The Syracuse University men's basketball team suffered its third straight loss inside Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) play on Saturday, dropping an 85-76 contest against Miami at the JMA Wireless Dome.

With the loss, the Orange have now fallen to 12-8 (3-4 ACC). Miami improves to 16-4 and 4-2 within the league, a major improvement from a year ago.

While there's still a month and a half worth of league games to go, each loss drops the Orange further and further from the NCAA Tournament bubble conversation. They haven't been to the tournament since 2020-21.

Here's what you need to know.

Syracuse had five players score in double-figures in this game, and while that balance is great, the stars eventually have to step up and play like stars. It's that simple. Donnie Freeman had 14 points, well below his season average of 19.2 (entering play). JJ Starling, who scored nearly 18 a game for the Orange a season ago, had just eight. This team can't get by by hoping complementary scorers play primary scorer roles. 

--The Orange shot 49 percent from the floor (30-of-61) and 67 percent (10-of-15) at the foul line. Both are respectable numbers, but the 29 percent (6-of-21) from three-point range really hurt them.

--Miami was better across the board though, shooting 61 percent (33-of-54) from the floor and 54 percent (7-of-13) from three. They were also 80 percent (12-of-15) from the foul line.

--The Orange only committed six turnovers while Miami committed 16.

--Another big disparity? Syracuse was out-rebounded 37-21 for the game.

Kiyan Anthony played well in this one, scoring 13 points in 21 minutes. His minutes and productivity have been sources of conversation among Orange fans, but he was efficient and decisive. He was 5-of-8 from the floor and 2-of-4 from three. He also added two rebounds. His first half dunk was one of the highlights of the season so far.

The defense and the rebounding carried this team early in the season, but it just hasn't been there lately. Allowing Miami to shoot 61 percent from the floor is just too easy, and getting out-rebounded by 16? That's just unacceptable as well.

The Orange will be back in action on Jan. 27 @ North Carolina State. Tip-off time is set for 7:00 p.m. ET. As of this posting, the Wolfpack are 14-6 and 5-2 inside league play. ESPN's matchup predictor gives Syracuse only an 18 percent chance to win the game.

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