By: Joseph Jamrosz Oleksak
(Photo/Cuse Athletics)
Syracuse and Gerry McNamara started off the new era inside the Dome last night with a 16-point victory over the New Haven Chargers.
G-Mac made his head coaching debut at the JMA Wireless Dome as Syracuse opened the 2026-27 season with a 74-58 victory over the University of New Haven. For McNamara, the night represented more than just the start of the 2026-27 basketball season. It was the beginning of a new era for a program that has been a major part of his life for more than two decades.
From being a key piece of Syracuse's 2003 national championship team to spending 15 seasons on the Orange coaching staff, McNamara has dedicated the majority of his life to Syracuse basketball and experienced both sides of being part of this program. Last night, it all came to a head as McNamara coached his first game as the man in charge.
Syracuse wasted little time setting the tone, jumping out to an 18-0 lead to open the game. The Orange's defensive intensity immediately gave New Haven problems, as the Chargers missed their first 12 shots of the game. Syracuse's early offensive attack was fueled by Mark Morano, who knocked down two three-pointers during the opening run.
The Orange carried that momentum throughout the first half, taking a 39-17 advantage into the locker room.
While the offense provided plenty of highlights, Syracuse's defensive performance was just as impressive. The Orange recorded six first-half blocks and consistently disrupted New Haven's ability to establish any rhythm. Syracuse also forced 13 turnovers on the night while collecting nine steals.
Syracuse's defensive pressure cooled off a bit in the second half, and New Haven was able to find a rhythm, shooting nearly 60 percent from the field after halftime. However, the early deficit proved too much to overcome, as Syracuse maintained control and secured the 16-point victory.
Kiyan Anthony led all Syracuse scorers with 17 points coming off the bench. Gavin Doty and Sadiq White Jr. each added 14 points, with Doty recording a double-double of 14 points and 13 rebounds and White finishing with 14 points and 10 rebounds.
Despite the impressive individual performances, Monday night's biggest storyline belonged to the man standing on the Syracuse sideline.
McNamara's journey back to Syracuse as head coach makes his debut especially meaningful. A man who has already left a huge impact on the program and community as a player and assistant now gets the chance to reignite a flame in the once-storied program and hopefully bring back what it means to play basketball in Syracuse, New York.
Time will tell what this new era will bring, and there is lots of work to be done, but the Mac is back in the 315, and the Orange are off to a 1-0 start.