Syracuse basketball has its second and final exhibition this week before the 2024-25 season officially get underway for the Orange.
On Wednesday, Oct. 30, the 'Cuse will welcome Division II Slippery Rock University from Slippery Rock, Pa., to the JMA Wireless Dome for an exhibition match-up. The Rock, as this foe is known, competes in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference ("PSAC").
The Orange and Slippery Rock are scheduled to tip off at 7 pm, with live-streaming coverage on the ACC Network Extra. Syracuse basketball's official 2024-25 season opener will transpire on Monday, Nov. 4, when nearby Le Moyne and the 'Cuse will battle on the Hill in a non-conference affair as Adrian Autry begins his second term as the program's head coach.
In the Orange's first exhibition, also at the Dome this past Saturday afternoon, Syracuse basketball cruised past Division II Clarion University from Clarion, Pa., by a final count of 101-73. The Golden Eagles are also a member of the PSAC.
In that exhibition, senior point guard Jaquan Carlos, a four-star transfer from Hofstra, and graduate student center Eddie Lampkin Jr., a four-star transfer from Colorado, made impressive 'Cuse debuts.
The Orange also got strong performances from returning starters J.J. Starling, a junior guard, and Chris Bell, a junior small forward, as well as freshmen Donnie Freeman, a power forward, Elijah Moore, a shooting guard, and Petar Majstorovic, a big man.
Syracuse basketball welcomes Slippery Rock to Central New York on Wednesday night.
Per SU Athletics, Wednesday's exhibition will mark the first-ever meeting between the 'Cuse and The Rock. The team's head coach is Ian Grady, who is entering his seventh year leading the program.
In 2023-24, Slippery Rock went 16-14 overall and 13-9 in PSAC play. Grady, to date, has compiled an 84-62 record as the squad's head coach.
Not too long ago, the PSAC's preseason poll ahead of 2024-25 was disclosed, and The Rock is forecast to finish second in the conference's Western Division. This coming campaign, Slippery Rock returns several starters and key reserves, led by graduate student guard Maceo Austin from Sharon, Pa.
The 6-foot-5, 190-pound Austin, last season, averaged 34.3 minutes, 16.9 points, 6.7 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 1.7 steals and 1.1 blocks per game. In 2023-24, Austin connected on 45.2 percent from the field, 29.1 percent from beyond the arc, and 65.2 percent from the free-throw line, getting named to the All-PSAC West first team.