Syracuse, N.Y. — In an exciting season opener on Monday night, Syracuse managed to secure an 86-82 victory over Le Moyne, thanks in large part to standout performances from several players. Reserve player Jyare Davis was instrumental for Syracuse, putting up 22 points and pulling down 12 rebounds, while Donnie Freeman delivered a solid double-double, contributing both points and rebounds to the team’s success.

In addition to Davis and Freeman, Chris Bell also had a notable night, scoring 20 points. J.J. Starling added 14 points to the scoreboard, and Freeman had 10 points along with 11 rebounds. Eddie Lampkin Jr. rounded out the scoring with another 10 points for the Orange.

On the other side of the court, Freds Pauls Bagatskis led Le Moyne, a team from the Northeast Conference, with 18 points. He received support from reserves Will Amica, who chipped in 12 points, and Nate Fouts, who added 11. Both Dwayne Koroma and Zek Tekin contributed with 10 points each.

As the game progressed to its closing moments, Koroma’s layup with just 1:47 remaining brought Le Moyne closer, followed by three missed shots from Syracuse, which allowed Trent Mosquera to nail a 3-pointer with 1:02 left, making the score 81-79 in favor of Syracuse. After a strategic timeout for Syracuse, Starling managed to score a layup, extending the Orange’s advantage to four points. However, Pauls Bagatskis responded quickly, sinking another 3-pointer for Le Moyne with only 22 seconds left on the clock.

After Syracuse called another timeout, a foul on Jaquan Carlos by Mosquera led to a trip to the free-throw line, where Carlos converted 1 out of 2 attempts, pushing Syracuse’s lead to 84-82. In the final moments of the game, Le Moyne attempted to create a shot opportunity, but with just six seconds remaining, Bell intercepted a pass intended for Fouts. Bell was then fouled and sent to the line, where he successfully made both shots, solidifying Syracuse’s lead and sealing the game.

At halftime, Le Moyne had an edge, leading 41-36, but neither team was able to establish a significant lead throughout the contest. This victory marks Syracuse’s continued dominance over Le Moyne, as they have not lost to the Dolphins in any of their seven meetings that began in the 1977-78 season. The last matchup before this game took place in the 2008-09 season, where Syracuse also claimed victory with a score of 85-51.