The Syracuse Orange concluded their exhibition schedule with a 71-58 victory over the Niagara Purple Eagles, capping a game defined by a strong start and a resilient finish. Head coach Gerry McNamara deployed a smaller lineup featuring Ryan Moesch, Garway Dual, Gavin Doty, Mark Morano, and Luke Wilson, utilizing his bench liberally to evaluate depth. Although the Orange jumped out to a 10-0 lead, they allowed Niagara to close the gap significantly in the first half, trailing only 33-26 at the break before pulling away in the final minutes.
Doty and Wilson lead bench-heavy Orange past Purple Eagles despite shaky shooting
Gavin Doty anchored the Orange attack with a double-double, recording 14 points and a game-high 14 rebounds, while Luke Wilson contributed 12 points. Ryan Moesch added 9 points and 6 assists, facilitating the offense effectively. On the other side of the floor, Logan Woods led Niagara with 12 points, but the Purple Eagles struggled to contain Syracuse’s interior presence. The Orange dominated the glass, securing a decisive 43-24 rebounding advantage that proved crucial in maintaining their lead despite inconsistent perimeter shooting.
Statistically, the performance offered mixed signals ahead of the regular season. Syracuse shot 44.8% from the field but struggled from beyond the arc, connecting on just 6 of 25 three-point attempts. The absence of Aidan Tobiason was noticeable, as the offense lacked its usual spark and efficiency in the mid-range. While the win provides a confidence boost, the Orange must sharpen their shooting and offensive consistency to translate this exhibition success into regular-season results.
Source: Yahoo Sports
