Highlights & Recap: Syracuse Tops Daemen in Exhibition Opener

The Orange was victorious in its first tune up for the regular season.

Syracuse Men’s Basketball was victorious in its exhibition opener 81-68 over Daemen College. The Orange has one more exhibition game before kicking off the regular season. 

Tonight’s men's basketball matchup against Daemen College gave Orange fans a preview of what to expect for the rest of the season. That game is on November 1st against The College of St. Rose with a 7:00 PM tip-off. 

Minutes before tipoff, standout guard Judah Mintz and center Mounir Hima appeared under the basket in team jackets and sweatpants, pronounced out for the game. Mintz with a sprained ankle and Hima due to unspecified reasons. Neither is expected to be out for a prolonged period. 

The open spaces left for some fresh faces on the Orange squad to make their debuts not only on the team but to the fans in the JMA Wireless Dome.

Notre Dame transfer and Baldwinsville native, J.J. Starling took control at point guard, demonstrating that he will be an offensive threat as the season begins. Starling ended the night with 10 points, and 6 assists, playing all 40 minutes of the game.

Starling was one of six Syracuse players in double figures as the Orange shot 60% from the floor overall. Justin Taylor and Quadir Copeland led the team with 12 points a piece. Kyle Cuffe, Benny Williams and Maliq Brown also hit double digits in scoring. 

After the game Starling said he was surprised by the speed of the offense. For new head coach Adrian Autry, he said that Starling sets the pace for their offense.

“He was just pushing it on the court and our guys were filling in,” said Autry. “Just having that burst and that pace, that's going to allow us to create easier shots.”

For center play, Naheem McLeod had some good touches in the paint. The sheer size and stature of the tallest Syracuse men’s basketball player in program history, sitting at a staggering 7-foot-4-inches left Daemen hopelessly driving to the basket. He finished with eight points, four rebounds and two blocks in 15 minutes. 

Playing his first game with the Orange after transferring from Florida State, McLeod said it was a strange feeling playing for Syracuse instead of against them.

“At first going into the game I was nervous playing here, but after I had the first dunk I was able to get settled in,” said McLeod.

Coach Autry said he has high hopes for McLeod, especially on the defensive end. He was happy with his overall performance but as the program continues to grow, he has certain expectations for the big man.

“I thought McLeod did a good job today. He finished when he got the ball, but we expect him when we get settled into our defense, to be able to protect the basket,” said Autry.

Defensively, McLeod is used to man-to-man defense. He said those concepts and similar strategies he’s accustomed to will keep him around the rim. Looking to the rest of the season, McLeod sees a vision with coach Autry that will help dictate the season.

“On my visit coach Autry said how I play takes us however far we go as far as in the tournament,” said McLeod. “So I think my role is really huge.”

The second half, however, did not go as well as the first. Syracuse led by 22 points at halftime but Daemen outscored the Orange by nine after intermission. 

"There were some good parts to it, especially in the first half," Autry said. "The second half wasn't as good. I don't think we got back in transition. That's something that we're working on. Getting back in transition and being able to locate their shooters... We'll pull more stuff out of the first half than we will the second. The second half, that'll be a lot of teaching points. The energy just wasn't the same." 

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