Syracuse Men’s Basketball overcomes Siena’s exhibition upset bid

ALBANY – Syracuse men’s basketball picked up its first win of the three-game exhibition road series in a tight 81-76 matchup Sunday against Siena. The game also marked a homecoming for new Syracuse head coach Gerry McNamara, who coached previously at Siena before being hired to lead the Orange this offseason.

Coming off a 20-point loss to the Connecticut Huskies, Syracuse had quite a few flaws to iron out. Specifically, to try to match the Saints’ fast-paced playing style that McNamara instilled as coach during last year’s 23-win season. 

“The way we’re shooting, I don’t think we’re going to shoot it at the pace they’re shooting. But, right from the start, we weren’t ready to play.” McNamara said.

“We talked about it all week, about how fast the pace was going to be. We just didn’t match it.”

Before the game, Siena commemorated the historic 2025-26 season and their trip to the NCAA Tournament. McNamara and the nine members of Siena’s championship squad who joined the Syracuse basketball program took part in the ceremony and received their MAAC Championship rings and watched the NCAA Tournament banner unfurl.

As We Are The Champions by Queen rang out in MVP Arena, McNamara and several former Saints received a standing ovation as they walked onto the floor.

“It’s great walking through those doors,” McNamara said. “All that emotion and feel-good stuff went out the window pretty quickly once the game started.”

Last season, the Saints had a 23-12 record (for its most wins in program history), won a seventh MAAC Tournament Championship, and clinched a 16-seed in the NCAA Tournament.

McNamara said bringing the Saints to the tournament is what he came to Siena to do.

“The program hasn’t been back in 16 years, and I had my opportunity… You knew it was like a sleeping giant ready to take the next step,” McNamara said.

The Saints’ NCAA Tournament run was very short-lived, as they squared off against Jon Scheyer and the No. 1 Duke Blue Devils. Duke clawed back from an 11-point deficit at halftime (the largest lead held by a 16-seed in NCAA Tournament history) and caught up with Siena around the five-minute mark. Duke came out on top, 71-65, to close the Saints’ historic season.

McNamara and Scheyer will meet again for a potential revenge game when Syracuse plays Duke at home on Jan. 5.

Some fans are worried about the trajectory of the program over the last five seasons. Three of the last five seasons have losing records, and the Orange have also not made the March Madness tournament since 2021. McNamara reassures fans that he is taking the steps necessary to succeed.

“This team is nowhere near where it needs to be,” McNamara said. “What is it capable of being? Final Four good. National Championship good. I’m adamant about the fact that this group should change the trajectory of where the program is going.”

Syracuse’s Gavin Doty and Mark Morano were the standout players Sunday, having 20 and 18 points, respectively. Morano led the team in three-pointers, going 67% from beyond the arc. Doty picked up 9 of his 20 points from the free-throw line. True freshman Ryan Moesch facilitated the offense with five assists.

Siena’s Tim Ibukunoluwa gave the Orange defense trouble, scoring 23 points. The Saints also out-rebounded the Orange, 43-37, largely thanks to Ibukunoluwa’s 14 rebounds.

With the Saints out-rebounding the Orange, Syracuse junior center Luke Wilson realized that his physicality wasn’t quite where it needed to be.

“I’m the biggest guy out there. So there’s really no excuse for me to be short on points in the paint tonight,” Wilson said.

Siena locked down the paint for the Orange offense Sunday, outscoring Syracuse 40-26.

Syracuse continues its exhibition spurt in Buffalo against the Niagara Purple Eagles on Saturday. The Orange then have a week off before the 2026-27 season officially starts on Nov. 2 against the New Haven Chargers.

Syracuse remains undefeated, advancing to 9-0, in the revived series between the two upstate New York programs, having last met in the 2007 Preseason NIT.