Syracuse left Indianapolis with a loss, but the Orange also left with a clearer picture of what this team is right now. In an 83-80 defeat to Indiana on Monday night, Syracuse showed it can punch first, lean on its bench and score enough to stay in the fight. It also showed it still has work to do when it comes to closing games, controlling the glass and getting consistent production from its top scorers.
The Orange are now 2-1 on the season, while Indiana moved to 3-0 in a game that played like a road test for Syracuse despite being held at a neutral site.
The early and late game swings told the story. Syracuse opened up an 18-11 lead in the first half and later pushed ahead 66-61 in the second, but neither advantage stuck.
That has been a recurring issue for this group, and it surfaced again against a high-major opponent. Syracuse had chances to separate and chances to protect the lead, and it did neither.
What did travel well was the second unit. Freshman point guard Ryan Moesch delivered the kind of performance that turns heads, finishing with a team-high 19 points on 6-of-13 shooting in 26 minutes. He knocked down three 3-pointers and added six assists against just one turnover.
Kiyan Anthony kept his strong start rolling as well. He scored 16 points on 4-of-9 shooting, went 6-of-6 at the line and added three assists. His added physicality showed up again, especially on his drives to the basket.
The bench was a major separator in the box score, with Syracuse’s reserves outscoring Indiana’s 40-11.
The Orange, though, gave away too many chances on the boards. Indiana finished with a 37-28 rebounding edge, and several players Syracuse needs to be stronger there simply weren’t.
Sadiq White Jr. had three rebounds, Luke Wilson had four, Amarri Monroe had two and Anthony had none. Syracuse will need more from that group.
There was also a quiet night from two of the team’s key offensive pieces. Gavin Doty scored five points, and Mark Morano also finished with five.
Morano was limited to eight minutes because of foul trouble. Syracuse still got to 80 points, so the offense did enough to keep the game alive.
But if Doty and Morano combine for just 10 points, the Orange are going to be asking a lot from everyone else.
In Other News...
Syracuse Walks Into An ACC Spot That Could Shift Everything
Syracuse heads into Saturdays trip to Raleigh with a chance to make a real statement in the ACC race, and the betting market has noticed. The Orange are listed as 2.5-point favorites over NC State at Carter-Finley Stadium, a sign that this matchup is being viewed as closer to a prove-it game than a routine conference road test.
NC State will have a different look on the sideline, too, with interim head coach Todd Goebbel taking over after Dave Dorean was fired on Oct. 24, 2026. That kind of midseason change can bring a jolt of urgency, and it adds another layer to a game Syracuse would like to control before the noise in Raleigh has a chance to take over. [Read more 🡒]
Syracuse Got Standout Performances But One Bigger Problem Remains
Syracuse got several encouraging individual efforts in its 18-13 loss to Clemson, but the overall result still came down to the kind of details that have haunted the Orange at times this season. Third-down execution and defense shaped the game, and while players like cornerback Davien Kerr, tight end Daunte Bacheyie, left tackle Trevion Mack and running back Ahmad Miller all turned in strong showings, the offense could not turn enough of that production into points.
The frustration is that the pieces were there for Syracuse to make the game more competitive, even if the final margin stayed tight. Instead, the Orange are left with a familiar and urgent task: they need two wins in their final three games to reach bowl eligibility, and there is little margin left for wasted opportunities. [Read more 🡒]
Syracuse Fans Have A Few New NFL Performances To Notice
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For a program that prides itself on developing pros, these updates matter because they show more than just roster survival. Some former Orange standouts are carving out roles on special teams, others are holding down spots in regular game action, and a few are still working through the weekly churn that comes with life in the league. The latest round of appearances offers another reminder that Syracuses NFL footprint is spread across multiple teams, with more names worth watching as the season moves forward. [Read more 🡒]