SYRACUSE, N.Y. (Interstat) — Syracuse used a balanced scoring attack and a strong interior presence to defeat Saint Joseph’s 71-63 in a men’s basketball game Thursday night at the Carrier Dome. The Orange, who improved to 5-3, led 34-30 at halftime and maintained a narrow advantage throughout the second half. Tyler Betsey led Syracuse with 16 points, while William Kyle added 12 points and four blocks. Nate Kingz also scored 14 for the Orange. Deuce Jones scored 18 points for the Hawks, who fell to 6-4. Jaiden Glover added 14 points. Saint Joseph’s struggled from the field, shooting just 35.7%, including 5 of 26 from 3-point range. Syracuse shot 47.2% from the floor and outscored the Hawks 36-30 in the paint. Attendance was 12,584.

SYRACUSE, N.Y. (Interstat) — In a game defined by defensive stands and offensive droughts, Syracuse used a decisive second-half push to pull away from Saint Joseph’s for a 71-63 victory in nonconference men’s basketball Thursday night at the Carrier Dome. A crowd of 12,584 saw the Orange improve to 5-3, while the Hawks fell to 6-4. The contest was a grind from the outset, with both teams struggling to find consistent scoring rhythm. Syracuse, however, leveraged its size and defensive presence, particularly from forward William Kyle, to create separation in the final 10 minutes. The Orange finished with seven blocked shots, four from Kyle, and held Saint Joseph’s to 35.7% shooting from the field and a frigid 19.2% from 3-point range. The most critical stretch of the game came midway through the second half with Syracuse clinging to a 43-40 lead. The Hawks, who had battled to stay within striking distance, went scoreless for over four minutes. During that drought, Syracuse engineered an 8-0 run, capped by a Nate Kingz 3-pointer assisted by Kiyan Anthony with 12:20 remaining, to build a 51-40 advantage. Saint Joseph’s would not get the deficit back to single digits until the final minute. Deuce Jones led all scorers for Saint Joseph’s with 18 points and added five assists, fighting to keep the Hawks in contention. Jaiden Glover added 14 points, and Dasear Haskins contributed 10. But the Hawks’ offense, which managed just 90.2 points per 100 possessions, was undone by 5-for-26 shooting from beyond the arc and 13 turnovers. Syracuse countered with a more balanced and efficient attack, posting an offensive rating of 99.6. Tyler Betsey provided a crucial scoring spark off the bench, leading the Orange with 16 points, including three 3-pointers. Kyle was a force inside, recording 12 points, four blocks and a game-high nine rebounds. Kingz also scored 14 points, while Naithan George orchestrated the offense with 10 points and three assists, and JJ Starling chipped in 11 points. The first half set the tone for a defensive struggle. Saint Joseph’s opened with an early burst, but Syracuse responded with a 9-0 run to take a lead it would not relinquish. The Orange led 34-30 at halftime despite shooting only 15 of 28 from the free-throw line in the game, a recurring issue that kept the Hawks within reach. Saint Joseph’s won the battle on the offensive glass, grabbing 12 rebounds to Syracuse’s five, and scored 16 fast-break points to the Orange’s 11. But those second-chance opportunities and transition baskets were not enough to overcome Syracuse’s superior half-court defense and timely shot-making. The victory allowed Syracuse to bounce back from a difficult stretch at the Maui Invitational, where it suffered three losses against top competition. Saint Joseph’s saw a three-game winning streak snapped despite coming off a dramatic one-point road win at Temple. Syracuse will look to build momentum when it hosts Hofstra on Saturday. Saint Joseph’s returns home to face Delaware State next Thursday.

SYRACUSE, N.Y. (Interstat) — Two teams looking to build momentum before conference play begins will meet Thursday when the Saint Joseph’s Hawks visit the Syracuse Orange at the Carrier Dome. Saint Joseph’s (5-3) enters on a two-game winning streak, most recently edging Temple 70-69 on the road last Saturday. The Hawks have shown resilience in close games, with their three losses coming by an average of 19 points but their last two wins secured by a combined five points. Syracuse (4-3) seeks to halt a three-game skid, all coming in a difficult stretch at the Hall of Fame Classic. The Orange fell to Iowa State 95-64 in their most recent outing on Nov. 26. Their losses have come against high-major competition, while their four wins have all been by double digits at home. A key matchup will feature Saint Joseph’s interior anchor against Syracuse’s backcourt. Hawks forward Justice Ajogbor is a defensive force, averaging multiple blocks per game. He scored 10 points and blocked three shots in 31 minutes against Temple. For Syracuse, guard JJ Starling has been a consistent scorer, reaching double figures in four straight games, including 11 points against Houston. The Hawks have relied on balanced scoring, with Deuce Jones (17 points) and Derek Simpson (8 points) also contributing significantly in the Temple win. Syracuse will look for more production from forward Sadiq White Jr., who led the team with 14 points against Iowa State. This nonconference clash is the first of two home games in a four-day span for Syracuse, which hosts Hofstra on Saturday. Saint Joseph’s continues a busy December with a home game against Delaware State on Dec. 18. Thursday’s game tips off at 7 p.m. EST.