SYRACUSE, N.Y. — In an exciting matchup on Saturday night, freshman Ian Jackson matched his personal best by sinking five 3-pointers, netting a total of 23 points, while Jae’Lyn Withers also shined with a season-high performance, scoring 19 points on a remarkable 7-of-10 shooting. Ultimately, North Carolina triumphed over Syracuse with an 88-82 victory.
RJ Davis contributed significantly to the win with 16 points, along with six assists, five rebounds, two steals, and a block for the Tar Heels, who improved their season record to 15-11, including 8-6 in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC).
Syracuse attempted a dramatic comeback led by J.J. Starling, who executed a three-point play followed by two successful free throws. Eddie Lampkin Jr. then added two more foul shots to complete a 7-1 run, narrowing the gap to 82-80 with just 1:01 remaining on the clock. However, Elliot Cadeau quickly responded with a layup for North Carolina, and Davis added a pair of free throws shortly after, extending the Tar Heels’ lead to six points with only 25 seconds to go.
Lampkin shone for the Orange, leading the team with an impressive 26 points and 11 rebounds. Starling, who was notably effective in the second half, contributed 22 points, with 20 of those coming after halftime. Lucas Taylor added ten points to the mix for Syracuse.
The win marks North Carolina’s fourth consecutive victory over Syracuse, who fell to 11-15 overall and 5-10 in conference play.
Drake Powell started the second half strong for UNC, hitting a 3-pointer that brought the score to 56-46. Syracuse responded with a dunk from Lampkin, igniting a 14-4 run that tied the game at 60, highlighted by Starling’s successful three-point play during the streak where he scored 11 points.
Withers then redirected the momentum back to the Tar Heels, making a jumper in the paint before converting two crucial three-point plays within just 54 seconds, which propelled North Carolina to a 73-64 lead with 7:26 left in the game. A timely 3-pointer from Davis widened the margin to ten points with four minutes remaining, putting the game out of reach for the Orange.
Looking ahead, Syracuse will head on the road to face Pittsburgh on Tuesday, while North Carolina will return home to challenge in-state rival N.C. State on Wednesday.
