Las Vegas – Syracuse dealt with some unfortunate news before it ever stepped onto the MGM Grand Garden Arena floor on Monday.

By now, you all know Donnie Freeman was injured in SU’s game against Monmouth last week and will miss all three Orange games in the Players Era Festival.

It was brutal news for Freeman and for his team, particularly considering the timing of the injury.

At any rate, the Orange still had basketball games to play.

First up, No. 3 Houston.

First half: Houston 37, Syracuse 34. Final: Houston 78, Syracuse 74 in overtime.

On to Kansas Tuesday.

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Players Era Festival: Syracuse battles Houston at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas

Here’s what happened:

Syracuse opened a 23-14 first-half lead after Tyler Betsey drained a step-back 3.

Houston is the nation’s No. 1 defensive team (in terms of overall efficiency) for a reason. The Cougars blitz the ball and make it very difficult for the point guard – in this case Naithan George – to make plays or get his team into an offense.

Houston convinced SU to start its offense really far out to start the game and there were times when Houston’s efforts to fluster George paid off. He had three first-half turnovers and sometimes went more east-west than north-south. He did not have one of his better games on Monday, finishing with 11 points, two assists and six turnovers. (His driving layup with 34.3 seconds left in overtime got SU within two.)

But when he got free in the first half and/or turned a corner, or when somebody else was a facilitator, things worked out better for the Orange. JJ Starling had four first-half assists.

SU took 19 shots from the 3-point line in that half, a huge bump for the Orange in attempts this season. But Houston is so good at defending at the rim, those shots were important for SU. The Cougars blocked three shots in the game’s opening minutes.

Betsey was a huge first-half factor. He played 12 first-half minutes and scored 11 points. He was 3-of-4 from the 3-point line and later in that first half, Houston backed off doubling the ball-handler and played straight up D.

A huge factor for Syracuse – a problem that does not seem to be dissipating – is the free throw situation. SU made 8-of-18 in the first half. Houston made 11-of-17.

The Orange really guarded Houston in that first half and for most of the game. Sadiq White started for Freeman and was active and energetic early in the game.

The Orange seemed content to allow the Cougars to take 3s and instead focused on helping at the rim. Houston, a 30% shooting team from 3, made 6-of-12 in the first half, but it was a defensive calculation that seemed worth it. (Narrator: Very late in regulation, those 3s did not fall.)

SU held a modest 8-6 advantage in points in the paint. Houston shot 4-of-16 inside the arc in that half. The Orange’s defensive intensity and purpose was really good in that half.

Houston opened a 54-47 lead in the second half, because yes, SU kept missing free throws and also because the Cougars made some tough shots.

With the shot clock closing in on zero, Milos Uzan drained a 3-pointer from up top, then finished a drive. (Uzan was very, very good Monday.)

Suddenly, the Cougars were up seven in a game that had been close all afternoon.

At that point, SU was 10-of-24 from the free throw line.

But the Orange clawed back.

Nate Kingz, who is still struggling to find consistency with his 3-point stroke, instead grabbed a rebound, went coast-to-coast, finished the play, got fouled and made the free throw (!!).

That traditional three-point play inched SU within four with 9:19 to play.

Syracuse, at that point, was 1-for-8 from the 3-point line in the second half and 7-for-27 overall. The Orange got good looks at the bucket but could not drain those deep perimeter shots.

The Cougars, meanwhile, were not missing the 3s they took.

Or many of the interior shots, either.

Houston went on a 9-0 run to open a 65-54 lead with 4:56 left in the game.

The Cougars got out in transition after a George turnover, drove the ball again and scored, made a 3, then converted an offensive rebound.

Adrian Autry called time, but you could feel the air leaking out of the Orange balloon. Houston had outscored SU 21-10 in points off turnovers by then.

With Syracuse struggling to make free throws and 3-point shots, beating Houston had become a much more difficult task.

SU’s defense inside the arc was solid, but Houston was terrific from the 3-point line, making half of their attempts.

Until they weren’t.

SU made another push, trimming the margin to 67-62 with 2:07 left. After Houston committed a shot-clock violation with 1:54 remaining, a “Let’s Go Orange” chant rang out in the arena.

It was promptly rewarded.

Houston missed a few 3s (law of averages), and SU secured important rebounds.

Will Kyle turned and dunked to get SU within 67-64. Then Betsey’s 3 from up top tied it at 67 with 54.6 seconds left.

Neither team could score at the end of regulation. George found Kyle inside, but Houston smothered a shot attempt at the buzzer and we were headed to free basketball.

Houston, though, made its free throws in the extra period. The Cougars were 19-of-27 at the line; SU finished 12-of-29.

NOTES: Syracuse started the day rebounding the ball pretty well against Houston, but as the game wore on, the Cougars asserted themselves on the glass and dominated in there. Will Kyle did his work. He corralled 10 missed shots. Final numbers: Houston 49, Syracuse 43. Second chance points favored Houston, 21-12. … SU put five players in double figures, led by Betsey’s 16. … SU finished 8-of-31 from the 3-point line; Houston was a tidy 11-of-27.