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The Syracuse Orange visited Moody Coliseum and handed the SMU Mustangs a 78–69 loss, launching their ACC campaign with a convincing road win. The game underscored Syracuse’s offensive firepower and defensive pressure, while SMU showed resilience but ultimately came up short.
A Hot Start for Syracuse
Syracuse exploded out of the gate, opening the game with a 25–9 first-quarter advantage. Three-point shooting and interior defense fueled the early surge: the Orange knocked down several early threes and used strong rim protection to stifle SMU’s offense. That lead set the tone for the rest of the contest, as Syracuse never trailed and managed to keep SMU at arm’s length throughout.
Key Performances: Burrows, Phelia, Izoje Lead the Charge
- Sophie Burrows led all scorers with 22 points, including five made three-pointers and flawless free-throw shooting. Her shooting — especially from beyond the arc — broke open the game early and provided consistent scoring throughout.
- Laila Phelia contributed 19 points, adding an important scoring punch to support Burrows.
- Uche Izoje anchored the defense with dominant rim presence, including multiple blocks, helping Syracuse control the paint and protect the lead.
- Additional contributions came from Domonique Darius (13 points) and Journey Thompson (10 points), rounding out a balanced offensive attack. In total, four Orange players reached double figures.
Syracuse finished with 11 made three-pointers — a season-high — and shot efficiently from long range. Their rebounding and ball movement (assists and ball security) also supported a controlled, dominant effort.
SMU’s Fight Back, But Too Much Ground to Recover
Despite the early hole, SMU battled back at times, especially in the second half, erasing some of the deficit and showing signs of life. The Mustangs put together spurts of scoring and made a push but could not fully overcome Syracuse’s early cushion and consistent offense.
However, the loss highlighted some continued challenges for SMU: difficulty matching Syracuse’s shooting pace, dealing with interior defense, and preventing early runs.
What the Result Means
For Syracuse, the win was a strong statement to begin ACC play — showing they have the shooting, depth, and defense to compete in a tough conference. For SMU, the loss—while disappointing—offered lessons about consistency, defensive matchups, and the urgency of avoiding slow starts.
The game underscored the gulf that still exists between a polished ACC contender and a team still adapting to high-level conference competition.
Looking Ahead
Syracuse will ride their momentum into future conference games, bolstered by confidence and a proven ability to shoot from distance and defend inside. SMU, meanwhile, must use the game as a learning opportunity — focusing on execution, defensive toughness, and avoiding slow starts if they want to close the gap with stronger ACC teams in coming matchups.
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