The Orange men’s basketball squad scored the first 13 points of the game and cruised to an 85-51 victory against LeMoyne in front of 16,755 fans in the O’Reilly Auto Parts CBE Classic in the Carrier Dome on Sunday, November 16. It was the season opener for both squads. Five Syracuse players reached double figures in scoring, led by Jonny Flynn’s 17. Junior Paul Harris scored six of Syracuse’s first 13 points as the Orange jumped out to an early lead. SU’s defense held LeMoyne without a basket until the 14:54 mark and caused 15 turnovers in the first 20 minutes. Andy Rautins’ three-point basket gave the Orange its largest lead of the half, 37-14, with 2:10 remaining, before LeMoyne ended the half with a 5-1 run to cut the advantage to 38-19 at intermission. Seven different players scored for the Orange in the first half, led by Rautins’ nine points. The two squads traded baskets to open the second half before Arinze Onuaku’s jumper started Syracuse on a 9-0 scoring run that increased SU’s lead to 56-29 with 13:43 remaining. From there it was all Orange as it led by as many as 35 on its way to its fifth straight season-opening win. Junior Eric Devendorf scored 14 points, while Harris, Onuaku and Rautins each finished with 12 points. Harris also pulled down a team-best 10 rebounds, producing the 20th double-double of his career. Rautins led the Orange with a career-best nine assists and tied his career high with four steals. Flynn also had four steals, which is a new personal best. Onuaku and Rick Jackson each recorded three blocks for the Orange. Christopher Johnson led LeMoyne with 16 points, while Laurence Ekperigin had 14 and Kevin Roth added 10. Syracuse is back in action in the o’Reilly Auto Parts CBE Classic on Tuesday when it hosts Richmond. Tip off at the Carrier Dome is set for 6 p.m.
