Syracuse holds on for close win over visiting Saint Joseph's

Tyler Betsey tied a career high with 16 points to guide Syracuse to a 71-63 home victory over Saint Joseph's on Thursday.

Nate Kingz added 14 points and William Kyle III chipped in with 12 points, 11 rebounds and four blocks for Syracuse (6-3), which has won back-to-back games following an 0-3 trip to Las Vegas. The Orange are 5-0 at home this season and play their next five games at the JMA Wireless Dome.

J.J. Starling notched 11 points for the hosts, while Naithan George contributed 10 points and three steals.

The Hawks (6-4), meanwhile, watched their four-game winning streak come to an end as they fell to 0-4 on the road. Deuce Jones paced Saint Joseph's with 18 points to go with seven rebounds, five assists and four steals.

Jaiden Glover-Toscano pitched in with 14 points and nine rebounds, while Dasear Haskins had 10 points and eight boards for the visitors.

The Hawks shot just 5-of-26 from 3-point range, while the Orange were 6-of-14.

Saint Joseph's led 14-7 before going 6 1/2 minutes without a field goal. Betsey made two 3-pointers during the Hawks' drought before knocking down another jumper that put the Orange ahead 20-15.

Jones and Derek Simpson combined for 13 of Saint Joseph's 15 points in the final 7 1/2 minutes of the first half, helping the visitors get within 34-30 at the break.

Jones paced all scorers with 12 points in the first half.

The Orange led by six early in the second half before Haskins scored twice during a quick 6-0 run to draw the teams even at 38-38.

From there, neither team led by more than five until Betsey's tough bucket gave Syracuse a 63-56 lead with 4:28 to go.

Betsey made another jumper with 3:01 left, and then George found Kyle for a layup on the next possession to push the lead to double figures for the first time.

The Hawks got within seven in the final minute but never seriously threatened down the stretch.

--Field Level Media