Syracuse Basketball Draws Over 19,000 Fans for Upset Win Over SMU

The Orange rallied from a 12-point deficit to defeat the Mustangs 79-78 in front of a packed JMA Wireless Dome.

Published on Feb. 15, 2026

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Syracuse University announced a crowd of 19,680 fans for its men's basketball matchup against Southern Methodist University at the JMA Wireless Dome on Saturday afternoon. The Orange rallied from a 12-point second-half deficit to defeat the Mustangs 79-78 on a last-second shot by Nate Kingz.

Why it matters

Syracuse basketball is one of the biggest draws in college sports, and the team's ability to pack the arena for a regular season game against a non-conference opponent like SMU speaks to the program's enduring popularity and fan engagement in the local community.

The details

Syracuse trailed SMU 78-77 with 13.7 seconds left, but took a timeout to set up a final shot. The Orange got the ball to Nate Kingz, who drove to the basket and coaxed in a shot off the glass with 2.3 seconds remaining to give Syracuse the victory.

  • The game was played on Saturday, February 15, 2026.
  • Syracuse's next home game is on Saturday, February 21, 2026 against North Carolina at 1 p.m.

The players

Nate Kingz

A Syracuse player who hit the game-winning shot in the final seconds to defeat SMU.

Southern Methodist University

The opposing team that Syracuse defeated in the close 79-78 game.

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What they’re saying

“19,680 fans for its men's basketball matchup vs. Southern Methodist University at the JMA Wireless Dome on Saturday afternoon.”

— Syracuse University (syracuse.com)

What’s next

Syracuse's next home game is on Saturday, February 21, 2026 against North Carolina at 1 p.m.

The takeaway

Syracuse basketball continues to be one of the biggest draws in college sports, with the team packing the JMA Wireless Dome for a regular season non-conference game against SMU. The Orange's ability to rally from a double-digit deficit for the victory further demonstrates the team's competitiveness and the passion of its fan base.