Going into the game, there was no doubt that Syracuse had the advantage. But after three close games against mid-majors, no one was sure what to expect. Would Syracuse come out passive as they had in the first 3 games? Would they be able to pull away from a team they clearly outmatch athletically?
The answer to those questions was a mixed bag. Syracuse flew out to a huge early lead in the first half. It was a constant blur of action, as Syracuse consistently got out on the fast break and found wide open shooters. Gbinije scored 16 first half points, including nailing four 3-pointers.