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Syracuse opened the season like someone told them Binghamton stole their parking spot — 85–47 win, and the game was basically over before the first whistle finished.
Donnie Freeman dropped 20 points like he was announcing, “Hello college basketball, I’m here.” William Kyle III added 16 points, and Kiyan Anthony came off the bench to casually score 15.
Binghamton turned it over 22 times. Syracuse? Only 5. The defense was everywhere — arms, legs, hands — chaos. The three-point shot didn’t exactly cooperate (4-for-21), but who cares when you’re winning the paint and the game?
Second half: Syracuse hit 70% from the floor and made it look easy. Fans left the Dome pumped. Binghamton left wondering if basketball was actually supposed to be that hard.
Season opener: ✅. Orange fans: ✅. Binghamton sanity: probably not.
Syracuse came out swinging and decided that Delaware State’s first visit to the JMA Wireless Dome was going to be a crushing welcome party — by “party” I mean an 83–43 blowout. The Hornets didn’t even get a B-level invitation.
Donnie Freeman dropped 20 like he’s got a “Point Factory” membership.
Kiyan Anthony, making his first career start, threw in 19 points and looked like he already belongs.
William Kyle III turned into a human reject bin, snagging 13 boards, blocking six shots, and generally making life difficult for anyone near the rim.
The Orange defense was suffocating. Delaware State shot only 21.5% from the floor — that’s the kind of bad shooting that makes you want to whisper, “Are you okay?” Kyle’s energy, the full-court press, and transition buckets made it clear: Syracuse is here to set the tone. Even with JJ Starling out injured, Syracuse didn’t skip a beat.
Final Thought: Syracuse didn’t just win — they dominated. If this is how they’re starting, opposing teams better bring their A‑game (or just not show up).
Philadelphia, PA November 15, 2025 — In their first road game of the season, Syracuse delivered a commanding performance, pulling away in the second half to defeat Drexel 80-50 at the Xfinity Mobile Arena.
Early Tightness, Then Syracuse Breaks Loose
The first half was anything but a blowout — Syracuse led just 37-32 at the break.
Drexel stayed competitive early, but the Orange’s adjustments were on full display after halftime.
Just minutes into the second half, Syracuse went on a 14-4 run that effectively turned the game’s momentum.
From there, the Orange defense locked in — forcing turnovers and limiting Drexel to just 18 points in the second half.
Key Contributors
Kiyan Anthony, the freshman, led the way for Syracuse with 18 points, knocking down 7-of-12 shots.
Syracuse University Athletics
Naithan George and Donnie Freeman each scored 13 points, combining for steady offensive balance.
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William Kyle III was a defensive anchor — he pulled down 10 rebounds, added eight points, and contributed 3 blocks and 3 steals, showing his two-way impact.
On Drexel’s side, Eli Beard was the leading scorer with 13 points, but the Dragons couldn’t keep pace once Syracuse turned up the intensity.
What Made the Difference
Stifling Defense
Syracuse held Drexel to a brutal 7-of-35 shooting (20%) in the second half, while forcing eight turnovers.
That defensive clamping was the nucleus of the Orange’s second-half surge.
Second-Half Surge
The 14-4 run early in the second half set the tone, but Syracuse continued to build incrementally, never letting Drexel off the hook.
Paint Dominance
Syracuse outscored Drexel 44-20 in the paint, a clear sign that their bigs and forwards made high-effort plays when it mattered.
Implications Moving Forward
For Syracuse, this win represents more than just padding the win column. Their ability to flip the switch in the second half highlights both their coach’s discipline and the roster’s maturity. Starting 3-0 is always a confidence builder, especially when it comes on the road.
For Drexel, the first half showed they can hang with a Power 5 team, but the second half exposed depth and execution issues. Going forward, they’ll need to find a way to sustain consistent pressure throughout 40 minutes if they want to compete at this level.
Final Thoughts
This was a statement win for Syracuse. They didn’t just win — they dominated when it counted. The second-half performance showed a team capable of tightening its grip and finishing strong. For Drexel, the takeaway is more sobering: they have work to do to sustain the fight against higher-caliber opponents.
If Syracuse can continue building on this kind of defensive toughness and balanced scoring, they could be a serious sleeper this season. And if Drexel learns to close out halves better, they might surprise a few people too.
When / Where:
Date: Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2025
Venue: JMA Wireless Dome, Syracuse, NY
Records / Momentum:
Syracuse comes in riding a 3–0 start.
Monmouth is off to a rough beginning this season, sitting at 1–2.
Recent History & Series Notes:
Syracuse has won all three matchups against Monmouth to date.
The most recent meeting came in December 2022, when Syracuse beat Monmouth 86–71.
Keys to the Game:
Syracuse’s Defensive Identity
This season, Syracuse has leaned hard into a new defensive concept called “kills”: sequences of three straight defensive stops. If they execute that well, Monmouth could struggle, especially given their ball security issues.
Monmouth’s Struggles in the Second Half
In Monmouth’s losses this season, they’ve had decent first halves but have faded after the break.
Their shooting has slipped in the second half, and turnovers are a growing concern.
Monmouth’s Frontcourt Threat
The Hawks feature Jason Rivera-Torres, a 6′7″ forward who’s been effective so far: strong on the boards, active defensively. He’s one of their leaders, and if Syracuse can contain him, they’ll limit Monmouth’s offensive balance.
Syracuse’s Returners & Leadership
Syracuse returns key pieces from last season: J.J. Starling (senior guard) and Donnie Freeman (sophomore forward) remain central to their offense. Freeman, in particular, has embraced a major leadership role.
Prediction / What to Watch For:
If Syracuse’s defense holds up its end (especially through “kills”), they should be able to dictate the flow.
Monmouth’s best window is early — if they can build momentum in the first half, they might stay in it, but their second-half fade raises red flags.
Look for Syracuse to make this a comfortable win if they force turnovers and slow Monmouth’s paint game.
Final Thought:
This game is a great opportunity for Syracuse to build more non-conference confidence before heading into bigger events. For Monmouth, it’s a chance to prove they can hang with a Power-5 style opponent — but they’ll need more consistency over 40 minutes to pull off the upset.
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