SYRACUSE, N.Y. (AP) – North Carolina State coach Kevin Keatts was proud of his team for overcoming “all types of adversity.”
Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim was proud of his team, too, even though the Orange couldn’t overcome major adversity of its own.
Devon Daniels scored 23 points, including seven straight in the second half, C.J. Bryce added 19 and North Carolina State (16-8, 7-6 Atlantic Coast Conference) defeated shorthanded Syracuse 79-74 on Tuesday night.
Syracuse (14-10, 7-6) played most of the game without junior Elijah Hughes, who leads the Orange in scoring at 19.4 points per game. Hughes suffered an apparent groin injury in pre-game warm-ups, went to the sidelines less than three minutes into the game, and never returned.
“I thought everybody did an unbelievable job,” Boeheim said. “When you lose your best player, one of the three or four best players in the league without being able to practice, it’s difficult. But they did everything they could; they got right back in it. They were very good today for not having him (Elijah). Exceptionally good.”
Boeheim said he thought he’d seen everything in his 44 years leading the Orange, but Hughes’s injury was a new one.
“I’ve never had a player in 44 years get hurt in warm-ups but there’s a first time for everything. Disappointing, disappointing. It’s a pressure team and that’s where he thrives. “
The Wolfpack wasn’t without adversity of its own.
“Our guys did a tremendous job finishing the game,” Keatts said. “When you look at it, we had all types of adversity. When you look at our post guys, they never got into a rhythm because they didn’t get a chance to play a lot. We had some adversity because we were in foul trouble.
The Wolfpack hit 25 of 48 from the field and 11 of 25 from beyond the arc, including 5 of 11 from 3 in the second half.
Freshman Joe Girard scored a career-high 30 points for Syracuse. Quincy Guerrier also registered a career-best 16 points and his second double-double with 10 rebounds.
Buddy Boeheim and Girard, who took the Orange’s only 3s, were a combined 3 of 18. For the game, the Orange hit just 39% from the field.
“When he (Elijah) went out, me personally, I knew what the team was thinking, next man up mentality, so we knew they weren’t going to back down,” Daniels said. “They’re (Boeheim and Girard) great competitors. And we just tried to make it tough on them.”
The Orange had its biggest lead of the game at 68-62 on two foul shots by Girard but Daniels scored the next seven points, giving the Wolfpack a 69-68 lead with 4:26 remaining.
“We were just trying to pressure them on defense and good things happen when you do that,” Daniels said of his run.
The Wolfpack extended to a 77-70 margin on a 3 by Bryce with 2:34 remaining. Syracuse got within four on two foul shots by Girard with 1:37 to go.
In a first half of runs, the Wolfpack scored the final five points to take a 39-35 lead at the break. NC State was hot from 3 in the first half, going 6 of 14, and 13 of 25 overall. Bryce was 3 for 4 from deep. The Wolfpack turned the ball over 10 times in the first half, one below its average.
A FOUL TIME
Center Bourama Sidibe has fouled out of four straight games for Syracuse, totaling seven for the season.
TAKING ADVANTAGE
The Wolfpack turned 15 Syracuse turnovers into 23 points. Syracuse only managed 12 points on a season-high 19 Wolfpack miscues.
BIG PICTURE
NC State: The Wolfpack got the big win it needed but still has a tough road ahead with two games against Duke and one against Florida State.
Syracuse: The Orange must defeat both Florida State and Louisville, both on the road, if the team has any hope of making the NCAA Tournament.
UP NEXT
NC State concludes a three-game road trip Sunday against Boston College.
Syracuse begins a crucial two-game road swing Saturday against No. 8 Florida State.