The Syracuse Orange (4-2) finally got a double-digit win this season but it sure didn’t unfold as easily as anyone expected. In the end, two freshmen led the way as Syracuse pulled out a 82-72 win over the Cornell Big Red- the 44th consecutive win for the Orange over the Big Red.

Syracuse started the game off shooting 1-15 from the field and quickly went down 10-0 as Cornell took advantage of a team that looked like it was just waking up from tryptophan slumber. With Eddie Lampkin hampered by his back injury, Syracuse inserted Jyare Davis in Lampkin’s place, but the Orange team we saw in Brooklyn didn’t arrive in the Dome.

Thankfully two freshman stepped up when Syracuse needed them. Donnie Freeman had 23 points, 12 rebounds and 3 assists. He was a perfect 7-7 from the line and showed more aggressiveness.

Choppa Moore was the key to turning around the Orange offense. Moore hit on 7-12 shots (5-7 from deep) and finished with a career-high 19 points to go along with 6 rebounds. With Lampkin, JJ Starling and Chris Bell all struggling, it was the freshmen who delivered tonight and Moore had the dagger after this Lucas Taylor defensive gem

Cornell was led by Guy Ragland, Jr’s 17 points while both Cooper Noard and Nazir Williams had 15. The Big Red were 12-40 from 3 while Moore was the only Syracuse player to hit from beyond the arc. Syracuse won the rebounding battle 46-35 and committed only 6 turnovers on the evening.

With visits to Tennessee and Notre Dame looming next week, Syracuse needs to fix the issues we saw on both ends of the floor. The offense featured far too many quick mid-range jumpers and the defense allowed Cornell to penetrate and kick to open shooters. If the Orange don’t clean it up quick, it could be ugly in Knoxville on Tuesday night.