When Quentin Hillsman checked out the stat sheet after his team’s game against Villanova on Monday, most of the numbers indicated a win for Syracuse.

But one number doomed the Orange once again in a loss to the Wildcats.

‘We had 30 points in the paint, we had 21 second-chance points and we had 16 offensive rebounds, so we did the things that we typically do when we win basketball games,’ Hillsman said in a phone interview after the game. ‘We just didn’t make enough shots and finish enough plays.’

Syracuse (17-13, 6-10 Big East) shot 36.1 percent from the field and fell to Villanova (16-13, 6-10 Big East) 68-60 in the team’s regular-season finale in Villanova, Pa. Despite the Orange’s poor offensive performance and a hot night from beyond the arc for the Wildcats, Syracuse led in the second half and had a chance to win the game late. But the team’s inability to score in the final three minutes sealed the disappointing loss.

Villanova took a nine-point lead into halftime after shooting 10-of-15 from 3-point range in the first 20 minutes. Hillsman said the Orange had miscommunications on defense in the first half that led to open looks for the Wildcats.

SU had two players rushing at the ball in its 2-3 zone at times, playing right into Villanova’s game plan. Wildcats guard Lindsay Kimmel led the way, going 5-of-5 from beyond the arc in the half.

But for Hillsman, the halftime deficit and the loss came down to the Orange’s lacking execution on offense.

‘You know they’re going to make 3-point shots, they’re definitely going to shoot them,’ Hillsman said. ‘It’s really just more about you making your shots, making enough two-point baskets to match their 3-point baskets.’

In the second half, Hillsman made the adjustment to a man-to-man defense to contain Villanova’s shooters. It worked, as the Wildcats went just 4-of-11 from 3-point range in the final 20 minutes.

With the defensive holes fixed, Syracuse erased a 10-point deficit to take a 49-46 lead on Carmen Tyson-Thomas’ 3-pointer with more than nine minutes to go. The lead grew to six points two minutes later.

‘We took the lead in the second half. We played well,’ Hillsman said. ‘We played man-to-man for the last 15 minutes of the second half, and I thought that was the key.’

But the Orange offense stalled after that. Syracuse managed just seven points the rest of the way, and Villanova made enough plays down the stretch to hold on.

SU trailed by just two with three minutes remaining, but scored just one point on a free throw by Iasia Hemingway the rest of the way. Meanwhile, Villanova knocked down five free throws in the final 90 seconds to seal the win.

And after the loss, Hillsman could only say his team did nearly everything it needed to for a win. But the one thing it didn’t do cost the Orange the game.

‘I thought that we missed some layups, and obviously, they had some very good looks at the rim, and we missed a few shots,’ Hillsman said. ‘But I think that overall we got good shots, and that’s all we can do is get good shots, good, solid looks.’

rjgery@syr.edu

Published on February 27, 2012 at 12:00 pm

Contact Ryne: rjgery@syr.edu