Syracuse, N.Y. – Elijah Hughes scored a game-high 21 points to lead 16th-ranked Syracuse University to a 89-52 win over the Le Moyne College men's basketball team in an exhibition game on Wednesday evening at the Carrier Dome.

Junior forward Kobi Nwandu (York, Pa./Northeastern York/East Stroudsburg) led the Dolphins offensively with 14 points, including 12 in the first half. Graduate student guard Tyree Chambers (Bayreuth, Germany/Graf-Münster Gymnasium/Providence) and junior guard Wyatt Self (Davidson, N.C./Pine Lake Prep/Elev8 Sports Institute/Campbell) each recorded six points. Junior forward Tom Brown (Ellicott City, Md./Centennial) led all players in the contest with eight rebounds, including five offensive.

Hughes recorded 16 of his game-high point total in the first half, while adding five rebounds. Oshae Brissett tallied 14 points, including 12 in the first half, and three steals. Tyus Battle and Buddy Boeheim each posted 13 points, while Battle had five assists.
 
The Dolphins opened the game with nine of the first 11 points over the beginning 3.24 of the game. Chambers started the game's scoring with a three-pointer and followed with another for a 6-2 lead. Senior guard C.J. Asuncion-Byrd (Greenwich, Conn./Greenwich/St. Thomas More/Gannon) then drilled a three-pointer of his own.

Syracuse responded with seven straight points and 14 of the next 17 to take the lead. Hughes had the first three on a conventional three-point play, Brissett had six points in the span and Battle capped it with a conventional three-point play.

After a three-pointer and two free throws by Nwandu got the Dolphins within 19-17 with 9:43 left, the Orange put together another 14-3 run. Brissett and Hughes each had six points in the span, while Nwandu accounted for all three of Le Moyne's points.

Le Moyne responded with seven of the next nine points to trim its back into single digits. Sophomore guard Tim Leavell (Marion, Ind./Marion/State Fair C.C.) drilled a three-pointer, Asuncion-Byrd made a lay-up and Brown capped the spurt with a lay-up to make the score 35-27 with 4:38 to go.

Syracuse countered with 11 straight points and 15 of the half's last 18 points to take a 50-30 lead into halftime. Hughes had the first five points and then Marek Dolezaj scored six points over two possessions. Following three points by Nwandu, Dolezaj ended the half's scoring with a tip-in.

The Orange pushed their lead to 33 for the first time with 18 of the first 23 points in the second half. Battle and Paschal Chukwu each had six points in the span.

The Dolphins countered with three-pointers from Self and Brown to get within 68-41 with 12:23 to play.

Syracuse responded with a 16-1 run for its largest lead of the game. Boeheim had the first five points of the stretch, while Hughes also scored five points in the span.

Le Moyne scored 10 of the game's last 15 points to deliver the final margin. Junior guards Zay Jennings (Allentown, Pa./Allentown Central Catholic/Caldwell) and Ryan Roland (Syracuse, N.Y./Westhill/Mercyhurst) each posted four points in the span.

The Dolphins open the season on Friday, November 9 against Georgian Court University at 7:00 p.m. at The College of Saint Rose.