Freeman scores career-high 27 points to lead Syracuse over Georgia Tech 82-72
AP
Jan 06, 2026
ATLANTA (AP) Donnie Freeman scored a career-high 27 points and grabbed a team-leading nine rebounds to lead Syracuse Orange over Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets 82-72 in ACC play on Tuesday night.
Freeman shot 9 of 18 from the floor, including 2-for-4 from behind the arc, while racking up three blocks and a steal as Syracuse (10-5, 1-1) picked up its first conference win of the season.
Kiyan Anthony scored a game-high 11 points off the bench in the first half as the Orange jumped out to a 14-point lead at the break and never looked back. Naithan George, who transferred from Georgia Tech, where he was a two-year starting guard and the 2024-25 ACC assist leader, scored 17 points to go with five assists and six turnovers for Syracuse.
Baye Ndongo led the Yellow Jackets (10-6, 1-2) with 20 points and nine rebounds. Kowacie Reeves Jr. chipped in 11 points, and Jaeden Mustaf added 10 off the bench for Georgia Tech.
The Yellow Jackets pulled within five with less than four minutes to play, but a career-high clinching dunk and two throws by Freeman, accompanied by two more free throws from George, sealed the game.
The Orange lead the series 10-8.
Syracuse faces Pittsburgh this Saturday on the road.
Georgia Tech travels to Miami on Saturday.
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1st Half
SYR
Orange
44
GT
Yellow Jackets
30
Time
Team
Play
Score
20:00
(Orange gains possession)
20:00
(Orange gains possession)
19:42
+2
William Kyle III makes two point dunk (J.J. Starling assists)
2-0
19:24
William Kyle III personal foul
19:04
+2
Peyton Marshall makes two point layup
2-2
18:58
Naithan George turnover
18:47
Kowacie Reeves Jr. misses three point jump shot
18:45
J.J. Starling defensive rebound
18:32
Donnie Freeman misses three point jump shot
18:30
Peyton Marshall defensive rebound
18:21
Peyton Marshall offensive foul
18:21
Peyton Marshall turnover (offensive foul)
18:00
Nate Kingz misses three point jump shot
17:58
Akai Fleming defensive rebound
17:48
+2
Peyton Marshall makes two point dunk (Baye Ndongo assists)
2-4
17:42
J.J. Starling misses three point jump shot
17:40
Kowacie Reeves Jr. defensive rebound
17:34
Donnie Freeman blocks Kowacie Reeves Jr.'s two point jump shot
17:32
Baye Ndongo offensive rebound
17:30
+2
Baye Ndongo makes two point dunk
2-6
17:18
+3
Naithan George makes three point jump shot (William Kyle III assists)
5-6
16:49
Lamar Washington misses three point jump shot
16:47
Donnie Freeman defensive rebound
16:30
+3
Donnie Freeman makes three point jump shot (William Kyle III assists)
8-6
16:10
+2
Baye Ndongo makes two point jump shot (Lamar Washington assists)
8-8
15:53
Donnie Freeman misses two point jump shot
15:51
Peyton Marshall defensive rebound
15:36
Baye Ndongo turnover (Naithan George steals)
15:25
+3
Nate Kingz makes three point jump shot (Donnie Freeman assists)
11-8
15:16
Yellow Jackets 30 second timeout
15:16
TV timeout
14:57
+2
Baye Ndongo makes two point jump shot
11-10
14:37
Nate Kingz misses two point jump shot
14:35
Cole Kirouac defensive rebound
14:15
Kowacie Reeves Jr. misses three point jump shot
14:13
Kiyan Anthony defensive rebound
14:00
Chas Kelley III personal foul
13:52
Donnie Freeman misses two point jump shot
13:50
Cole Kirouac defensive rebound
13:30
+2
Cole Kirouac makes two point dunk (Chas Kelley III assists)
11-12
12:59
Kiyan Anthony turnover
12:40
Jaeden Mustaf misses two point jump shot
12:38
Tyler Betsey defensive rebound
12:22
+3
Kiyan Anthony makes three point jump shot (Sadiq White Jr. assists)
14-12
11:58
Cole Kirouac turnover (Donnie Freeman steals)
11:50
+2
Donnie Freeman makes two point dunk (Kiyan Anthony assists)
16-12
11:34
Sadiq White Jr. personal foul
11:34
TV timeout
11:32
+2
Kowacie Reeves Jr. makes two point layup (Lamar Washington assists)
16-14
11:02
Sadiq White Jr. misses two point jump shot
11:00
Akai Fleming defensive rebound
10:55
Kiyan Anthony shooting foul
10:55
+1
Akai Fleming makes regular free throw 1 of 2
16-15
10:55
+1
Akai Fleming makes regular free throw 2 of 2
16-16
10:35
Kiyan Anthony misses two point jump shot
10:33
Kowacie Reeves Jr. defensive rebound
10:27
Nate Kingz blocks Jaeden Mustaf's two point jump shot
10:25
J.J. Starling defensive rebound
10:19
Jaeden Mustaf shooting foul
10:19
+1
J.J. Starling makes regular free throw 1 of 2
17-16
10:19
+1
J.J. Starling makes regular free throw 2 of 2
18-16
10:07
+2
Lamar Washington makes two point jump shot
18-18
9:47
Baye Ndongo personal foul
9:37
+2
J.J. Starling makes two point dunk
20-18
9:27
Lamar Washington misses two point jump shot
9:25
J.J. Starling defensive rebound
9:22
Kiyan Anthony misses two point jump shot
9:20
Orange offensive rebound
9:14
Kiyan Anthony misses three point jump shot
9:12
Ibrahim Souare offensive rebound
9:10
Akai Fleming personal foul
9:03
Nate Kingz misses three point jump shot
9:01
Kiyan Anthony offensive rebound
8:50
+2
Kiyan Anthony makes two point layup
22-18
8:50
Akai Fleming shooting foul
8:50
+1
Kiyan Anthony makes regular free throw 1 of 1
23-18
8:30
Baye Ndongo misses two point layup
8:28
Jaeden Mustaf offensive rebound
8:28
Ibrahim Souare shooting foul
8:28
Jaeden Mustaf misses regular free throw 1 of 2
8:28
+1
Jaeden Mustaf makes regular free throw 2 of 2
23-19
8:11
+2
Sadiq White Jr. makes two point dunk (J.J. Starling assists)
25-19
7:49
Nate Kingz blocks Kowacie Reeves Jr.'s two point layup
7:47
Sadiq White Jr. defensive rebound
7:23
J.J. Starling misses three point jump shot
7:21
Lamar Washington defensive rebound
7:18
Ibrahim Souare blocks Jaeden Mustaf's two point jump shot
7:16
Yellow Jackets offensive rebound
7:16
TV timeout
7:15
+2
Kowacie Reeves Jr. makes two point jump shot (Lamar Washington assists)
25-21
6:57
+2
Nate Kingz makes two point layup
27-21
6:39
Ibrahim Souare personal foul
6:29
Lamar Washington misses three point jump shot
6:27
Orange defensive rebound
6:11
+3
Kiyan Anthony makes three point jump shot
30-21
5:57
Cole Kirouac misses two point jump shot
5:55
Donnie Freeman defensive rebound
5:52
Donnie Freeman turnover (Kowacie Reeves Jr. steals)
5:44
Donnie Freeman blocks Lamar Washington's two point jump shot
5:42
Lamar Washington offensive rebound
5:36
+3
Jaeden Mustaf makes three point jump shot (Chas Kelley III assists)
30-24
5:14
Tyler Betsey misses three point jump shot
5:12
Jaeden Mustaf defensive rebound
5:06
Tyler Betsey personal foul
5:02
Akai Fleming turnover
5:02
Cole Kirouac personal foul
4:52
Jaeden Mustaf personal foul
4:52
+1
Donnie Freeman makes regular free throw 1 of 2
31-24
4:52
+1
Donnie Freeman makes regular free throw 2 of 2
32-24
4:35
Baye Ndongo turnover (William Kyle III steals)
4:29
Tyler Betsey misses three point jump shot
4:27
Jaeden Mustaf defensive rebound
4:27
TV timeout
4:18
Tyler Betsey shooting foul
4:18
+1
Kowacie Reeves Jr. makes regular free throw 1 of 2
32-25
4:18
+1
Kowacie Reeves Jr. makes regular free throw 2 of 2
32-26
4:02
Donnie Freeman misses two point layup
4:00
Donnie Freeman offensive rebound
4:00
+2
Donnie Freeman makes two point layup
34-26
3:48
Lamar Washington misses two point jump shot
3:46
Donnie Freeman defensive rebound
3:39
+2
Naithan George makes two point layup (Donnie Freeman assists)
36-26
3:33
William Kyle III personal foul
3:33
Peyton Marshall personal foul
3:32
+2
Akai Fleming makes two point jump shot (Chas Kelley III assists)
36-28
3:08
J.J. Starling misses three point jump shot
3:06
Lamar Washington defensive rebound
2:52
Peyton Marshall offensive foul
2:52
Peyton Marshall turnover (offensive foul)
2:40
+2
Naithan George makes two point layup (Nate Kingz assists)
38-28
2:21
William Kyle III shooting foul
2:21
Cole Kirouac misses regular free throw 1 of 2
2:21
Cole Kirouac misses regular free throw 2 of 2
2:21
Lamar Washington offensive rebound
2:17
Donnie Freeman blocks Lamar Washington's two point layup
2:15
J.J. Starling defensive rebound
2:11
Naithan George turnover (Lamar Washington steals)
2:07
Lamar Washington misses two point layup
2:05
Ibrahim Souare defensive rebound
1:49
Kowacie Reeves Jr. personal foul
1:49
Donnie Freeman misses regular free throw 1 of 2
1:49
Donnie Freeman misses regular free throw 2 of 2
1:49
Nate Kingz offensive rebound
1:47
+2
Nate Kingz makes two point layup
40-28
1:32
Chas Kelley III misses three point jump shot
1:30
Ibrahim Souare defensive rebound
1:23
Kiyan Anthony misses three point jump shot
1:21
Akai Fleming defensive rebound
1:11
Akai Fleming misses three point jump shot
1:09
Kiyan Anthony defensive rebound
0:51
Donnie Freeman misses three point jump shot
0:48
Ibrahim Souare personal foul
0:48
+1
Akai Fleming makes regular free throw 1 of 2
40-29
0:48
+1
Akai Fleming makes regular free throw 2 of 2
40-30
0:39
+2
Kiyan Anthony makes two point layup (Naithan George assists)
42-30
0:16
Cole Kirouac misses two point layup
0:14
Sadiq White Jr. defensive rebound
0:05
Cole Kirouac personal foul
0:05
+1
Naithan George makes regular free throw 1 of 2
43-30
0:05
+1
Naithan George makes regular free throw 2 of 2
44-30
0:01
Akai Fleming misses three point jump shot
0:00
End of period
2nd Half
SYR
Orange
38
GT
Yellow Jackets
42
Time
Team
Play
Score
19:34
Baye Ndongo personal foul
19:34
Nate Kingz misses three point jump shot
19:32
Kowacie Reeves Jr. defensive rebound
19:14
Akai Fleming misses two point layup
19:12
Baye Ndongo offensive rebound
19:11
+2
Baye Ndongo makes two point layup
44-32
19:05
Kowacie Reeves Jr. shooting foul
19:05
J.J. Starling misses regular free throw 1 of 2
19:05
+1
J.J. Starling makes regular free throw 2 of 2
45-32
18:45
+2
Baye Ndongo makes two point layup (Lamar Washington assists)
45-34
18:22
Naithan George misses two point jump shot
18:20
Nate Kingz offensive rebound
18:18
Baye Ndongo personal foul
18:17
+2
Donnie Freeman makes two point jump shot (Naithan George assists)
47-34
18:17
Baye Ndongo shooting foul
18:17
Donnie Freeman misses regular free throw 1 of 1
18:17
Lamar Washington defensive rebound
18:09
Lamar Washington misses two point layup
18:07
William Kyle III defensive rebound
17:59
J.J. Starling turnover (Jaeden Mustaf steals)
17:54
Jaeden Mustaf misses two point layup
17:52
Donnie Freeman defensive rebound
17:32
J.J. Starling misses two point jump shot
17:30
Donnie Freeman offensive rebound
17:30
+2
Donnie Freeman makes two point layup
49-34
17:19
Peyton Marshall offensive foul
17:19
Peyton Marshall turnover (offensive foul)
16:56
+2
Donnie Freeman makes two point jump shot
51-34
16:37
Kowacie Reeves Jr. misses two point jump shot
16:35
Naithan George defensive rebound
16:30
+3
Donnie Freeman makes three point jump shot (Naithan George assists)
54-34
16:28
Yellow Jackets 30 second timeout
16:28
TV timeout
16:27
Jaeden Mustaf turnover (William Kyle III steals)
16:24
Naithan George turnover
16:11
+2
Jaeden Mustaf makes two point layup
54-36
15:48
J.J. Starling misses two point jump shot
15:46
William Kyle III offensive rebound
15:41
Kam Craft blocks Donnie Freeman's two point layup
15:41
Orange offensive rebound
15:41
TV timeout
15:30
Cole Kirouac personal foul
15:20
Nate Kingz misses two point layup
15:18
Donnie Freeman offensive rebound
15:18
Kowacie Reeves Jr. shooting foul
15:18
+1
Donnie Freeman makes regular free throw 1 of 2
55-36
15:18
+1
Donnie Freeman makes regular free throw 2 of 2
56-36
14:56
Chas Kelley III misses two point jump shot
14:54
Kam Craft offensive rebound
14:49
+2
Cole Kirouac makes two point dunk (Kam Craft assists)
56-38
14:21
+2
Donnie Freeman makes two point jump shot (Naithan George assists)
58-38
14:07
+3
Kam Craft makes three point jump shot (Lamar Washington assists)
58-41
13:39
J.J. Starling misses two point jump shot
13:37
William Kyle III offensive rebound
13:36
+2
William Kyle III makes two point layup
60-41
13:20
+3
Kowacie Reeves Jr. makes three point jump shot (Kam Craft assists)
60-44
13:02
Naithan George turnover
12:47
Akai Fleming misses three point jump shot
12:45
Tyler Betsey defensive rebound
12:30
Tyler Betsey misses two point jump shot
12:28
Ibrahim Souare offensive rebound
12:25
+2
Ibrahim Souare makes two point layup
62-44
12:25
Akai Fleming shooting foul
12:25
Ibrahim Souare misses regular free throw 1 of 1
12:25
Lamar Washington defensive rebound
12:12
Ibrahim Souare shooting foul
12:12
Lamar Washington misses regular free throw 1 of 2
12:12
+1
Lamar Washington makes regular free throw 2 of 2
62-45
11:55
Akai Fleming blocks Kiyan Anthony's two point layup
11:53
Baye Ndongo defensive rebound
11:47
+2
Kam Craft makes two point layup
62-47
11:29
+3
Tyler Betsey makes three point jump shot (Naithan George assists)
65-47
11:14
+2
Baye Ndongo makes two point layup (Kowacie Reeves Jr. assists)
65-49
11:01
Akai Fleming shooting foul
11:01
TV timeout
11:01
+1
Naithan George makes regular free throw 1 of 2
66-49
11:01
+1
Naithan George makes regular free throw 2 of 2
67-49
10:47
Baye Ndongo misses two point jump shot
10:45
Donnie Freeman defensive rebound
10:30
J.J. Starling turnover (Lamar Washington steals)
10:26
Nate Kingz shooting foul
10:26
Jaeden Mustaf misses regular free throw 1 of 2
10:26
+1
Jaeden Mustaf makes regular free throw 2 of 2
67-50
9:56
Nate Kingz turnover
9:41
J.J. Starling personal foul
9:37
Kowacie Reeves Jr. misses two point jump shot
9:35
Baye Ndongo offensive rebound
9:35
Baye Ndongo misses two point layup
9:33
Baye Ndongo offensive rebound
9:33
Donnie Freeman shooting foul
9:33
Baye Ndongo misses regular free throw 1 of 2
9:33
+1
Baye Ndongo makes regular free throw 2 of 2
67-51
9:16
Kowacie Reeves Jr. shooting foul
9:16
+1
Naithan George makes regular free throw 1 of 2
68-51
9:16
+1
Naithan George makes regular free throw 2 of 2
69-51
9:05
+2
Lamar Washington makes two point layup
69-53
8:52
Naithan George turnover (Lamar Washington steals)
8:47
+2
Baye Ndongo makes two point layup (Kam Craft assists)
69-55
8:38
Orange 30 second timeout
8:24
Donnie Freeman misses two point jump shot
8:22
Chas Kelley III personal foul
8:22
William Kyle III misses regular free throw 1 of 2
8:22
+1
William Kyle III makes regular free throw 2 of 2
70-55
8:09
Baye Ndongo misses two point jump shot
8:07
Donnie Freeman defensive rebound
7:45
William Kyle III misses two point layup
7:43
William Kyle III offensive rebound
7:38
William Kyle III misses two point jump shot
7:36
Baye Ndongo defensive rebound
7:30
Naithan George shooting foul
7:30
TV timeout
7:30
+1
Baye Ndongo makes regular free throw 1 of 2
70-56
7:30
+1
Baye Ndongo makes regular free throw 2 of 2
70-57
7:06
Nate Kingz turnover (Baye Ndongo steals)
7:01
Kam Craft misses three point jump shot
6:59
Naithan George defensive rebound
6:33
Baye Ndongo blocks Donnie Freeman's two point layup
6:31
Kam Craft defensive rebound
6:28
Lamar Washington misses two point layup
6:26
Nate Kingz defensive rebound
6:26
Nate Kingz turnover
6:21
Ibrahim Souare shooting foul
6:21
+1
Baye Ndongo makes regular free throw 1 of 2
70-58
6:21
Baye Ndongo misses regular free throw 2 of 2
6:21
Nate Kingz defensive rebound
5:54
+2
J.J. Starling makes two point layup
72-58
5:40
Naithan George shooting foul
5:40
+1
Jaeden Mustaf makes regular free throw 1 of 2
72-59
5:40
Jaeden Mustaf misses regular free throw 2 of 2
5:40
William Kyle III defensive rebound
5:17
Lamar Washington blocks Donnie Freeman's two point layup
5:15
Baye Ndongo defensive rebound
5:09
+2
Lamar Washington makes two point layup (Jaeden Mustaf assists)
72-61
5:07
Donnie Freeman turnover
5:02
Lamar Washington misses two point jump shot
5:00
Jaeden Mustaf offensive rebound
4:58
Donnie Freeman shooting foul
4:58
+1
Jaeden Mustaf makes regular free throw 1 of 2
72-62
4:58
+1
Jaeden Mustaf makes regular free throw 2 of 2
72-63
4:36
J.J. Starling misses two point layup
4:34
Baye Ndongo defensive rebound
4:24
Kowacie Reeves Jr. misses three point jump shot
4:22
Nate Kingz defensive rebound
4:17
Nate Kingz turnover (Kowacie Reeves Jr. steals)
4:12
+2
Kowacie Reeves Jr. makes two point layup
72-65
3:47
Jaeden Mustaf blocks J.J. Starling's two point layup
3:45
Baye Ndongo defensive rebound
3:26
+2
Baye Ndongo makes two point layup (Lamar Washington assists)
72-67
3:15
Orange 30 second timeout
3:15
TV timeout
2:56
Naithan George misses two point jump shot
2:54
Orange offensive rebound
2:45
Jaeden Mustaf shooting foul
2:45
Donnie Freeman misses regular free throw 1 of 2
2:45
+1
Donnie Freeman makes regular free throw 2 of 2
73-67
2:22
Kowacie Reeves Jr. misses three point jump shot
2:20
Yellow Jackets offensive rebound
1:59
Lamar Washington misses three point jump shot
1:57
William Kyle III defensive rebound
1:29
+2
Donnie Freeman makes two point dunk (Nate Kingz assists)
75-67
1:15
Kowacie Reeves Jr. turnover (J.J. Starling steals)
1:12
Lamar Washington personal foul
1:12
+1
J.J. Starling makes regular free throw 1 of 2
76-67
1:12
J.J. Starling misses regular free throw 2 of 2
1:12
Lamar Washington defensive rebound
1:06
+3
Akai Fleming makes three point jump shot (Lamar Washington assists)
76-70
1:05
Yellow Jackets 30 second timeout
0:37
Naithan George turnover (Kowacie Reeves Jr. steals)
0:31
William Kyle III blocks Baye Ndongo's two point jump shot
