Fansided

Syracuse’s John Gillon downs Duke with banked-in 3 at the buzzer (Video)

By Chris Stone

Feb 22, 2017; Syracuse, NY, USA; Syracuse Orange fans celebrate on the court following the game against the Duke Blue Devils at the Carrier Dome. The Orange won 78-75. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 22, 2017; Syracuse, NY, USA; Syracuse Orange fans celebrate on the court following the game against the Duke Blue Devils at the Carrier Dome. The Orange won 78-75. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports /
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John Gillon keeps Syracuse’s NCAA Tournament hopes alive

With plenty of questions surrounding their NCAA Tournament resume, the Syracuse Orange badly needed a win over the Duke Blue Devils on Wednesday night. John Gillon delivered in the form of a banked in 3-pointer as time expired to give them a 78-75 victory:

“I feel like I’m a clutch player. You’ve got to make clutch plays,” Gillon said on ESPN after the game. The senior fired up the game winner after an errant Luke Kennard jumper at the other end.

Gillon finished with 26 points on 9-of-14 shooting from the field. He has been an important piece for the Orange as a graduate transfer from Colorado State. He’s averaging 10.6 points and 5.4 assists per game this season, but no play he’s made has been bigger than this one. The shot launched a rare court storming at the Carrier Dome and for good reason.

The Orange entered the game 16-12 with an 8-7 ACC record and firmly on the bubble for the NCAA Tournament. ESPN’s Joe Lunardi listed them as one of the last four byes ahead of the contest. Tonight’s win — the sort of statement victory over a big time program — should firmly plant Syracuse in the NCAA Tournament as it will drastically improve their No. 84 ranking in the RPI and gives them six wins over the RPI top 50.

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The Orange’s win also has ACC title ramifications as it gives the North Carolina Tar Heels a chance to go two games up on the field with a win over the Louisville Cardinals tonight.