SYRACUSE, N.Y. (AP) — Chris Bell scored a career-high 30 points and made eight 3-pointers, Quadir Copeland was credited with a basket after a goaltending call with 3.8 seconds left, and Syracuse edged Louisville 94-92 on Tuesday night.
Syracuse (15-8, 6-6 ACC) has won five of the last six meetings with Louisville (7-16, 2-10).
Copeland went 1 of 2 from the free-throw line with 14.7 seconds left to give Syracuse a 92-89 lead, but Skyy Clark rattled in a contested 3-pointer at the other end to tie it. Syracuse quickly went the other way and Copeland's fast-break layup attempt was blocked by Kaleb Glenn, but the officials whistled it for goaltending.
After a video review confirmed the call on the court, Louisville inbounded it with 3.8 seconds left. Clark had a good look at a 3-pointer from the wing, but it hit hard off the backboard as time expired.
Judah Mintz added 21 points and JJ Starling scored 19 for Syracuse. Maliq Brown had 11 points, nine rebounds, five assists, five steals and six blocks. Copeland finished with 11 points.
Bell had four first-half 3-pointers and a game-high 18 points to help Syracuse lead 49-45.
Clark led Louisville with 23 points and four 3-pointers. Brandon Huntley-Hatfield had 19 points and 13 rebounds, and Tre White added 17 points and 12 rebounds. Mike James scored 12 points.
This was the first game for the Orange since the dismissal of junior forward Benny Williams. After the game, head coach Adrian Autry said it's been an emotional few days for the players and staff.
"We spend a lot of time with these guys," Autry said. "We just want the best for him and, you know, sometimes things don't work out. You just don't have control of the timing sometimes. So I just wish him the best."
Syracuse hosts Clemson on Saturday. The Cardinals host Georgia Tech on Saturday.
WRVO's Ava Pukatch contributed to this story.
