Since he took over at his alma mater in March, Syracuse basketball first-year head coach Gerry McNamara has said on more than one occasion that he wanted to renew the Orange's long-time rivalry with Central New York neighbor Colgate.
That is now happening. On Thursday afternoon, SU Athletics announced that as part of Syracuse's non-conference docket in the 2026-27 campaign, the 'Cuse will host Patriot League member Colgate on Tuesday, Dec. 8, at the JMA Wireless Dome.
🚨 Schedule Update 🚨
— Syracuse Men’s Basketball (@Cuse_MBB) July 16, 2026
'Cuse vs. 'Gate at the Dome this December
📰 https://t.co/y2epXyxw3B pic.twitter.com/68kKCxYrfl
In the Orange program's history, SU has faced the Raiders more than any other opponent. In their all-time series together, Syracuse basketball is 129-47 against Colgate, which is led by long-time head coach Matt Langel. He is the winningest coach in team history, with a 259-218 record over 15 terms.
The series between the Orange and the Raiders dates back to 1902. SU had won 54 straight, but Colgate beat the 'Cuse, at the Dome, in both the 2021-22 and the 2022-23 seasons. Since then, Syracuse basketball has won two in a row, including a narrow 74-72 victory on the Hill in the 2024-25 stanza.
The Raiders went 18-15 overall and 11-7 in Patriot League competition in 2025-26. Key returnees for Colgate include sophomore forward Andrew Alekseyenko, who was the Patriot League rookie of the year in 2025-26, as he averaged 14.8 points, 6.7 rebounds and 2.4 assists per contest while making 49.9 percent from the field, 38.3 percent from beyond the arc and 78.1 percent from the free-throw line.
Syracuse basketball's non-conference schedule in 2026-27, as it currently stands.
•Syracuse basketball against New Haven at the Dome on Monday, Nov. 2
•Syracuse basketball against Central Connecticut State at the Dome on Thursday, Nov. 5.
•Syracuse basketball against Indiana at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis on Monday, Nov. 9
•Syracuse basketball against Lafayette at the Dome on Saturday, Nov. 21
•Syracuse basketball at Oklahoma on Tuesday, Dec. 1, as part of the annual ACC/SEC Challenge
•Syracuse basketball against Colgate at the Dome on Tuesday, Dec. 8
•Syracuse basketball against Providence at the TD Garden in Boston on Saturday, Dec. 19
•Syracuse basketball against St. John's at Madison Square Garden in New York City (date TBD)
•Syracuse basketball against Rutgers at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y. (date TBD)
•Syracuse basketball against Albany at the Dome (date TBD)
In the upcoming campaign, the 'Cuse is expected to have 14 non-conference games and 18 Atlantic Coast Conference affairs. Reports have stated that the Orange will also likely host Cornell, another Central New York foe. If that happens, this would give SU 11 of its 14 non-conference encounters, with only three left.
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