Syracuse Trails Virginia at Halftime

Orange rally late in first half but trail ranked Cavaliers by 3 points

Feb. 7, 2026 at 12:23pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The Syracuse men's basketball team trails #18 Virginia 38-35 at halftime in Charlottesville. SU raced out to an early lead, but Virginia responded with a 12-0 run. The Cavaliers extended their advantage to 11 points before Syracuse closed the half on a 15-7 run.

Why it matters

This ACC matchup between two historic programs is an important early-season test for the Orange as they look to bounce back from a disappointing 2025-26 campaign. A win over the ranked Cavaliers would be a significant boost to Syracuse's NCAA Tournament hopes.

The details

J.J. Starling and Naithan George have combined for 23 points to lead the Orange attack, while Sam Lewis paces Virginia with 8 points. Syracuse has turned the ball over 7 times, while the Cavaliers have knocked down 6 three-pointers.

  • The game is being played on February 7, 2026.
  • Syracuse raced out to an 8-4 lead less than 4 minutes into the game.

The players

J.J. Starling

A key player in the Syracuse offense who has scored 23 points so far in the game.

Naithan George

Another important contributor for the Orange, scoring 23 points alongside Starling.

Sam Lewis

The leading scorer for Virginia with 8 points in the first half.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What’s next

The second half of this ACC matchup between Syracuse and #18 Virginia will determine the outcome of the game.

The takeaway

This close first-half battle between the Orange and Cavaliers showcases the competitiveness of this ACC rivalry and the importance of this early-season test for Syracuse as they look to return to the NCAA Tournament.