SYRACUSE, N.Y. (Interstat) — In a game defined by defensive stands and a frantic final sequence, Nate Kingz converted a driving layup with two seconds remaining to lift Syracuse to a 79-78 victory over SMU in an Atlantic Coast Conference men’s basketball thriller on Saturday afternoon at the Carrier Dome.

A crowd of 19,680 watched as the Orange, who trailed by as many as 11 points in the second half, completed a gritty comeback to snap a two-game skid and improve to 14-11 overall. The Mustangs, who entered as a slight favorite, fell to 17-8 despite a dominant performance in the paint and controlling the game for long stretches.

The decisive play unfolded after Syracuse’s Donnie Freeman, who led all scorers with 18 points, secured a defensive rebound following a missed layup by SMU’s Corey Washington with 15 seconds left. With no timeout, guard Naithan George pushed the ball upcourt against a retreating SMU defense. He found Kingz on the left wing, who drove baseline, navigated through traffic, and released a high-arcing shot over SMU’s 7-foot-2 center Samet Yigitoglu that dropped through the net.

SMU’s ensuing full-court inbound pass was deflected as time expired, sealing a dramatic win for the home team.

The game’s most critical phase was Syracuse’s defensive resilience in the final four minutes, anchored by Freeman. The 6-foot-9 forward from Washington, D.C., was a force on both ends, adding five rebounds and four blocks to his scoring output. His final rejection came on Washington’s attempted go-ahead layup in the closing seconds, directly setting up the game-winning sequence. Freeman’s presence altered numerous shots in the paint, as Syracuse finished with eight blocks to SMU’s two.

SMU built its lead with physical, inside play. The Mustangs scored 44 points in the paint, led by Jaden Toombs’ 19 points on efficient shooting. They also capitalized on second chances, grabbing 12 offensive rebounds which led to 13 more field goal attempts than the Orange. Guard Boopie Miller orchestrated the offense with seven assists and 11 points, while Corey Washington just missed a double-double with 13 points and nine rebounds.

Syracuse, however, stayed afloat with superior three-point shooting, connecting on 11 of 30 attempts compared to SMU’s 7 of 20. Kingz hit three of those triples on his way to 13 points, while Kiyan Anthony also chipped in 13 off the bench. George facilitated the offense with a game-high six assists to go with 16 points.

The Mustangs led 39-35 at halftime and extended their advantage to 54-43 with 13:23 remaining after a three-pointer from Miller. Syracuse responded with a 21-7 run over the next six minutes, fueled by three-pointers from Anthony, Kingz, and Tyler Betsey, to take a 64-61 lead.

The teams traded blows down the stretch, with neither leading by more than three points in the final eight minutes. SMU had a chance to extend a 77-75 lead with under a minute to play, but Toombs missed two crucial free throws, leaving the door open for Syracuse’s final possession.

The game was a statistical oddity, as both teams had exactly 69 possessions. Syracuse’s offensive efficiency proved marginally better, scoring 115.2 points per 100 possessions to SMU’s 112.9. The Mustangs won several hustle categories, with advantages in assists (6-2), steals (6-2), points off turnovers (10-8), and fast-break points (13-6), but were ultimately undone by Syracuse’s late-game execution and shot-making from the perimeter.

Syracuse, which had lost four of its last five, hosts North Carolina next Saturday. SMU, which saw a two-game win streak end, returns home to face Louisville on Tuesday.