Buffalo 66, Syracuse 76 – Basketball season comes at a good time for the Orange. After Syracuse Football dropped their 4th straight game to 7th ranked Georgia Tech, a preseason win from Aidran Autry’s squad was a welcome sight for the SU faithful.
Cuse started off strong, hitting 6 first half threes and building a halftime lead of 12 points. That lead quickly blossomed to an 18 point advantage early in the third quarter before the Bulls cut the deficit to just 8. But Donnie Freeman helped seal the victory, going 5-5 from the free throw line late.
In the win, Tyler Betsey led the Orange with 14 points on 5-7 shooting. Kiyan Anthony made his college debut scoring 10 points while fellow Freshman Sadiq White was out for SU’s preseason opener with an upper-body injury.
Newcomers William Kyle and Naithan George also played well in their Orange debuts. Kyle, who was one of four Syracuse’s scorers to reach double digits, looked strong on both sides of the ball. SU hopes that the 6’9 forward will solve their center issues. George, who averaged over 11 points in two seasons with Georgia Tech, played with great energy and leadership. The Junior turned heads in the second half with a coast-to-coast slam dunk after a defensive rebound.
But returnees Donnie Freeman and J.J. Starling had a day to forget, combining for just 19 points on 6-19 shooting. Even with SU’s two offensive leaders having a rare off day, the Orange still came out on top thanks to their bench play. Led by Tyler Betsy, the Orange totaled 31 points outside the starting five.
Syracuse also played well on the defensive side of the ball. In the Friday night showdown, Cuse created 11 turnovers and forced 5 steals. The strong defensive performance was exciting for the Orange, and especially Head Coach Aidran Autry, who emphasized defense in the offseason. A year removed from SU’s shortcomings – where they allowed nearly 80 points per game – Syracuse was noticeably stronger versus Buffalo. While not a finished product, SU’s revamped defense looked hungry to avenge last season’s struggles.
Syracuse finishes off their preseason slate when they return home to face Pace this Wednesday.
