Game Details: Saturday, October 26, Syracuse, NY, 1 p.m
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Adrian Autry and the Syracuse University men’s basketball team open their two-game exhibition slate against Division II Clarion (Pa.) on Saturday, October 26 at 1 p.m. at the JMA Wireless Dome.
Determine the stage
Syracuse brings a 27-game winning streak in exhibition games to the rivalry with the Golden Eagles. The Orange finished Autry’s first season with a 20-14 record (11-9 ACC) in 2023-24.
Clarion is coming off a year in which it finished 8-20 overall (6-16, Penn State Athletic Conference). The Golden Eagles are led by coach Damian Betts, who is entering his seventh season with the program.
The exhibition will be the first event for both teams this fall.
Major returnees
The Orange return two key players from last year’s squad in junior guard JJ Starling and junior forward Chris Bell. Starling is coming off a season in which he started all 32 contests and averaged 13.3 points per game. Among the returning players, Starling had the most points compared to last year. Bell, a sharp-shooting wing, averaged 12.0 points per game last season and led the Orange in 3-point shooting at 42% from beyond the arc.
The Orange welcome back redshirt sophomore guard Chance Westry and senior center Naheem McLeod, who were both absent for an extended period last winter. McLeod started the first 14 games of the season before suffering an injury that sidelined him for the rest of the year. During his time on the court, McLeod was an effective rim protector, leading the team with 1.9 blocks per game. Westry, on the other hand, missed the entire 2023-24 season due to the injury he sustained in the pre-season. The winger is poised to make his debut with the Orange after playing in 11 games in his first year at Auburn.
The fifth returning player from last year’s team is redshirt junior guard Kyle Cove Jr., who is fresh off a season in which he made 29 appearances off the bench for Syracuse and averaged 10.7 minutes per game.
Fresh faces
In a busy offseason, the Orange have been loaded with veteran talent, with key additions like graduate center Eddie Lumpkin, senior forward Jeary Davis and senior guards Jaquan Carlos and Lucas Taylor. Lampkin, a Colorado transfer, played a pivotal role in leading the Buffaloes to the NCAA Tournament last season, scoring 21 points in the team’s opening-round win over Florida. Last season, Lampkin averaged 10.6 points and 7.0 rebounds per contest. Lampkin, who began his career at TCU, will bring veteran size to the frontcourt with 87 career starts under his belt. Davis comes to Syracuse by way of Delaware, where he led the Blue Hens in scoring last year with 17.1 points per game and reached double figures in 28 of 32 contests. The forward, who began his career at Providence, was named second-team All-CAA in 2023-24.
Carlos, who is set to be one of Orange’s primary facilitators, remains in-state after three years at Hofstra. The two-time CAA All-Defensive Team member is coming off a productive season in which he ranked first in the conference and 12th in the nation with 6.4 assists per game. Taylor, a transfer from Georgia State, was similarly effective, leading the Panthers in scoring with 14.5 points per contest. He began his career at Wake Forest.
Incoming new students
In addition to a series of transfers, the Orange welcome three freshmen to the program this season: Donnie Freeman (freshman, 6-9, IMG Academy), Elijah Moore (G, 6-4, Our Savior Lutheran) and Petar Majstrovoic (freshman, 6-8 , Haguenaud, France). Freeman joins the team as a McDonald’s All-American and the No. 6 overall recruit in the 2024 class according to ESPN.com, making him the second-highest-ranking recruit in Syracuse history. Moore, who joins the Orange of the professional Overtime Elite League, is ranked No. 55 overall and ninth among shooting guards in the 247Sports rankings. Likewise, Maestrovicz is ready to contribute early, as he brings professional experience from playing in France.
Tickets
Syracuse men’s basketball tickets are available online (cuse.com/tickets), by phone (1-888-DOMETIX) and at the Dome Box Office (Gate B).
For complete coverage of Syracuse men’s basketball, follow the team on X (@Cuse_MBB) and Instagram (cuse_mbb).
