German Plotnikov hit the go-ahead 3-pointer with 31.9 seconds left Saturday for visiting Hofstra, which pulled off its second upset of an ACC foe in seven days by beating Syracuse 70-69.
Hofstra (8-4), a member of the Coastal Athletic Association, beat Pitt 80-73 last Sunday.
Hofstra led 67-57 with 4:34 left Saturday before Syracuse (6-4) scored the next 11 points to take a 68-67 lead on William Kyle III’s free throws with 56 seconds remaining.
But Cruz Davis, who led Hofstra with 22 points and nine assists, dished out of a double team to a wide-open Plotnikov in the right corner. Plotnikov fouled Sadiq White Jr. with 18 seconds left, but White hit just one of two free throws.
With Hofstra not yet in the bonus, Davis was fouled by Tyler Betsey. The Pride’s Biggie Patterson then committed a five-second violation to give the ball back to Syracuse. But Victory Onuetu blocked Kiyan Anthony’s layup with under four seconds left.
Kyle then fouled Davis to force another inbounds pass, then Patterson got the ball in to Preston Edmead and he avoided being fouled as he dribbled out the clock to close out another upset for the Pride.
Edmead had 12 points while fellow freshman Jaeden Roberts scored 11 points. Onuetu had 11 rebounds and four blocks.
JJ Starling scored 15 points for Syracuse, which was just 9 of 16 from the line as it lost at home to a non-power conference foe for the first time since Bryant earned a 73-72 win on Nov. 26, 2022.
Kyle had 13 points while Anthony, White and Nate Kingz finished with 12 points each.
Syracuse led 37-36 at the end of the first half, during which the teams combined for 10 lead changes while shooting 48.3% (28 of 48), including 45.8% from 3-point range (11 of 24).
The Orange took their biggest lead, 43-36, when Kingz hit consecutive 3-pointers to open the second half while Hofstra missed its first five shots. Davis and White exchanged baskets, but White was issued a technical foul for trash talking after his dunk on Onuetu.
Davis hit both subsequent free throws and then drained a 3-pointer to begin a 29-8 run for the Pride, which took its biggest lead on Onuetu’s layup with 4:34 to go.
