Payne scores 26 points as Boston College upsets Syracuse 81-73 in OT for first ACC win

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CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. (AP) — Fred Payne scored 26 points, and Donald Hand Jr. hit a game-tying 3-pointer in the final seconds of regulation as Boston College outscored Syracuse 17-9 in overtime to win 81-73 and earn its first Atlantic Coast Conference win of the season on Saturday.

Payne added six assists and three steals for the Eagles (8-10, 1-4 ACC), who erased a late seven-point deficit in the final three minutes and snapped a four-game conference losing streak. Hand finished with 12 points, with his 24-foot jumper with seven seconds left forcing overtime.

Syracuse (12-6, 3-2) held Boston College to 29% shooting in the first 10 minutes, jumping out to a 17-11 lead. The Orange led 33-28 at halftime despite committing eight turnovers.

The Orange pushed ahead 64-60 on Nate Kingz’s driving layup with 1:21 remaining in regulation. Donnie Freeman then missed the front end of a one-and-one with 18 seconds left and, after a defensive stop, Hand buried the tying 3 to send the game to overtime.

Boston College took command immediately in the extra period. Aidan Shaw opened with a dunk, Chase Forte added a driving layup, and Jayden Hastings capped a 6-2 run with an alley-oop dunk that made it 70-66 with 2:43 left. The Eagles sealed it by going 7 of 8 from the free-throw line in the final minute.

Kingz scored a career-high 27 points for Syracuse, while Freeman added 19 points and 14 rebounds. The Orange committed 18 turnovers.

Syracuse faces Virginia Tech this Wednesday.

Boston College hosts Pittsburgh on Wednesday.

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