Syracuse edges Louisville on late goaltending call

Field Level Media|published: Wed 7th February, 21:38 2024

Feb 7, 2024; Syracuse, New York, USA; Louisville Cardinals guard Ty-Laur Johnson (4) passes the ball under the basket with Syracuse Orange guard Justin Taylor (5) defending in the first half at the JMA Wireless Dome. credits: Mark Konezny-USA TODAY Sports

Chris Bell scored a career-high 30 points on 11-of-15 shooting as Syracuse outlasted visiting Louisville 94-92 in a wild Atlantic Coast Conference matchup on Wednesday night.

Judah Mintz added 21 points for the Orange (15-8, 6-6 ACC), while JJ Starling pitched in 19 points. Quadir Copeland registered 11 points and seven assists and recorded the game-winning bucket in the waning seconds.

The Cardinals (7-16, 2-10) were paced by Skyy Clark's 23 points and Brandon Huntley-Hatfield's 19 points and 13 rebounds. Tre White contributed 17 points and 12 boards for Louisville.

With the game tied at 81-81, Bell knocked down a 3-pointer with 3:21 to go. Just under a minute later, Starling was fouled on a 3-pointer and made all three free throws for an 87-81 cushion.

However, Clark's 3-pointer and three-point play drew the visitors within 88-87 with 1:09 remaining. Syracuse seemed to take control when Bell put in a 3-pointer with 37 seconds left, but Louisville did not go away.

Tre White scored on a putback with 24 seconds left and then, after Copeland made 1 of 2 free throws, Clark knocked down a 3-pointer off the dribble with 6.6 seconds left, tying things at 92-92.

Syracuse raced down the court and Copeland attempted a layup that was ruled to be goaltending with 3.8 seconds left. Clark attempted an off-balance 3-pointer for the win, but it clanked off the backboard as time expired.

Louisville scored nine of the game's first 11 points, but Syracuse quickly caught up at 11-11. The score was 39-39 late in the half when the Orange used a 10-4 push to open a six-point lead on Bell's 3-pointer.

Mike James converted a layup on the other end to get the Cardinals within 49-45 at the break.

In the second half, neither team led by more than four points until Clark dunked off a Starling turnover to put the Cardinals ahead 79-73 with 5:55 left.

However, the Orange kept pushing with Starling draining a 3-pointer and Mintz converting a three-point play to tie the game with 4:39 to go.

—Field Level Media

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