Syracuse wasted no time turning Thursday night into a runaway at the JMA Wireless Dome.
Three days after handling New Haven by 16, the Orange blew past Central Connecticut State 102-49 to move to 2-0 under first-year head coach Gerry McNamara. The Blue Devils fell to 0-2.
The biggest difference from Syracuse’s earlier preseason and season-opening stretches was simple: this time, the Orange kept going. They were up 24 at halftime and then extended the margin by another 29 in the second half, never letting Central Connecticut State find a foothold.
That kind of finish matters to McNamara, who has made it clear he wants a team that doesn’t drift through stretches or take possessions off. Syracuse gave him exactly that on Thursday, staying locked in for the full 40 minutes.
The shooting was another encouraging sign, especially with Aiden Tobiason still out. Syracuse hit 9 of 21 from deep, a 43 percent clip, with Gavin Doty knocking down three 3-pointers and Mark Marano going 4-of-9. Doty led all scorers with 18 points, while Marano added 16.
The returners also delivered again. Kiyan Anthony followed up his strong Monday with 14 points in 18 minutes off the bench, shooting 6-of-10 and adding four rebounds. Sadiq White Jr. chipped in eight points, grabbed a team-high 10 rebounds and blocked two shots.
The frontcourt gave Syracuse another lift, too. Luke Wilson scored 14 points and collected three rebounds, while Tasman Goodrick added eight points in 10 minutes off the bench. Rebounding still needs work, but the activity level from the bigs gave the Orange another layer on offense.
At point guard, freshman Ryan Moesch bounced back after McNamara said he thought he played “ terrible” on Monday. Against Central Connecticut State, Moesch had six points and seven assists, though he also committed two turnovers. Garwey Dual added eight points, four assists and a steal.
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Syracuse Win Still Left Gerry McNamara Wanting Much More
Syracuse opened the season with a pair of wins, including a lopsided 102-49 rout of Central Connecticut State, but the early results did not exactly leave Gerry McNamara feeling satisfied. The Orange got meaningful contributions from Mark Morano, Gavin Doty, Luke Wilson and Sadiq White Jr., and the scoreboard looked plenty convincing, yet McNamara made it clear the standard inside the program is higher than simply piling up victories in November.
For Syracuse, the frustration is rooted in process as much as outcome. McNamara wants stronger performances and sharper execution even while the wins are coming, a reminder that the first week of the season can reveal as much about a teams habits as its record does. The Orange have the results they wanted, but the coach is already pushing for more from a group that has shown flashes and still has plenty to clean up. [Read more 🡒]
Syracuse Is Pulling Out All The Stops For Clemson At The Dome
Bryan Blair has been working the social-media circuit to give Syracuse football a little extra juice at the Dome, and it is the kind of hands-on push that usually shows how much the school wants the place full. The athletic director has been engaging directly with fans, including responding to a suggestion about a beer promotion and rolling out a student ticket deal called Slime Bryan, all in the name of making game day feel more like an event.
The timing matters with Clemson coming to town, because Syracuse is clearly trying to turn attendance into a real homefield edge. Student turnout has long been part of that equation, and the Orange are leaning into anything that might help pack the building and create a louder setting when one of the ACCs biggest draws arrives at the Dome. [Read more 🡒]
Syracuse Faces A Much Bigger Clemson Test Than Fans Realize
Syracuse heads into its matchup with Clemson riding a little momentum, which is more than it could say a few weeks ago. The Orange have won two straight ACC games, and now they get a chance to measure themselves against one of the leagues standard-bearers at home, with Steve Angeli expected to start at quarterback as the offense tries to keep its recent progress going.
The quarterback picture is still a real concern, though, with Amari Odom out for the season because of a shoulder injury and Malachi Nelson doubtful after ankle surgery. Syracuse has beaten Clemson twice since 2017, so there is recent history to lean on, but the bigger picture is just as important: with four games left, the Orange still need two more wins to secure bowl eligibility, which gives this one a little extra weight beyond the usual ACC spotlight. [Read more 🡒]