Syracuse, N.Y. — The Syracuse basketball team takes on the Delaware State Hornets at 1 p.m., Saturday in the JMA Wireless Dome.
The game is available to stream on ACC Network Extra.
See in-game team and individual stats here.
Note: Refresh this page throughout Syracuse’s game vs. Delaware State to see the latest updates
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Syracuse Orange Men’s Basketball 2025: Syracuse vs Delaware St.
Final: Syracuse 83, Delaware State 43
Syracuse embarrassed Delaware State in another early season laugher in the JMA Wireless Dome.
It’s a merciless time in college basketball, as teams attempt to juice their metrics to game the NET rankings that factor into seeding and at-large selection come March.
Sorry; not sorry, Hornet fans.
Kiyan Anthony flashed an all-around offensive game in his first start in place of the injured JJ Starling, scoring 19 points on 8-for-11 shooting. About the only sore spot was a 1-for-4 effort at the free-throw line.
“That’s unacceptable,” Anthony said in a postgame interview on ACC Network Extra.
William Kyle, an All-America-caliber track and field athlete who specialized in high jump as a youth, soared for six blocks and 13 rebounds in another flashy outing.
Kyle minted another defensive masterclass. The Orange got out in transition and held the Hornets to about 20% from the field, allowing just one 3.
It was never close, just as the opening night battering of Binghamton.
The Orange gets six days off before returning to action against Drexel in Philadelphia next Saturday.
Bryce Zephir is not an afterthought
It’s been interesting to see Bryce Zephir play through two regular-season games.
The Montana State transfer has flashed some 3-point shooting, and he plays hard defensively. He’s billed himself as a “connector,” a guy willing to accept his role.
Now, there are minutes available in the SU backcourt with Starling sidelined, so it’s unclear how a full roster of bodies impacts Zephir’s role — Kiyan Anthony has certainly shown he’s worthy of minutes.
But for a guy whose addition was likely questioned by some fans, based almost entirely on mild statistics at Montana State.
Syracuse 66, Delaware State 31, with 7:55 remaining in second half
Freeman calls off Autry’s sub
“No, no, no, no, no no,” Donnie Freeman yelled toward the SU bench, trying to wave off a substitution after picking up his third foul with 13:48 remaining in regulation.
Adrian Autry obliged, and Freeman rewarded his coach’s trust.
Freeman trailed behind in transition, took a quick pass at the 15-foot line and lobbed a pass to Sadiq White for a dunk.
Freeman has been terrific again, leading all scorers with 18 points on 6-of-8 shooting, to go along with four assists and four rebounds in 19 minutes.
He earned his extra time.
About the only thing not going Anthony’s way on the offensive end is his free-throw shooting.
After finishing through contact, plus the foul, Anthony missed the free throw (he’s 1-for-4 from the line).
Not that it matters much on this day. SU’s defense is too suffocating.
William Kyle is feasting on feeble shots attempts, and his presence and quick rotations alone are causing problems for the Hornets. Kyle has nine rebounds and four blocks.
Syracuse 57, Delaware State 24, with 11:59 remaining second half
Halftime: Syracuse 40, Delaware State 17
Freshman Kiyan Anthony showed off his diverse offensive skillset in his first start Saturday afternoon.
Anthony scored 12 points and dished out three assists in 14 first-half minutes after taking the place of the injured JJ Starling in the starting lineup.
Anthony flashed a range of moves in attacking the basket. He brought the ball low and made a sweeping move across his body on one drive to the hoop early in the half.
Later, he used a euro-step to create space and finish with his left hand in the lane.
In between, he rose for a 3 from the wing, plus the foul (he missed the free throw). And, he carried the ball upcourt with Naithan George out of the game, spinning in the lane and converting for another basket in transition.
Anthony was one of two Syracuse players in double figures in the first half (Donnie Freeman leads all scorers with 13 points).
The 23-point lead is likely to only grow at a time when efficiency metrics help factor into at-large bids on Selection Sunday in March.
The Hornets were held to 15% shooting (5-for-33) from the field, including 0-for-9 from 3. After forcing 22 turnovers in a season-opening win against Binghamton on Monday night, the Orange has forced Delaware State into nine first-half turnovers. It’s led to 16 fast-break points.
Sadiq White briefly exits with ankle issue
Freshman forward Sadiq White hobbled into the locker room with 11:08 remaining in the half with an apparent ankle injury.
He returned to the floor after about 4 minutes of game time expired, flashing a thumbs up upon returning to the bench after the under-8 media timeout.
White jumped for a rebound and appeared to land on a foot. He went to the floor and had training staff tend to his right ankle.
White had two points and two rebounds at the time he exited the game. He hit an off-balanced shot to work through a little bit of a rough sequence handling the ball. He forced a couple passes and has the ball knocked out of his hands on the low block.
Syracuse continues to get by with its transition offense. Lack of half-court execution and so-so 3-point shooting (Syracuse is 3-for-9) bears watching.
Syracuse 26, Delaware State 9, with 7:30 remaining first half
No let up from opener vs. Binghamton
Donnie Freeman opens the game by showing off the range of his game, hitting an uncontested 3, drawing a foul in the paint and running the floor and gathering in a pass underneath the basket before finishing at the rim. He’s got six early points.
The Orange is picking up where it left off against Binghamton, using its defense to create easy points.
Nate Kingz stripped Zion Bethea on the wing and took it coast to coast for a lay-up in traffic.
Later, William Kyle, whose done a nice job on the glass early on, gets a block that leads to a transition lay-up for Kiyan Anthony.
Syracuse 10, Delaware State 2 with 15:44 remaining first half
Pregame
A fresh helping of non-conference junk food is on the menu Saturday afternoon to serve up another NET-manipulating victory for Syracuse.
The Orange is a 27.5-point favorite against a Hornets outfit rated No. 354 (out of 365 Division I teams) on KenPom entering Saturday’s game.
If you thought Binghamton was bad, wait until you watch Delaware State, picked in the preseason to finish fifth in the eight-team MEAC.
The Hornets’ top scorer in an 83-65 loss to Temple in the opener was Zion Bethea, a New Jersey native who is on his fifth school in five years (Hofstra → St. Francis Brooklyn → Delaware → Pepperdine → Delaware State).
Syracuse figures to start freshman Kiyan Anthony at guard with senior JJ Starling recovering from a lower-body injury to his right leg. Starling, simply put, just isn’t needed in this one. The school says he is considered day-to-day.
In Monday night’s 85-47 victory against Binghamton, Syracuse forced the Bearcats into 22 turnovers and 11 steals, riding its relentless defense and a bunch of easy basketball (10 dunks!) to a breezy win.
Expect more of the same on this day.
The Orange gets a week off before next Saturday’s game against Drexel in Philadelphia; perhaps that will be more competitive.
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