CHARLOTTE, N.C. (Interstat) — In a game defined by a decisive second-half surge, the SMU Mustangs pulled away from the Syracuse Orange for an 86-69 victory in an Atlantic Coast Conference men’s basketball game Tuesday afternoon at Spectrum Center.

The contest, a rematch of a one-point Syracuse win just three weeks prior, was a tight affair for the first 25 minutes before SMU unleashed a game-breaking run to secure its 20th win of the season. The Mustangs improved to 20-12, while Syracuse fell to 14-17.

Syracuse, fueled by an early burst from Nate Kingz, held a narrow lead through much of the first half. Kingz, a sophomore from Salem, Oregon, scored 11 of his team-high 25 points in the opening period, including a 3-pointer on the game’s first possession. The Orange led by as many as five points and took a 38-39 deficit into halftime after a back-and-forth opening frame that featured eight ties and seven lead changes.

The turning point came midway through the second half. With SMU leading 56-54, the Mustangs embarked on a devastating 16-2 run over a span of four minutes and 19 seconds. The surge was fueled by stifling defense and efficient offense, with Jaron Pierre and Boopie Miller hitting critical 3-pointers. Syracuse committed four turnovers during the stretch and went 1-for-6 from the field, allowing SMU to build an insurmountable 72-56 advantage with 8:44 remaining.

The Orange never recovered. SMU’s lead ballooned to as many as 21 points in the final minutes as Syracuse struggled to find consistent offense outside of Kingz and Tyler Betsey, who finished with 15 points. The Mustangs outscored Syracuse 47-31 in the second half, shooting a markedly higher percentage after the break.

SMU was led by a stellar performance from junior guard Boopie Miller of Chicago. Miller scored 25 points, dished out four assists and grabbed four rebounds, controlling the tempo and delivering key baskets whenever Syracuse threatened to close the gap. His backcourt mate, Jaron Pierre of New Orleans, added 21 points and three assists, forming a potent offensive duo.

The Mustangs also enjoyed a significant advantage in interior play. Center Jaden Toombs of Amarillo, Texas, recorded 16 points and six rebounds, while 7-foot-2 Turkish forward Samet Yigitoglu contributed 12 points and three assists. Their presence, combined with 12 points and four assists from Corey Washington of Little Rock, Arkansas, gave SMU a balanced and multifaceted attack that Syracuse could not contain.

For Syracuse, Kingz’s 25-point effort on 39 minutes was a bright spot, complemented by Betsey’s scoring. Point guard Naithan George of Toronto orchestrated the offense with 11 assists but was hampered by poor shooting, finishing with just six points. The Orange, which entered the game having lost five of its last six, could not replicate its defensive intensity from the first half and was outrebounded and outhustled in the decisive final period.

The most important part of the game was unquestionably SMU’s 16-2 run early in the second half. It transformed a tense, two-point contest into a comfortable double-digit lead from which Syracuse, given its offensive struggles and SMU’s continued execution, could not mount a comeback. That stretch showcased SMU’s superior depth and offensive firepower, effectively deciding the outcome.

The game was part of the ACC postseason tournament. According to Interstat’s ELO system, SMU had a 69.60 percent probability to win and entered as a 4.5-point favorite. The combined score of 155 surpassed the pregame over/under line of 159.

Syracuse will look to rebound quickly, as its season continues in the conference tournament.