Syracuse Defeats Lehigh in Opener, 57-47

Friday, November 13

Syracuse, N.Y.

7:00 p.m.

Syracuse University

(1-0)

Lehigh

(0-1)

LEHIGH

Syracuse

Photo by: Michael J. Okoniewski

11/13/2015 9:01:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

SYRACUSE, N.Y. - The Syracuse men's basketball team passed its first official test of the 2015-16 season, defeating Lehigh 57-47 on Friday night in front of 21,285 at the Carrier Dome.

The game marked the opening of Jim Boeheim's 40th season as head coach at his alma mater. The victory improved his record in season beginners to 36-4.

The Syracuse defense held Lehigh to just 12 points in the first half, as the Mountain Hawks finished the first 20 minutes connecting on 2-of-23 from the field (.087). The last time Syracuse held an opponent to 12 points in a half took place last December against Cornell in the Carrier Dome.

The duo of senior forward Michael Gbinije and freshman guard Malachi Richardson fueled the Orange offense on the night, finishing with 16 and 14 points, respectively. Richardson hit four 3-pointers in his first collegiate start.

Freshman Tyler Lydon dominated the boards, pulling down a team-high 11 rebounds in the victory. The forward also contributed three steals and two blocks on the night.

Back-to-back 3-pointers from Richardson got things started for the Orange in the opening half, as the Orange jumped out to an 8-2 lead. The Mountain Hawks answered with a seven-point run, creating Lehigh's first and only lead of the game, 10-9.

The Orange proceeded to steal the lead right back with two buckets off of consecutive Lehigh turnovers, and continued to build momentum from there on out. Subsequent 3-pointers by Gbinije and Trevor Cooney, extended the Syracuse lead to 20-9 with 6:05 left in the first half, forcing a Lehigh timeout.

Two more free throws by Gbinije capped off a 14-point run made by the Orange to ensure a comfortable lead, 22-9. One of the Orange's 11 3-pointers on the night came with seconds remaining in the half from Kaleb Joseph, as Syracuse sealed a 20-point lead heading into halftime, 32-12.

The Mountain Hawks rallied in the second half, using a 12-0 run to cut the Orange lead down to six at the 12:35 mark, 36-30.

Syracuse answered the threat with consecutive 3-pointers from Joseph and Cooney that pushed the Orange margin to 12 points at 42-30 with 11:31 remaining. The visitors were unable to get closer than eight points the rest of the way.

Cooney gave the Orange a third player in double digits with 13 points. Junior Chinonso Obokoh had a career-high four blocks to go with four rebounds in 15 minutes of reserve work.

Syracuse hosts St. Bonaventure:7:00 p.m. in the Carrier Dome.