J.J. Starling scored the 1,000th point of his Syracuse career while sparking a decisive game-opening run Monday night for the Orange, who never trailed in a 77-48 win over visiting Stonehill.
Starling entered Monday with 993 points in two-plus seasons at Syracuse and wasted little time joining the 1,000-point club by scoring seven of the Orange’s first 10 points, including the milestone dunk with 17:39 left in the half.
Starling ended the game with 20 points, giving him 1,326 points overall in a four-season career that began with one year at Notre Dame.
Starling and Naithan George combined for the first 15 points for Syracuse, which raced out to a 22-9 lead and never led by fewer than six thereafter.
George scored a team-high 22 points as Syracuse finished its nonconference schedule at 9-4. The Orange are slated to open Atlantic Coast Conference play at home against Clemson on Dec. 31.
Nate Kingz and Sadiq White Jr. scored 13 points apiece for Syracuse, which shot 48.2% (27 of 56) from the field but just 48.3% (14 of 29) from the free-throw line. The Orange entered Monday ranked next-to-last in Division I in free-throw percentage at 60.1%.
Syracuse allowed fewer than 50 points for the third time this season.
Orange leading scorer Donnie Freeman missed his ninth straight game due to a right foot injury. Freeman is averaging 17.8 points per game.
Davante Hackett scored 12 points while Hermann Koffi added 10 points for Stonehill (3-10). Ridvan Tutic grabbed nine rebounds.
The 48 points were a season low for the Skyhawks, who also closed out nonleague play Monday. Stonehill open Northeast Conference action at home against New Haven on Jan. 2.
Syracuse led 39-27 at halftime before Stonehill began the second half with an 8-2 run. However, Hackett missed a 3-point attempt with a chance to cut the gap to three points, and the Orange scored the next six points. A pair of free throws by Hackett pulled the Skyhawks within 10 points for the final time at 47-37 with 13:33 left.
Syracuse opened a 20-point lead for good with 5:34 remaining and led by as many as 31 down the stretch.
–Field Level Media
