Syracuse Beats Monmouth in Tough Basketball Battle at Home

Syracuse won a very close and exciting game at home on Tuesday night, beating Monmouth 78-73. The match was full of energy, fast plays, big shots, and strong defence from both teams. Syracuse came into the game with confidence, carrying an unbeaten 3-0 record. Monmouth, however, did not make it easy and pushed hard until the final seconds.

Donnie Freeman was the top scorer for Syracuse with 18 points. He played with confidence, scoring important baskets and helping his team stay ahead in tough moments. Nate Kingz also added 15 points and was a strong presence on the court. Another key player, Naithan George, had an impressive all-round performance with 12 points, nine assists, and six rebounds. His smart passing and control of the game helped Syracuse keep their rhythm.

J.J. Starling added 11 points and hit an important three-pointer when Monmouth was closing the gap. Syracuse overall shot very well, making 50% of their field goals in the whole game and an even better 60.9% in the second half. This shooting helped them build a 14-point lead at one point.

Although Monmouth came into the match with only one win in three games, they played fearlessly. Justin Ray had a career-best performance, scoring 25 points, including four big three-pointers. He kept Monmouth alive in the match through his sharp shooting and calm decision-making.

Stefanos Spartalis also had the best game of his career with 18 points. Jack Collins added 11 points, six rebounds and five assists, making him one of the most impactful players for Monmouth. Their good teamwork helped them take advantage of Syracuse’s struggles at the free-throw line, especially in the second half where Syracuse missed 11 free throws.

Monmouth’s top scorer for the season, Jason Rivera-Torres, had a difficult night. He managed only seven points because he got into foul trouble early and had to play carefully. However, even with four fouls, he made a brilliant block on a Syracuse layup. That block led to a fast break where Justin Ray scored another three-pointer, bringing Monmouth to within 67-60.

Syracuse responded well. Starling hit an important three to rebuild the lead, and the Orange again went ahead by 11 points. But Monmouth refused to give up. With less than two minutes left, Collins stole a rebound from Freeman and hit a jumper, making the score 73-67. The tension grew as both teams tried hard to finish strong.

Starling made just one of his two free throws, and Rivera-Torres scored a layup to cut the lead further. Then Collins hit a huge three-pointer, making the score 74-72 with only 36 seconds left. The crowd was nervous as Monmouth looked ready to complete a comeback.

Freeman then calmly made two free throws for Syracuse, helping his team stay ahead. Rivera-Torres made one free throw to make it 76-73. With only 10 seconds left, Bryce Zephir missed both free throws for Syracuse, giving Monmouth one last chance. But Rivera-Torres’ final three-point attempt missed badly, and Syracuse secured the win.

The game was competitive from the first minute. Monmouth even took a 22-18 lead in the first half before Syracuse responded with a strong 16-4 run to build a halftime lead. The second half saw fast-paced plays, including back-to-back dunks set up by George.

In the end, Syracuse stayed unbeaten at 4-0. The team showed good teamwork, strong shooting, and calmness in the most important moments. Monmouth also earned respect for their determined comeback and strong individual performances.