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Syracuse University
Clarion (exhibition)
Orange Open Exhibition Play Against Clarion
10/25/2024 1:00:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Game Details: Saturday, Oct. 26, Syracuse, N.Y., 1 p.m.
Live Video: ACC Network Extra
Live Coverage: LiveStats
X (Twitter): @Cuse_MBB | @Cuse
Facebook: Syracuse Orange
Syracuse Links: News | Roster | Schedule
Clarion Links: News | Roster | Schedule
Adrian Autry and the Syracuse University men's basketball team open their two-game exhibition slate against Division II Clarion (Pa.) on Saturday, Oct. 26, at 1 p.m. in the JMA Wireless Dome.
Setting The Stage
Syracuse brings a 27-game winning streak in exhibition games into the contest with the Golden Eagles. The Orange finished Autry's debut season with a 20-14 record (11-9 ACC) in 2023-24.
Clarion is coming off a year where they finished 8-20 overall (6-16, Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference). The Golden Eagles are led by Coach Damian Pitts, who is entering his seventh season with the program.
The exhibition will be the first action for both teams this fall.
Key Returners
The Orange return two key starters from last year's squad in junior guard J.J. Starling and junior forward Chris Bell. Starling is coming off a season where he started all 32 contests and averaged 13.3 points per game. Among returning players, Starling totaled the most points from a year ago. Bell, the sharpshooting wing, averaged 12.0 points per game last season and led the Orange in 3-point shooting at 42% from beyond the arc.
The Orange welcome back redshirt sophomore guard Chance Westry and senior center Naheem McLeod, who both missed extended time last winter. McLeod started the first 14 contests of the campaign before suffering an injury that sidelined him for the rest of the year. In his time on the court, McLeod was an effective rim protector, leading the squad with 1.9 blocks per game. Westry, on the other hand, missed the entire 2023-24 season due to an injury suffered in the preseason. The wing is poised to make his debut for the Orange after playing in 11 games his freshman year at Auburn.
The fifth returning letterwinner from last year's team is redshirt junior guard Kyle Cuffe Jr., who is fresh off a season where he made 29 appearances off the bench for Syracuse and averaged 10.7 minutes per game.
Fresh Faces
In a busy offseason, the Orange loaded up with veteran talent, with key additions such as graduate center Eddie Lampkin, senior forward Jyáre Davis and senior guards Jaquan Carlos and Lucas Taylor. Lampkin, the Colorado transfer, played a pivotal role in leading the Buffaloes to the NCAA Tournament last season, where he scored 21 points in the team's opening-round win over Florida. Last season, Lampkin averaged 10.6 points and 7.0 rebounds per contest. Lampkin, who started his career at TCU, will bring veteran size to the frontcourt with 87 career starts under his belt. Davis comes to Syracuse by way of Delaware, where he led the Blue Hens in scoring a year ago with 17.1 points per game and reached double figures in 28 of 32 contests. The forward, who started his career at Providence, was named second team All-CAA in 2023-24.
Carlos, set to be one of the Orange's primary facilitators, stays in-state following three years at Hofstra. The two-time member of the CAA All-Defensive Team is coming off a productive season where he ranked first in the conference and No. 12 in the nation with 6.4 assists per game. Taylor, a Georgia State transfer, was similarly effective, as he led the Panthers in scoring with 14.5 points per contest. He started his career at Wake Forest.
Incoming Freshmen
In addition to a flurry of transfers, the Orange welcome three freshmen to the program this season: Donnie Freeman (F, 6-9, IMG Academy), Elijah Moore (G, 6-4, Our Savior Lutheran) and Petar Majstrovoic (F, 6-8, Haguenau, France). Freeman joins the team as a McDonald's All-American and the No. 6 overall recruit in the 2024 class according to ESPN.com, making him the second highest recruit in Syracuse history. Moore, who is joining the Orange from the professional Overtime Elite league, was ranked No. 55 overall and ninth among shooting guards in the 247Sports rankings. Similarly, Majstrovoic is poised to contribute early, as he carries professional experience from playing in France.
Tickets
Syracuse men's basketball tickets are available online (cuse.com/tickets), by phone (1-888-DOMETIX) and at the Dome Box Office (Gate B).
For complete coverage of Syracuse men's basketball, follow the team on X (@Cuse_MBB) and Instagram (cuse_mbb).
