Orange Face Buffalo in Exhibition Game at KeyBank Center

Game Details: Saturday, October 25, Buffalo, N.Y., 7 p.m.
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Syracuse heads to the KeyBank Center in Buffalo on Saturday, October 25, marking the first chance for Orange fans to see the 2025-26 men's basketball team in action. The exhibition game against the Buffalo Bulls tips off at 7 p.m. and will stream on Cuse.com.

BRINGING BASKETBALL TO WESTERN NEW YORK
Syracuse is hosting this exhibition game at KeyBank Center, providing Western New York fans an opportunity to see the Orange before the regular season begins. The Orange and Bulls will renew their in-state rivalry that dates back to the 1917-18 season.

AUTRY'S THIRD SEASON
Head coach Adrian Autry enters his third year leading his alma mater with clear goals for the program.

"We want to be able to make deep March runs," Autry said. "That's always the goal."

The Orange will feature a completely rebuilt roster with just three returning players from last season. Autry and his staff secured six college transfers and a highly touted recruiting class in the 2025 cycle.

STARLING AND FREEMAN RETURN
Senior guard J.J. Starling and sophomore forward Donnie Freeman return as the foundation of Syracuse's roster.

"Anytime you get a guy like J.J. or Donnie coming back, that means a lot," Autry said. "Who wouldn't want J.J. Starling or Donnie Freeman on their roster?"

Starling led the Orange with 17.8 points per game last season while also averaging 3.8 rebounds and 2.8 assists. The 6-foot-4 guard reached 1,000 career points and earned All-ACC honorable mention honors.

Freeman averaged 13.4 points and 7.9 rebounds per game before a right foot injury ended his freshman season in early January. The 6-foot-9 forward posted six double-doubles and shot 50.4 percent from the field.

ORANGE ADDITIONS
Syracuse added six transfers and five freshmen. Junior guard Naithan George arrived from Georgia Tech, where he led the ACC in assists per game last season. Redshirt senior forward Nate Kingz came from Oregon State. Senior center William Kyle III transferred from UCLA, while redshirt sophomore center Ibrahim Souare joined from Georgia Tech.

The freshman class includes a pair of four-star recruits in shooting guard Kiyan Anthony and four-star forward Sadiq White Jr., both ranked in the top 40 nationally. An international presence includes combo guard Luke Fennell from Australia and seven-foot center Tiefing Diawara from France. Guard Aaron Womack from Milwaukee, Wisc., rounds out the incoming class.

SCOUTING BUFFALO
Buffalo enters its third season under head coach George Halcovage III, who came to the Bulls after spending 15 years at Villanova. He was part of a coaching staff that earned national championships in 2016 and 2018.

Junior guard Ryan Sabol averaged 14.4 points per game last season while playing in all 31 games with 30 starts. Sabol made 79 three-pointers in 2024-25, the 10th most in a single season in program history. He has made 141 career three-pointers, ranking eighth in program history.

Senior forward Noah Batchelor transferred to Buffalo prior to last season after two years at Maryland. The 6-foot-8 forward averaged 6.8 points and 6.1 rebounds per game in his first season with the Bulls and led the team in rebounding.

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Orange Face Buffalo in Exhibition Game at KeyBank Center

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Players Mentioned

Kiyan Anthony

Tiefing Diawara

Luke Fennell

Donnie Freeman

Naithan George

Nate Kingz

William Kyle III

Ibrahim Souare

J.J. Starling

Sadiq White Jr.

Aaron Womack

Syracuse University Athletics