NC State vs. Syracuse: A Historical Perspective

NC State (11-16, 4-12) will play at Syracuse (11-16, 5-11) tonight at 7 PM on ESPNU. Here’s a historical look at the series between the Wolfpack and the Orange.

Tonight’s game marks the 22nd meeting between the two teams, with Syracuse currently holding a 14-7 edge in the series, which began on December 4, 1990. In that first game 34 years ago, the Wolfpack lost 79-86 to the 4th-ranked Orange in New York.

NC State will be playing in the JMA Wireless Dome tonight, where their record is 3-7.

Since the Orange joined the ACC in 2013, the Wolfpack is 6-10 against Syracuse.

In their last matchup, #10 seed NC State defeated #7 seed Syracuse in the second round of the 2024 ACC Tournament, snapping a seven-game losing streak against the Orange. Jayden Taylor led the Pack in scoring with 18 points and also contributed nine rebounds (a career high). Michael O’Connell added 16 points, tying a season high. DJ Horne scored 16, and DJ Burns had 15.

Brandon Huntley-Hatfield was excellent against the Orange last year as a member of Louisville, averaging 18 points and 12 rebounds in two games.

The last time the Wolfpack won at Syracuse was on February 11, 2020, when they secured a 79-74 victory. Kevin Keatts is 4-8 against the Orange overall and 2-3 on the road.

There have been only five triple-doubles in NC State history (four players), and two of them happened against Syracuse. Dennis Smith Jr. recorded 13 points, 11 rebounds, and 15 assists on February 1, 2017, while Jarkel Joiner tallied 15 points, 10 rebounds, and 11 assists on February 14, 2023. Smith’s 15 assists against the Orange are tied for the eighth-most in a single game in school history.

Two of the best three-point shooting performances in NC State history came against Syracuse. Maverick Rowan hit eight three-pointers on February 1, 2017 (tied for second all-time), while Terquavion Smith made seven on February 2, 2022 (tied for seventh).