Oct. 27, 2026 by Nicholas Humowitz (‘27)
Syracuse had built an 18-4 run by the second half of their game against Siena on October 18, 2026. The Orangemen closed with the win, 81-76. This was the first time these teams have played against each other since November 12th, 2007, when Syracuse won 97-89 at the Carrier Dome.
Head Coach Gerry McNamara said, “I felt like I owed it to this community to bring a Syracuse team back to Albany. A Syracuse team has not been here since I was a player, and this place means the world to me.”
Siena started strong with a 6-0 lead thanks to help of Freshmen Tim Ibukunoluwa, who had 23 points in his first ever game for Siena. In the first half Siena controlled the pace, moving quickly up the court, throwing ahead, and scoring by playing physically and attacking the rim. Freshman Trent Egbiremolen did a great job of getting to the rim and finishing through contact as he ended the game with 19 points.
Syracuse did not start out hot going 5-18 from the three-point line in the first half and would make it back and forth in the first half with the help of Gavin Doty who knocked down two big threes to cut the deficit to 13-14 with 14 minutes and 21 seconds left. It would continue to be close as Siena’s Tim Ibukunoluwa would tip in a lead taking basketball going into halftime. Siena would be up 39-38.
Once the half ended, Syracuse picked things up. Garwey Dual led Syracuse’s second half surge with seven points during an 18-4 run, while Mark Morano contributed five points to help the Orange turn a one-point halftime deficit into a 13-point lead with less than 13 minutes left in the game. Siena fought back and squeezed Syracuse’s lead to one point with less than two minutes but missed key threes and couldn’t come back, going 6-31 behind the arc in the 81-76 loss.
Although they lost, there were many positives for the new core and the Siena team. Coach Nevada Smith said, “I think this team can do special things, and we are just in the beginning of this new era of Siena basketball.” Siena prepares for the first regular season game against Bryant in November. The Saints will debut in the brand-new conference, The Metro, this year after a name change from the MAAC over this off-season. They are ranked in the top of The Metro at third overall in the pre-season polls.
In the pre-game ceremony for Siena’s March Madness run last season, all former players from the team last year, including those from that team who were transferred to Syracuse—including Tasman Goodrick, Francis Folfac, and Gavin Doty, a key player from last year’s team. Siena was the third seed in last year’s MAAC standings when they went on an absurd run in Atlantic City stunning first seed Merrimack in the championship. Siena went on to play first seed Duke in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. Siena entered halftime with an 11-point lead over top seeded Duke before the Blue Devils mounted a second-half comeback.
Syracuse now begins the McNamara Era on November 2 Aswell playing New Haven, which will mark Gerry’s first game back at the Dome since 2024. This Syracuse team is projected to be 11th in the ACC this year.