Joe Girard III scored 24 points on Saturday as Syracuse posted a 79-65 home win over Boston College in Atlantic Coast Conference action.
The Orange (9-5, 2-1 ACC) closed out the calendar year by placing four players in double figures. Joining Girard was Judah Mintz (18 points), Benny Williams (16 points, 11 rebounds, three blocks) and Jesse Edwards (10 points, eight boards).
Makai Ashton-Langford had 14 points and four steals for the Eagles (7-7, 1-2), while Prince Aligbe and T.J. Bickerstaff registered 12 points apiece.
Syracuse led by 10 early in the second half before BC uncorked a 15-3 run to capture a 51-49 lead with about 11 minutes left. Aligbe and Devin McGlockton each made a 3-pointer for the Eagles during that key stretch, while Jaeden Zackery punctuated the run with a three-point play.
The Eagles’ lead did not last long, however, as Justin Taylor promptly buried a 3-pointer for the Orange. He added another less than two minutes later, and Girard knocked down one of his own for a 65-55 lead with just over six minutes left.
BC whittled its deficit to eight points down the stretch, but Edwards scored four points during an 8-0 run as the hosts pulled away.
Girard led all scorers with 13 first-half points as Syracuse went into the locker room with a 36-27 advantage.
BC actually led 13-6 early on before the Orange went on an 18-4 run to take control of the action. Girard made a layup and a 3-pointer early in the burst before giving the Orange a 19-17 lead with another long-range shot.
Mintz capped the uprising with a three-point play, putting Syracuse ahead 24-17 with less than seven minutes to go in the half.
The Eagles surged back with seven consecutive points, but the Orange regained the momentum with a 12-3 half-ending run. Williams supplied the final seven points of that burst, while Syracuse limited BC to one field goal over the final four minutes of the half.
–Field Level Media