Syracuse Loses Season Opener to Charlotte, 96-92

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SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- Sophomore guard Gerry McNamara scored a career-high 34 points and tied a school record with eight three-point baskets but it was not enough as the #7/7 Orangemen lost their season opener to Charlotte, 96-92, in the Carrier Dome.

Syracuse lost its initial Dome outing of the campaign for the first time since moving into the building prior to the 1980-81 season. The defending NCAA champions trailed by as many as 23 points in the second half before a furious rally fell short.

Charlotte's Brendan Plavich set a Dome record and tied the SU opponent standard for three-point baskets in a game with 10. He connected on seven-of-nine from behind the arc in the first half, helping the 49ers to a 21-point halftime edge, 50-29.

The visitor's advantage swelled to 23 in the second half, the last time on a Chris Sager trey that made it 64-41 with 15:07 remaining. McNamara led the Syracuse rally with eight points in a 14-3 run. Charlotte answered and Plavich's 10th three of the night put the 49ers ahead 84-69 with 5:35 on the clock.

With Syracuse behind 86-71, McNamara led one last push. He connected on consecutive threes, junior guard Josh Pace made a jumper, senior center Jeremy McNeil had a dunk and a free throw, and McNamara converted two free throws to narrow the gap to five, 89-84, at the 1:42 mark.

McNamara's final gasp, a three-pointer with 20 seconds left, had SU trailing 93-90 before Charlotte's Eddie Basden closed out the game by connecting on three-of-four free throws in the final 16 seconds.

McNamara's eight three-point baskets tied the SU record set by Preston Shumpert against Connecticut in 2001. Plavich shot his way past the previous Dome opponent three-point mark of six, shared by five players. His 10 three-pointers equaled the SU opponent standard (home and away) set by Michigan State's Chris Hill last season.

Junior forward Hakim Warrick had 20 points, Pace had a career-high 15 points to go with eight boards, five assists and four steals, and sophomore guard Billy Edelin contributed 13 points and a career-high 10 assists in his first SU start.

Charlotte got 16 points apiece from Curtis Withers and Basden.

The Orangemen will host Rhode Island on Sunday, Nov. 30. Tip off is set for 1 p.m.