The Le Moyne Dolphins are used to coming into the Dome to face the Syracuse Orange in exhibition play, but this season, both teams opened against one another in a game that counts.
This contest also serves as the first between Le Moyne and Syracuse with both being NCAA Division 1 programs as the Dolphins are in their second season in transition from NCAA Division 2 to Division 1.
Le Moyne began the game by scoring the first points in the Dome this season by any team, with junior forward Freds Pauls Bagatskis going 3-for-3 at the charity stripe.
With a little over 12 minutes remaining in the first half, the Dolphins had more than doubled the point total by the Orange, 17-8.
Senior forward Jyare Davis cashed in on an old-fashioned three-point play to make it a one-possession game for Syracuse, down 17-14.
Graduate guard Will Amica would score his first points as a Dolphin, and first in his return to his home of Central New York where he played for the West Genesee Wildcats and aided the team in winning their lone New York State Class AA Title, on a jumper that made it 19-14 Le Moyne at the 11:22 mark.
With 7:55 left in the first half, junior guard J.J. Starling hit a three in the left corner to tie the game at 21-apiece.
Right out of the break in the action, junior guard Zek Tekin went inside for two to bring the score to 23-21 Le Moyne.
True freshman forward Donnie Freeman scored his first points in orange on a three in response to Tekin that gave Syracuse their first lead of the night, 24-23.
Fellow true freshman Jakob Blakley, a guard for the Dolphins, replied with his first points of the contest, also a three, to give the lead right back to the Dolphins, 26-23.
After losing the lead again, Freeman would take it back for his second time, this coming from a hard-fought move inside the lane to put the Orange up 30-29.
Amica held onto the ball against Syracuse's true freshman forward Petar Majstorovic to force a jump ball. Le Moyne would have the possession arrow, getting the ball, and redshirt-junior foward Dwayne Koroma would score on this possession on a three to give the lead back to Le Moyne, 31-30.
Freeman would gain the lead for the Orange for a third time, this coming on a 2-for-2 outing at the charity stripe to bring the score to 33-32 Orange, but Bagatskis would answer with a three to give the lead back to Le Moyne, at 35-33.
At the half, the Dolphins led the Orange 41-36.
Syracuse opened the second half scoring nine to Le Moyne's seven to bring the score to 48-45 Le Moyne at the media timeout with 15:50 remaining.
Junior forward Chris Bell tied the game for the Orange at 50 on a triple, but redshirt-sophomore forward Nate Fouts responded with his own make from beyond the arc, followed by his pull-up jumper to give the Dolphins a 55-50 lead.
A jumper by Davis would give Syracuse a one-point lead, 58-57, at the 11:24 mark.
With 7:58 to play, Bagatskis' three tied the game for Le Moyne at 65.
Le Moyne would pick up their seventh foul at the 7:38 mark, putting Syracuse in the bonus. Davis would connect on both free throws in this freebie to give the Orange a 67-65 lead.
Tekin got his defender to bite, waited, and elevated at the rim for two to give the lead back to the Dolphins, 68-67.
With the Orange ahead 69-68, Davis (5) and graduate center Eddie Lampkin (4) combined for nine points to roll the Orange out to a 78-71 lead.
Amica would foul out by the three-minute mark after scoring 12 points in 13 minutes. This would put Bell on the line, where he went 1-for-2 to bring the score to 79-74 Syracuse.
Koroma's layup, followed by a three by junior guard Trent Mosquera brought the game to one possession, 81-79 Orange, with 53 seconds to play.
Starling made a tough two inside and Bagatskis answered with a three to make it 83-82 Syracuse with 23.5 seconds remaining.
Senior guard Jaquan Carlos went 1-for-2 from the charity stripe and Bell followed going 2-for-2 to end the night for hungry Dolphins' squad, with the Orange defeating their down-the-road foe, 86-82.
Syracuse starts off the season 1-0 and Le Moyne is 0-1.
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