Syracuse Men’s Basketball Avoids Upset to Le Moyne in Season Opener, 86-82

Peter Elliott: What a way to start the season for Syracuse men’s basketball. Crosstown foe Le Moyne, nearly playing spoiler in what was supposed to be a simple tune up game to start this campaign. In the end, though, the Orange prevailed, winning 86 to 82. It wasn’t due to the team’s outside shooting. They shot a dreadful 18%. It was, however, due to the post play, especially that of Delaware transfer Jyare Davis, who led the team with 22 points and 12 rebounds. His physicality was crucial, and the rest of the team knows it will be moving forward.

Jyare Davis: At Delaware, I was getting double-teamed so many times that there were a lot of games where I wouldn’t have a lot of points like I usually would just because I was getting double-teamed and was kinda tough, but then I recognized, you know, if you get an offensive rebound you can’t get double-teamed on a rebound, so if you just get the ball right under the basket, try to crash and get a rebounds and lay it back in. Honestly, just trying to just be as active as I possibly can.

Jaquan Carlos: I’m not surprised, that’s what Jyare does, man. I’ve been playing against Jyare in the CAA, we both were in the CAA last year, he was at Delaware, I was at Hofstra. I’ve been playing against him a long time and he’s been doing that. I’m just happy to have him on my team to do it with me.

Elliott: With Davis bringing that intensity off the bench, it was a wake-up call for starters like Chris Bell, who say they need to play that way against every opponent.

Chris Bell: I feel like the message is tonight, just, everybody can play. I feel like at any level of Division I basketball, you see it all the time. Mainly we see it in March because that’s when we get to see it. If we feel like we’re playing Le Moyne, we should feel like we’re playing Duke every single night. That’s what I feel like it should be.

Elliott: In the end, the most important thing for coach Adrian Autry and his team is that they pulled out the ‘W.’ But the in-state competition only heats up next week, when rival Colgate comes to the Dome, looking for revenge after blowing a 24-point lead last year. Tipoff next Tuesday is set for 7 p.m. Reporting inside the Dome, I’m Peter Elliott, CitrusTV.