Syracuse 86, Le Moyne 82: Orange survive scare in season opener

SYRACUSE, NY – The Syracuse Orange men's basketball team got into a backyard brawl against crosstown opponent Le Moyne in its season opener and ultimately survived the scare with an 86-82 victory. The Orange were tested defensively but managed enough to play late against Le Moyne's 2-3 zone and start their 125th season with a win.

Delaware transfer Jyare Davis led Syracuse with 22 points and 12 rebounds, a double-double. Chris Bell finished the game with 20 points, including two free throws with six seconds left to bring the Orange within four points.

Adrian Autry was in the starting five with Jaquan Carlos, JJ Starling, Bell, Donnie Freeman and Eddie Lampkin.

Syracuse played sluggishly from the start on both ends of the floor, but especially on defense. The Orange struggled to keep the boys on top, they also overdid on closeouts and helped too much. The Orange played most of the first half without transfer center Eddie Lampkin. The Colorado transfer was whistled for his second foul at 13:51 and did not respond the rest of the half. Autry replaced him with Petar Majostorovic and Davis also came in at this point, replacing Freeman.

The first two substitutions brought some energy from the bench. A backdoor cut by Majstorovic off a feed from Davis led to a three-point play, cutting the lead to 17-11. Then a steal from Majstorovic near midcourt eventually led to a three-point play from Davis, making the score 17-14. Elijah Moore came on for Starling after 12 minutes and Lucas Taylor rounded out the rotation.

Syracuse battled back and tied the game at 21 with a Starling three-pointer. The junior guard moved to the point guard position since Carlos was out, but the Hofstra transfer didn't take long to arrive. Still, Syracuse's Le Moyne defense gave in as Autry tried to find a workable small-ball lineup, eventually settling on Freeman at center and Davis at the four. Davis kept the first half respectable for the Orange as he provided interior toughness on defense and a rebounding presence. Syracuse took a 30-29 lead after a media timeout less than four minutes into the game, but the Dolphins ended the half on a 12-6 run.

Le Moyne took a 41-36 lead at halftime. The Dolphins shot 15-32 from the floor in the first half, while Syracuse shot 12-38.

Mark Konezny-Imagn Images

Syracuse struck first at the break when Lampkin scored inside and Starling finished at the rim, but former West Genessee player Will Amica hit a three-pointer to extend Le Moyne's lead to eight.

From there, Syracuse's two starters, who returned a season ago, began to stand out offensively. A jumper by Starling that found the bottom of the net was followed by a three-point play by Bell in transition that drew Zek Tekin's third foul. Syracuse took the lead from Le Moyne 48-45.

While Le Moyne ironically reached a 2-3 zone against Syracuse, Bell hit between back-to-back jumpers – the latter a transition third – between an Amica layy to tie the game at 50 with more than 14 minutes left. Le Moyne immediately took the lead again and achieved a lead of 55:50.

It was back and forth the entire way as the defense grew stronger on both sides. Le Moyne stayed in the 2-3 zone against Syracuse as the Orange opted to play offensively with Freeman in the high post. A Bell three-pointer gave Syracuse a 65-60 lead, but Le Moyne tied the game at 65. A Tekin layup gave Le Moyne a 68-67 lead with 6:31 left and forced Autry to call a timeout. Le Moyne coach Nate Champion briefly switched to man defense on the other side of the timeout.

At the crucial time, Autry changed his lineup, switching to Starling, Carlos, Davis, Bell and Lampkin. Le Moyne returned to the 2-3 zone, so Autry countered with a 1-4 set on offense, with Davis and Lampkin both operating at the high post. That set was successful, as Davis served as both a scorer and passer for Lampkin as the Orange took a late lead.

Le Moyne would not go down quietly.

A dangerous behind-the-back pass from Tekin set up Trent Mosquera for a three-pointer that cut Syracuse's lead to two with 53 seconds left.

Syracuse countered with Starling, who hit the can and pushed Syracuse's lead back to three, but on the next play Tekin found Freds Pauls Bagatskis for a three-pointer. Le Moyne cut Syracuse's lead to 83-82 with 23.5 seconds left. Next, Le Moyne fouled Carlos, who tied a two-pointer at the line with 20 seconds left.

On the following play, Bell recovered a Dolphin turnover and all but sealed the deal. Bell was fouled and calmly hit two free throws, putting the game out of reach with six seconds left and Syracuse escaping with an 86-82 win.

Final statistics

Davis led Syracuse with a double-double with 22 points and 12 rebounds. Freeman also finished the game with a double-double, scoring 10 points and grabbing 11 rebounds. Bell scored 20 points on 7-12 shooting while Starling recorded 14 points, 5 rebounds and 3 assists.

Syracuse finished the game 31-72 (43.1%) from the floor and 4-22 (18.2%) from outside. Le Moyne shot 28-57 (49.1%) from the floor and 9-25 (36%) from three.

No chance

Syracuse was without Chance Westry for this game, as he continues to miss time due to illness. Westry was in the building Monday night but was unable to warm up with the team.

Le Moyne was without guards AJ Dancler and Darrick Jones Jr.

Next

Syracuse returns home next Tuesday to face Colgate. The game will air at 7 p.m. from the JMA Wireless Dome and will be available to stream on ACC Network Extra.