Syracuse beats SNHU 84-54 to open preseason action

To start Syracuse head coach Jim Boeheim’s 42nd season at the helm of the Syracuse program, the Orange’s 22-point run sparked a large first half lead, that was the main run as the game finished 84-54.

With only one returning starter in—sophomore forward Tyus Battle—a court full of new faces graced the home crowd. Despite it being an exhibition game, there were plenty of positive glimpses that Orange fans should look forward to this season.

Photo: Akeel Austin

Paschal Chukwu, junior center, jumps for possession. Syracuse wins over Southern New Hampshire University 84-54.

The tallest player on the court, 7-foot-2 Paschal Chukwu started for the Orange, but was beat on the opening tip by a 6-foot-3 Penmen guard. Despite the first points falling to junior guard Frank Howard, the Orange found itself down to start the game.

One of the bright spots early on came from Matthew Moyer. The redshirt freshman from Gahanna, Ohio finished with five points along with 10 rebounds. He started off the game grabbing five of the team’s first 11 boards.

Battle started the first half strong for the Orange, scoring 11 of the team’s first 17 points, leading Syracuse on a 22-0 run that lasted just under seven minutes.

As time continued during the game, Syracuse began to settle down. Chuwku blocked two shots. Oshae Brissett, a freshman forward from Mississauga, Ontario, scored his first point at the 8:06 left in the half.

Brissett was not the only new addition to Syracuse’s team to have an impact in their first game. Coming off the bench, Marek Dolezaj was inserted for his height. He had an immediate impact, stripping the ball from a SNHU offensive player on an inbound play. While he didn’t register his first points until the second half, his lean physique played its part.

Dolezaj also found himself being effective on the defensive side of the court, playing on the right of the famous 2-3 Syracuse zone. He grabbed one defensive rebound. His ability to drive down the court paid off, when he found Battle on the left. Battle’s dish found freshman forward Bourama Sidibe at the rim, who slammed it home.

Sidibe, from Newark, N.J., found early success in his Syracuse debut too. Sidibe was a defensive wall by the rim, recroding five blocks in the first half. He brought the Dome to its feet after consecutive swats on SNHU guard Chris Walters. 

Little changed between halves as Syracuse started off strong, similar to how they ended. A pair of free throws for both Battle and Dolezaj was followed by a slam dunk by Brissett.

All eight of Syracus's scholarship players got on the scoreboard after Washington and Chuwku grabbed their first two points of the season. The Orange jumped out to a 24-5 run after eight minutes. 

Howard Washington stepped up in the second half, knocking down three 3-pointers to total 11 points in the game, all scored in the second half. The freshman guard from Buffalo, N.Y. struggled to start; however, he found success. One of his threes came after a sequence of passes led by Moyer.

Syracuse play its second exhibition game on Nov. 6 against Southern Connecticut State University at the Carrier Dome.