Despite four players in double figures, the Pack didn’t have enough firepower to keep up with the Syracuse Orange, as it fell 75-66 in the Carrier Dome.

The Wolfpack (14-15, 4-12 ACC) shot 37.3 percent from the field, while the Orange (19-10, 9-7 ACC) shot 46.4 percent. Three-point shooting gave Syracuse the edge, as it made 12 of 32 while State made just 4 of 17.

In the first half, the Orange began to pull away from what had been a back and forth game by taking a 12-8 lead. Freshman guard Maverick Rowan subbed in and produced a quick five points to cut the lead to 14-13 with 11:09 left in the half.

Syracuse then went on an 8-0 run to put them up 22-13 with eight minutes left in the half. However, a short takeover by junior guard Cat Barber as well as a few Syracuse turnovers helped the Pack to come within four with a minute to go.

The Orange then banged in a pair of 3-pointers to give it a 34-26 lead at half.

Syracuse attempted 19 first-half 3-pointers, 10 more than the Pack, and made 7 of them. This was a big difference in the first half, as the Pack only made two. 

The Orange extended its lead to 15 just three minutes into the second half. Switching its focus from outside shooting to inside scoring, the Orange overpowered the Pack’s big men inside, which led to easy layups.

State answered back by probing the Syracuse zone in an attempt to avoid an early rout, but the Orange heated up from outside again, as it took a 51-40 lead with 12 minutes remaining.  

A few Pack steals helped keep it afloat late into the half. However, several Pack misses and turnovers led to Syracuse fast-break points, which helped it maintain its double-digit lead throughout the majority of the second half.

Late in the half, Syracuse began to let its foot off the gas, losing its double-digit lead and giving the Wolfpack some hope. The Orange lead by only six points with 4:32 remaining.

State kept it close in the end, but 34 points from senior guard Michael Gbinije was simply too much for the Wolfpack to overcome.  

Sophomore guard Caleb Martin lead the Pack in scoring with 18 points while also contributing eight rebounds and three steals. Abdul-Malik Abu recorded a double-double with 14 points and 12 rebounds. Barber added 15 points and Rowan scored 10 points off the bench.

The Pack looks to turn things around against Boston College Wednesday at 9 p.m. in PNC Arena in its final home game of the season.