RTC Live is back with a few more games this evening. Syracuse romped all over Manhattan College last night in the first round of the Preseason NIT, so they’ll face another Empire State team in the Dome this evening against Albany — join the fun from the Dome, after the jump.
Game 13: After a dominant victory against Manhattan, Syracuse hosts the Albany Great Danes tonight at 7 PM. The winner gets a spot in the Preseason NIT Semifinals at Madison Square Garden. Through two games, the Orange (2-0) have flexed its muscle on its opponents. Its wins have come by an average of 30.5 points per game while its opponents have scored only 54.5 points per game. Forward Kris Joseph and guard Dion Waiters have led the way for the Orange in the scoring column, averaging 15.5 points per game apiece. Albany (1-1) will be facing its second Big East of the young season (the Great Danes already lost to Pitt, 89-56). It is led by the scoring prowess of junior college transfer Gerardo Suero, who comes into the game averaging 23 PPG. Suero is helped offensively by Logan Aronhalt, a tough junior guard who scores 16 PPG and collects nine RPG. Both teams are playing their second game in as many days. The game will be shown on ESPN3.
Recap
The Syracuse Orange continued their early season dominance with a victory over the Albany Great Danes, 98-74. With the win, the Orange advance to Madison Square Garden to play in the semifinals of the NIT Season Tip-Off. Junior forwards Kris Joseph and James Southerland led the way for Syracuse with 19 points apiece. The Orange’s length and girth in its frontcourt proved to be too much for the visiting Great Danes. Syracuse out-rebounded Albany 47-29 and had 22 offensive rebounds. Sophomore center Baye Keita played a particularly active role on the glass as he collected five offensive boards and scored 14 points, a career-high. Albany was led by the expansive offensive repertoire of junior guard Gerardo Suero, a junior college transfer, who totaled 31 points. Junior guard Logan Aronhalt added 20 points, but the Great Danes got few contributions on the offensive end besides Suero and Aronhalt. Southerland blew the game open mid-way through the first half with 14 points. He scored in a myriad of ways including behind the arc, in transition and in the mid-range. “James saved the first half,” Syracuse head coach Jim Boeheim. Syracuse had ten players log at least 14 minutes, each of whom scored at least four points. Three games into the season, no opponent has been able to harness the Orange’s length, athleticism and depth.