Syracuse Blown Out at Louisville After Woeful First Half Offensive Display

The Orange shot just 28% from the field in the opening half as Louisville cruised to a 77-62 victory.

Published on Mar. 4, 2026

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Syracuse struggled mightily on offense in the first half, shooting just 28% from the field as Louisville built a big lead and cruised to a 77-62 victory. The Cardinals hit 14 3-pointers in the game and were led by strong performances from Ryan Conwell, J'Vonne Hadley, and Isaac McKneely.

Why it matters

This loss drops Syracuse to 15-15 on the season and 6-11 in ACC play, further damaging their chances of making the NCAA Tournament. Meanwhile, Louisville improves to 21-9 overall and 10-7 in conference, keeping their postseason hopes alive.

The details

Syracuse kept the game close early, but Louisville went on an 11-0 run to take a 21-10 lead and never looked back. The Cardinals built a 39-21 halftime advantage and extended it to as much as 24 points in the second half. Syracuse made a few runs to get the deficit down to 11 points, but could not complete the comeback.

  • The game was played on March 4, 2026.

The players

Naithan George

Led Syracuse with 16 points.

Nate Kingz

Scored 14 points for the Orange.

Donnie Freeman

Recorded a double-double of 10 points and 11 rebounds for Syracuse.

Ryan Conwell

Paced Louisville with 21 points, including 5 3-pointers.

J'Vonne Hadley

Scored an efficient 19 points on 7-of-9 shooting for the Cardinals.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident (San Francisco Chronicle)

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee (Instagram)

The takeaway

This game highlighted Syracuse's offensive struggles, as they shot just 28% in the first half and could not overcome Louisville's hot shooting and big lead. The loss further damages the Orange's NCAA Tournament hopes, while Louisville keeps their postseason aspirations alive with the victory.