Overview
- Donnie Freeman led Syracuse with 18 points and sealed it with two free throws in the final second after Monmouth missed a tying 3-point attempt.
- Monmouth’s Justin Ray scored 25 points as the Hawks cut a 73-62 deficit to two with 36 seconds left before the Orange closed it out.
- Syracuse went 19-for-33 at the line, including multiple two-shot trips with zero makes in the second half, which nearly erased a 14-point lead.
- JJ Starling returned from a right-leg injury to score 11, Nate Kingz added 15, and Naithan George posted 12 points with nine assists and six rebounds.
- The 4-0 start, Syracuse’s first since 2017-18, sets up next week’s Players Era matchups in Las Vegas against No. 2 Houston and No. 24 Kansas.