Sports

SYRACUSE, N.Y. (AP) — Donnie Freeman scored 25 points, reserve Tyler Betsey added 18 points, and Syracuse beat Florida State 94-86 on Tuesday night for its third straight victory.

Freeman, who shot 9 of 12, has scored 20-plus points in his last three games. J.J. Starling scored 15 points, William Kyle III had 11 points and nine rebounds, and Nathan George distributed 13 assists for Syracuse.

The Orange (12-5, 3-1 ACC) have won six of their last seven games and eight of 10. It was Syracuse's first home win over the Seminoles since Jan. 28, 2017.

Kobe MaGee scored 20 points, reserve Martin Somerville scored 18 points, Robert McCray V 14 and reserve Lajae Jones 13 for Florida State (7-10, 0-4).

Jones threw down a dunk with 1:39 left and Somerville made two foul shots to bring Florida State within 90-86 but the Seminoles never scored again.

Kyle and Starling sealed the win with dunks each in an eight-second span.

The Orange led 43-40 with the help of 53% (18 of 34) overall shooting and 39% (7 of 18) from 3-point range. Florida State was right behind at 48% overall (15 of 31) while finishing at 50% (7 of 14) from behind the arc.

Wiggins' deep 3 two-and-a-half minutes in gave Florida State an 11-3 lead — its largest of the game.

Florida State: Hosts Wake Forest on Saturday.

Syracuse: Heads to Boston College on Saturday.

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STARKVILLE, Miss. (AP) — Labaron Philon Jr. scored a career-high 32 points, Aiden Sherrell also set a career-best with 22 points and No. 18 Alabama used a big run spanning halftime to beat Mississippi State 97-82 on Tuesday night.

Alabama trailed by 14 points with eight minutes left in the first half before closing on a 21-5 run to take a 36-34 lead at halftime. Philon scored 12 points in the first half, with nine coming in the final five minutes. Mississippi State went 2 of 13 from the field in the closing minutes.

Alabama also started the second half by scoring 13 of the opening 15 points to extend its lead to 49-36. Sherrell scored eight points during the run and Philon gave Alabama a 14-point lead with 16 minutes remaining.

The Crimson Tide led by double figures for the final 18 minutes and scored 61 second-half points.

Mississippi State forward Brandon Walker was ejected with 15 minutes left in the second half after a review of a hard foul on Amari Allen’s drive to the basket. Allen made both free throws and Jalil Bethea converted a layup for a four-point possession and a 57-42 lead.

Aden Holloway added 15 points and Allen finished with 13 points and 13 rebounds for Alabama (12-5, 2-2 Southeastern Conference). Starters Latrell Wrightsell (right leg) and Taylor Bol Bowen (left hand) did not play.

Josh Hubbard scored 23 points and Jayden Epps added 13 for Mississippi State (10-7, 2-2).

Alabama has won the last nine games in the series with Mississippi State dating to 2021-22 season.

Alabama: At Oklahoma on Saturday.

Mississippi State: Stays home to play Mississippi on Saturday.

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