Reserve Kiyan Anthony scored 17 points as Syracuse opened the Gerry McNamara era with a 74-58 home victory over New Haven on Monday in the season debut for both teams.
Seeking their first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2021, the Orange hired McNamara, a standout guard on their 2003 championship team, to resurrect the program. His first game on the Syracuse sideline resulted in a win despite 39.3% shooting from the field and 28.6% from beyond the arc (8-for-28).
Gavin Doty contributed 14 points and 13 rebounds in his Orange debut, while returnee Sadiq White Jr. notched 14 points and 10 boards.
Teshaun Steele scored 18 points to pace New Haven, which is entering its second season as a Division I program. Moussa Camara chipped in with 10 points for the Chargers, who shot 59.3% in the second half to make the final score more respectable.
Syracuse erupted at the start, scoring the first 18 points of the game. Doty’s 3-pointer ignited the burst, and Mark Morano drained back-to-back treys to make it 12-0 about five minutes in.
Anthony capped the early uprising with a jumper and two free throws to make it 18-0 with 12:32 to play in the half. New Haven missed its first 12 shots while Syracuse opened its commanding advantage.
The Orange led 26-7 before the Chargers scored the next five points.
The margin was 15 with two minutes left in the half when Syracuse began a 7-0 burst, capped by Garwey Dual’s 3-pointer, to send the hosts into the locker room ahead 39-17.
Doty led all scorers with 10 points in the opening 20 minutes.
White’s dunk about three minutes into the second half increased the lead to 25 for the first time.
Anthony’s layup with 13:58 to go gave Syracuse its largest lead at 53-25.
Bradley Ballinger’s 3-pointer with 9:41 left brought New Haven within 59-39. That was part of a stretch of nine straight made field goals by the Chargers, who closed the gap to 64-47 with seven minutes to play but never seriously threatened down the stretch.