Syracuse, N.Y. — The Syracuse basketball team takes on the Texas Tech Red Raiders at 7 p.m., Friday at Barclays Center in Brooklyn.
The game will air on ESPNU.
See in-game team and individual stats here.
Note: Refresh this page throughout Syracuse’s game vs. Texas Tech to see the latest updates
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Pregame
Syracuse basketball (3-1) had less than 24 hours to wash away any leftover sting from its loss against Texas, before turning its attention to another program in the Lone Star State: Texas Tech (4-1).
Exactly how much has changed in those 24 hours is yet to be determined.
This is the third all-time meeting between the Orange and Red Raiders, and first time since November 2005, when Syracuse won 81-46 at Madison Square Garden during the 2K College Hoop Classic.
The Orange’s game against Texas unveiled a better understanding of Syracuse’s defensive capabilities, holding the Longhorns without field goal for at least 2:15 three times in the second half.
J.J. Starling led the Orange with 16 points against Texas, with Eddie Lampkin following suit with 14 points and Chris Bell and Jyare Davis both scored 11 against the Longhorns. Syracuse crawled back from a double-digit halftime deficit, tying the game midway through the second half before Texas scored late free throws to win it.
The Red Raiders also lost their first game of the season Thursday night, falling to Saint Joseph’s, 78-77. Heading into the Legends Classic tournament, Texas Tech won each of its four games by at least 21 points — including a 47-point win over Wyoming on Nov. 13 and is ranked No. 22 in the USA Today Coaches poll.
Texas Tech, similarly to Syracuse, faced an uphill battle against its opponent in the second half. The Red Raiders were down by 10 points against St. Joseph’s at the break, before wiping out the deficit. The two teams changed leads seven times before Texas Tech couldn’t make a handful of shots in the final minute of regulation, and Saint Joseph’s won with free throws.
J.T. Toppin led the Red Raiders with 22 points and 18 rebounds, recording his third double-double in as many games. Darrion Williams and Chance McMillian scored a combined 35 points in Thursday’s game.
A key element to watch: free throws.
It’s almost an unsurprising element to pay attention to. After shooting just 50% from the free throw line against Texas, netting free throws throughout the game has to be an important part of the Orange’s plan. Texas Tech was 7-for-9 against Saint Joseph’s, missing two key free throws in the second half.
