Dutchess County Native Propels Syracuse Into Final Four

A Dutchess County native helped propel Syracuse into the Final Four of the NCAA Men’s College Basketball Tournament.

In Syracuse’s upset 68-62 win over Virginia, freshman Tyler Lydon scored 11 points, with 6 rebounds and 5 blocks. The former Pine Plains standout netted a pair of free throws with less than ten seconds left to clinch the win for Cuse.

Earlier in the game, the 6’8” forward lost his shoe, but still managed to knock down a three.

I remember covering Lydon, as a freshman, when he helped Pine Plains win their first boys basketball section championship since the 1960s in 2011. Lydon and the Bombers repeated as Section 9 champions in 2012 and 2013. In 2013, Lydon led Pine Plains to the Class C New York State Championship game.

Following the 2013 season, Lydon transferred to New Hampton Prep and verbally committed to play college basketball at Syracuse. In 2014, he was one of 12 players to earn a roster spot on the USA Basketball Men’s Under-18 National Team.

In his first year with Syracuse, the Elizaville native has provided the Orange with 10.4 points, 6.4 rebounds, and a team-high 1.6 blocks off the bench. On Friday night, Lydon sealed the win for Cuse with a clutch block in the final seconds. It was one of 6 blocks he had in the game.

Lydon and Syracuse will meet North Carolina on Saturday in the Final Four.

Tyler’s older brother Zach, also a Pine Plains basketball standout, currently plays for SUNY Cortland. Their mother, Susan, played at Dutchess Community College.