas Performance

Syracuse’s trip included intense matchups against No. 3 Houston and Kansas. Despite showing resilience against these top-tier teams, the Orange ultimately could not secure a victory. Their opening game against Houston was particularly close, with Syracuse narrowly losing 78-74 in overtime.

Struggles Against Iowa State

In the matchup against Iowa State, Syracuse entered the game without their leading scorer, Donnie Freeman. The first half saw a closely contested battle, with the Orange trailing just 35-34 at halftime. However, an explosive start to the second half by Iowa State, which included making their first eight shots, quickly changed the momentum.

• Iowa State launched a 20-5 run, decisively extending their lead.
• Syracuse could not recover, scoring only 30 points in the second half.
• The Orange’s shooting woes continued as they missed all nine attempts from beyond the arc after halftime.

Key Players and Statistics

Milan Momcilovic led Iowa State with 24 points, showcasing his shooting skill by hitting six 3-pointers. Freshman Killyan Toure contributed significantly, scoring 19 points on 7-for-9 shooting, particularly excelling in the first half.

On the Syracuse side, freshman Sadiq White was the standout player, finishing with 12 points. Unfortunately, the team struggled to handle the defensive intensity of the Cyclones, registering a season-high 19 turnovers.

Looking Ahead

Syracuse’s next challenge is against No. 17 Tennessee, another crucial game that falls into the NCAA’s Quad 1 category. The Orange are looking to turn around their performance, as the remaining non-conference schedule features several games that likely fall into Quad 4, which could make qualifying for the NCAA Tournament more challenging.

The Players Era Festival was an opportunity for Syracuse to bolster their NCAA Tournament credentials, but the outcomes highlight the need for improvement as they prepare for future matchups.