Orange Starters Shine in Win Over Canisius

The Syracuse Orange Men's Basketball team, coming off a victory in Adrian Autry's debut as their head coach 83-72 over the visiting New Hampshire Wildcats, stayed home to play host to the Canisius Golden Griffins.

Sophomore guard J.J. Starling, who finished with 10 points, five rebounds (all defensive), two assists, and no turnovers in 35 minutes, was the first to score for either side in this game, on a layup 21 seconds in.

There would be two ties early on before the Orange doubled the Golden Griffins point output, 14-7, at the 14:09 mark.

A 5-0 run by Canisius would bring them within one possession, 14-12, with 12:09 left on the first-half clock.

Following a dunk by junior forward Frank Mitchell, the Golden Griffins were back within one possession, 22-19, with 8:15 remaining.

Syracuse would extend back out to a multi-possession lead, going into the locker room ahead 41-32.

Sophomore guard Justin Taylor led all Orange with eight points in the first half, with junior guard Tre Dinkins tying that total for the Golden Griffins at the recess.

Canisius tried to make another run inside 15 minutes remaining, but sophomore point guard Judah Mintz had his own plans, completing a four-point play on a made three on the right wing followed by a free throw.

Mintz had three-straight plays for Syracuse where he made his field goal and his following free throw, scoring 10-consecutive points for the Orange en route to a 64-48 advantage.

Four of Syracuse's five starters ended the game in double-figures in socring: Mintz with 24, Starling with 15, Taylor with 13, and sophomore forward Chris Bell with 12.

17 of Mintz's 24 points came in the second half.

Three of Canisius' five starters attained double-figures in scoring: Mitchell and sophomore guard Tahj Staveskie each with 12 and junior guard TJ Gadsden with 10. Their leading scorer, however, came off of the bench, with Dinkins totaling 17 on the night.

The 89-77 victory by the Orange moves Autry to 2-0 as a head coach, while the Golden Griffins lose in their season-/road-opener of the 2023-24 season.