Syracuse 74, New Haven 58: Orange open with victory in McNamara’s debut
Syracuse put away New Haven on opening night to begin the Gerry McNamara campaign on the right foot.
On November 2, 2026, Syracuse University's men's basketball team, coached by Gerry McNamara in his first head coaching debut, opened their season with a 74-58 victory over New Haven University at the JMA Wireless Dome. The Orange held New Haven to a mere 25.9% shooting in the first half, leading by as many as 28 points in the game.
However, they eased up in the second half, allowing New Haven to cut the lead to 15 points. Key contributors for Syracuse were Gavin Doty and Sadiq White, both posting double-doubles, with Doty tallying 14 points and 13 rebounds, White adding 14 points and 10 rebounds, and Kiyan Anthony leading the scoring with 17 points. Guard Aiden Tobiason missed the game due to a hamstring issue.
Syracuse's starting lineup comprised Garwey Dual, Doty, Mark Morano, White, and Luke Wilson. Doty scored the Orange's first five points, Morano hit back-to-back threes, and Anthony contributed four points off the bench. New Haven started the contest 0-11 from the field, but ultimately managed to score five consecutive points after the Orange turned over the ball twice.
The Orange maintained a 26-12 halftime lead, with Anthony contributing nine points in the second half. Despite New Haven's efforts, including a 5-0 run, Syracuse held onto their 15-point advantage, securing a 74-58 win to start the season with a 1-0 record.
Written by urgent.news from Yahoo Sports's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
