Kiyan Anthony Shows Growth in Narrow Syracuse Loss to Hofstra
**SYRACUSE, N.Y. ** - Saturday night at the JMA Wireless Dome wasn’t the kind of night Syracuse fans were hoping for.
A one-point loss to Hofstra - 70-69 - is the kind of result that stings, especially for a program trying to claw its way back into the NCAA Tournament picture. For the Orange, it’s a setback that puts even more pressure on ACC play if they want to be dancing in March for the first time since the 2020-21 season.
But while the final score was a gut punch, it wasn’t all doom and gloom. One of the biggest takeaways? Kiyan Anthony took a step forward - and that matters.
Kiyan Anthony Starting to Find His Footing
Let’s be clear: the early flashes from Anthony were promising. He came out of the gate looking like a confident freshman with a scorer’s mentality.
But as the schedule toughened up, so did his adjustment to the college game. Against ranked opponents like Houston, Kansas, Iowa State, and Tennessee, Anthony’s efficiency dipped.
The numbers tell the story - shooting percentages sagged, and his minutes followed, bottoming out at 17 against Tennessee.
That’s what made Saturday’s performance so encouraging. Anthony looked more in rhythm, more decisive, and more comfortable.
He finished with 12 points on 5-of-11 shooting in 24 minutes - his best scoring output since the early part of the season. More importantly, he was on the floor in crunch time.
That’s not just about production - that’s about trust.
And make no mistake, Adrian Autry showed trust in his freshman guard.
Autry on Anthony: “He Executed What We Needed Him to Do”
After the game, head coach Adrian Autry didn’t hesitate to praise Anthony’s approach and execution.
“I thought Kiyan got in there, I thought he was aggressive,” Autry said. “I thought when we got him the ball, he made the right plays.
He’s very good at attacking the rim, I thought he did that. I thought he got in there and made some plays and that was the reason we put him in in certain places.”
That’s not just coach-speak. That’s a clear signal that Anthony is earning his way into more meaningful minutes - and more responsibility. He even had the ball in his hands on Syracuse’s final possession, a controversial end to a game the Orange let slip away.
What Comes Next for Anthony
Zooming in, the goal for Anthony is simple: keep impacting games. That doesn’t always mean scoring in bunches.
It means defending with energy, making smart reads, and staying aggressive without forcing the issue. If he continues to do that, the minutes will come.
So will the touches. And eventually, the scoring numbers will follow.
Zooming out, there’s a longer-term development arc here. Anthony’s got the athleticism and the instincts - now it’s about building the physicality to match.
As he gets stronger, he’ll be better equipped to finish through contact and become more of a downhill threat. That’s when his game will really open up.
A Tough Loss, But a Building Block
Yes, the loss to Hofstra stings. There’s no sugarcoating that.
It’s the kind of game that can haunt a team come Selection Sunday. But in a season where Syracuse is still trying to define its identity, performances like Anthony’s offer a glimpse of what’s possible.
He’s not all the way there yet - few freshmen are - but Saturday night felt like a step in the right direction.
And for a team that needs internal growth as much as external wins, that’s something to build on.