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ACC Basketball Power Rankings: Miami, Clemson falls after tough losses

CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA - DECEMBER 09: Kihei Clark #0 of the Virginia Cavaliers drives past Marcus Evans #2 of the VCU Rams in the second half during a game at John Paul Jones Arena on December 9, 2018 in Charlottesville, Virginia. (Photo by Ryan M. Kelly/Getty Images)
CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA - DECEMBER 09: Kihei Clark #0 of the Virginia Cavaliers drives past Marcus Evans #2 of the VCU Rams in the second half during a game at John Paul Jones Arena on December 9, 2018 in Charlottesville, Virginia. (Photo by Ryan M. Kelly/Getty Images) /
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Photo by Brett Carlsen/Getty Images
Photo by Brett Carlsen/Getty Images /

6. Syracuse Orange (7-2)

Last week: 8th (↑2)

It looked like the Syracuse Orange were going to fall big to the Georgetown Hoyas this past Saturday, then Tyus Battle woke up. Battle scored 21 of his 26 points in the second half, including the final shot with 2.5 seconds left.

It was a tale of two halves for the Battle and the Orange as they trailed 35-22 at halftime. Battle went 7-of-10 in the second half and gave his team to boost they needed to get a 72-71 victory in the end.

The Orange have won five straight games since losing two games in a row in the 2K Empire Classic and are back in the Top 25. They got the better of the Hoyas on Saturday but against a team like the Buffalo Bulls, they’ll need to play a whole lot better.

In the first half, Syracuse shot 7-of-28 (25 percent) from the field and 1-of-14 (7.1 percent) from 3-point range. Frank Howard and Paschal Chukwu both fouled out in their victory over Georgetown. With their ranking back and intact, they’ll need better performances as the non-conference schedule comes to a close.