SYRACUSE, N.Y. (Interstat) — In a game defined by precision and a singular, spectacular performance, the Hofstra Pride authored a stunning road upset, edging the Syracuse Orange 70-69 on Saturday afternoon at the Carrier Dome before a crowd of 13,282.

The victory was orchestrated almost entirely by Hofstra guard Cruz Davis, who delivered a masterclass with 22 points and 9 assists while playing 40 minutes. His command of the game, particularly in the decisive final moments, lifted the Pride to a signature win against a power conference opponent that entered as a heavy favorite.

Syracuse, projected by analytics to have an 85% chance of victory and installed as an 11-point favorite, found itself out-executed in a taut, back-and-forth contest. The Orange held a narrow 37-36 lead at halftime but could not sustain momentum against a Hofstra team that played with remarkable efficiency.

The Pride’s offensive execution was the story of the game. Hofstra scored its 70 points on just 57 possessions, an elite offensive rating of 123.1, while Syracuse managed 69 points on 62 possessions. The difference was stark from beyond the arc, where Hofstra shot a blistering 12 for 18 from 3-point range. Syracuse, by contrast, was 8 for 23 from deep and compounded its problems by making only 9 of 16 free throws.

Davis was the catalyst, but he had timely support. Preston Edmead scored 12 points, all on 3-pointers, and Jaeden Roberts provided a critical spark off the bench with 11 points in just 12 minutes. German Plotnikov added 9 points, and Victory Onuetu anchored the interior defense with 4 blocks.

Syracuse was led by JJ Starling’s 15 points and a balanced effort from its frontcourt. William Kyle scored 13 points and blocked 4 shots, Sadiq White Jr. added 12 points and 2 blocks, and Nate Kingz chipped in 12 points. Kiyan Anthony also scored 12 for the Orange, who dominated the paint 30-26 and blocked 9 shots as a team but could not overcome their perimeter shooting woes.

The game’s most important sequence unfolded in the final minute with Syracuse clinging to a 69-68 lead. After a Hofstra timeout with 31 seconds remaining, the Pride worked the ball to Plotnikov, who drained a clutch 3-pointer from the wing with 34 seconds left, giving Hofstra a 70-69 advantage. The assist came, inevitably, from Davis.

Syracuse had multiple chances to reclaim the lead. On the ensuing possession, Kiyan Anthony’s driving jump shot was blocked by Onuetu with 3 seconds remaining. The Orange retained possession, but a desperate attempt by Anthony was again altered by Onuetu at the buzzer, sealing the victory for the Pride.

The final defensive stands capped a game where Hofstra, despite being undersized, matched Syracuse’s physicality. The Pride committed only 9 turnovers, forced 8 Syracuse turnovers which they converted into 16 points, and made all six of their free throw attempts.

The win improves Hofstra’s record to 8-4, building momentum from a recent road win at Pittsburgh and signaling the team’s capability as a potential force in the Coastal Athletic Association. The loss drops Syracuse to 5-4 as it heads into a softer stretch of its non-conference schedule before Atlantic Coast Conference play begins.

Davis, a 6-foot-3 guard from Plano, Texas, continued an exceptional stretch of play, following up a 36-point effort in the win at Pittsburgh. His poise and playmaking in a hostile environment against a high-major opponent underscored his status as one of the nation’s more underrated guards.

For Syracuse, the defeat raises questions about offensive consistency after similar struggles in earlier losses to Iowa State, Kansas, and Houston. The Orange’s inability to defend the 3-point line or capitalize at the charity stripe proved fatal against a Hofstra team that executed its game plan with near-flawless efficiency when it mattered most.

Hofstra next hosts Quinnipiac on Dec. 21. Syracuse is scheduled to play Mercyhurst at home on Dec. 17.