The Gerry McNamara era opened Monday night in the JMA Wireless Dome with a win, a loud crowd and a game that started like a statement before settling into something a little messier.
Syracuse beat New Haven 74-58 after racing to a 39-17 halftime lead, then letting the Chargers make things more respectable in the second half. It was McNamara’s first game as head coach, and the scene carried the weight you’d expect: Jim Boeheim was seated midcourt, Carmelo Anthony was there as usual, and the families of Gavin Doty, Ryan Moesch and Charlotte native Sadiq White were in attendance. McNamara’s wife, Katie, their four children, his mom Joyce and brother Tim were also in the building after the family lost patriarch Gerard to cancer on Saturday.
The Orange came out flying. Syracuse scored the first 18 points of the game, going 6-for-12 from the field and 3-of-5 from 3-point range while controlling the glass 13-5 in the opening stretch.
White, who had struggled in the last two exhibition games, made an immediate impact with five rebounds, two blocks and an assist in the first seven minutes. Syracuse looked bigger, quicker and more comfortable than New Haven early, and by halftime nine players had already logged minutes.
Doty was a big part of that fast start. He scored the first basket of the McNamara era, a corner 3, and finished the first half with 10 points and seven rebounds on 3-of-4 shooting.
He also added two assists. His work on the glass stood out throughout the night; he was everywhere, chasing down rebounds with the kind of persistence that kept possessions alive.
He finished with 10 points and seven rebounds at the break and looked every bit like the player Syracuse needs him to be.
White followed that lead. He finished with 14 points and 10 rebounds in 25 minutes, going 4-of-8 from the field and showing the kind of activity Syracuse wants from him.
He drove baseline and dunked, poked balls loose, finished a lob and even got a set play out of a second-half timeout. The one issue was the free-throw line, where he went 4-of-8.
He’s going to get fouled, and that part of his game will need work.
Syracuse’s perimeter shooting, though, was another story. Mark Morano was the Orange’s most reliable option from deep, finishing 3-for-8 from 3-point range.
The rest of the team combined to go 5-for-20, and one early attempt from Morano came with the shot clock nearly gone after a rough pass left him little choice. New Haven also switched to zone in the second half, and Syracuse eventually found Doty in the middle at the free throw line.
The Orange’s edge faded as the game wore on. Syracuse was outscored 41-35 in the second half, and the rebounding margin finished at just 40-34.
McNamara used 10 players, and while the result was never really in doubt, the finish was a reminder that there’s work ahead. In the NET era, margins matter, and Syracuse let this one drift a bit after the hot start.
Kiyan Anthony scored 17 points and was much better at the line, hitting 5-of-6 free throws. He also had three assists and spent some time initiating offense from the top.
Moesch did not score, going 0-for-6, but he did hand out five assists. Tasman Goodrick entered with 5:15 left, while Francis Folefac did not appear and Aiden Tobiason remains out with hamstring trouble.
The student section showed up early and stayed engaged, with some students receiving McNamara replica jerseys. Katie McNamara’s shirt also drew notice, a blue and orange plaid flannel with a cutout from the “In Our McNamERA” tee on the back.
It was a night that began with emotion and ended with a win, even if Syracuse didn’t exactly cruise through the finish. Thursday against Central Connecticut will offer the next look.
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