Virginia forward Kadin Shedrick rebounds on Syracuse guard Justin Taylor (5) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Syracuse, N.Y., Monday, Jan. 30, 2023. (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus)
A.P
Syracuse, NY
Jayden Gardner scored 17 points in the final minutes to win the seventh straight game 67-62 as Virginia withstood a second-half effort by Syracuse and made a jumper near the foul line.
Gardner, a fifth-year senior, charged Syracuse big man Jesse Edwards for his fifth foul with 1 minute left, then converted a shot with 37 seconds left to put the Cavaliers (17-3, 9-2 Atlantic Coast Conference) up by four.
Kehi Clark and Arman Franklin each scored 12 points for Virginia, which swept Syracuse and moved within one game of ACC leader Clemson.
Judah Mintz scored 20 points and Edwards had 14 for Syracuse (13-10, 6-6), which has lost four of five.
Virginia led by eight points twice early in the first half, which was the biggest advantage for either team. The Cavaliers took a 46-39 lead early in the second half and Syracuse went on a 12-0 run before Mintz made a three-point play, a 3-pointer and three free throws by Chris Bell and a three-pointer. Edwards.
But Franklin responded for the Cavaliers, making consecutive 3s for a 57-54 lead. Clark made a six-point lead with 3:10 left and two free throws with 2:35 left.
Syracuse trailed by two, but Edwards’ offensive foul cost the Orange a turnover to tie the game.
The Orange shot 50% against Virginia’s stout defense, but were 3-of-15 from 3-point range and 11-of-18 (61.1%) from the free throw line. Meanwhile, Virginia shot 9 of 21 (42.9%) from long range and managed to feed Gardner in the post for easy baskets in the Syracuse zone.
Big picture
The Cavaliers haven’t lost since a 68-65 loss at Pittsburgh on Jan. 3. It was coach Tony Bennett’s deep team that won the 2018-19 national championship, thanks in part to the big contributions of freshmen Isaac McNeely and Ryan. Forest
Coach Jim Boeheim’s Orange are rocking on their home floor, going 3-3 in ACC play at the cavernous JMA Wireless Dome.
Super strange
Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Harts watched from the sidelines after leading his team to the Super Bowl with a 31-7 victory over the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC title game.
Next
Virginia: Saturday at Virginia Tech.
Syracuse: at Boston College Saturday.
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