- Lampkin Jr. records career-high 11 field goals with 25 points/10 rebounds
- Syracuse shoots 59.6% overall, 58.1% in first half
- Cavaliers' reserves combine for 23 points on 10/12 shooting
- Orange secure 14th seed, face Florida State in ACC Tournament rematch
In a stunning conclusion to the ACC regular season, Syracuse delivered one of their strongest performances of the year against Virginia. The Orange established early dominance with a 15-6 opening run, fueled by Lampkin's 14 first-half points. This marks Syracuse's first victory against Virginia since 2021, breaking a three-game losing streak against the Cavaliers.
Lampkin's extraordinary 91.7% field goal percentage (11/12) represents the highest single-game accuracy by any ACC center this season. The transfer big man's performance included 8 consecutive made baskets during a critical 14-minute stretch, overwhelming Virginia's interior defense. His 10 rebounds helped Syracuse maintain a 32-28 advantage on the glass.
The Orange's offensive execution reached season-best levels, with three players scoring 15+ points for only the third time this year. Syracuse's 59.6% team shooting percentage ranks as their second-highest in conference play since joining the ACC. This efficiency contrasted sharply with Virginia's 44.3% from the field, despite Jacob Cofie's perfect 6/6 reserve performance.
Regional Insight: Syracuse's home court advantage proved decisive, improving their Carrier Center record to 10-7 this season. This contrasts sharply with their 3-11 road record, including January's 16-point loss at Florida State - their next tournament opponent. The Orange have now won 4 of their last 5 home games against ranked opponents.
Strategic Analysis: Syracuse exploited Virginia's weak perimeter defense through calculated paint penetration, scoring 46 points in the lane. This interior focus created open looks for shooters, resulting in 7/15 three-point conversions. Defensively, the Orange's 2-3 zone limited Virginia to 4/18 from beyond the arc, continuing a season-long trend of holding opponents to 32.1% three-point shooting.
Tournament Outlook: As the 14th seed, Syracuse faces an immediate rematch with Florida State, who dominated them 90-74 earlier this season. Historical data shows 11-seeds have won 62% of first-round ACC Tournament matchups since 2015. A victory would set up a second-round clash with 6th-seeded Clemson, against whom Syracuse lost 77-68 in February.