🍊 vs. 🦅 HISTORY: -SU leads all-time series 2-0 -Last Game: SU W 83-65 (11/1/16, exhibition game) -Tyus Battle: 16 points, Tyler Roberson: 14 points @CitrusTVSports

INDIANA (PA) NOTES: -Ranked #3 in final DII regular season rankings -33-3, lost in DII tournament semifinals -13 straight winning seasons -Armoni Foster: (21-22): 17.8 PPG, 6.5 APG @CitrusTVSports

SYRACUSE NOTES: -Undefeated in exhibition games since 2009, winning 23 straight -Return 8 players; 6 freshmen, 1 transfer (Mounir Hima) -Last season: 16-17 record (under .500 for 1st time since 1968-69) -Team averaged 77.4 PPG (4th in ACC) @CitrusTVSports

🍊 Starting Five (2021-22 PPG): G: Judah Mintz - (Freshman) G: Joe Girard III - 13.8 PPG F: Benny Williams - 1.9 PPG F: Chris Bell - (Freshman) C: Jesse Edwards - 12 PPG @CitrusTVSports

🦅Starting Five (2021-22 PPG): G: Dave Morris - 12.2 PPG G: Kyle Polce - 2.9 PPG G: Shawndale Jones - 25 PPG F: Ethan Porterfield - 16.8 PPG F: Tomiwa Sulaiman - 7.4 PPG @CitrusTVSports

Few minutes until tip-off: noticed @JG3_____ bringing out the heat on his feet with the Kobe 6's "Grinch". He's in mid-season form with the shoes already. @CitrusTVSports

Good thing it's an exhibition game. Both teams rusty shooting the ball (IUP: 3/11, SU: 2/8). Edwards & Girard with all of SU's points. Looks like Boeheim will give the young guys lots of playing time; all 6 freshmen have touched the floor. 🍊 7 - 🦅 6 1H 15:25 @CitrusTVSports

One thing to mention: Syracuse has been in man-defense the entire game up to this point. Will we see a change in 2022??? 🤔🤔 🍊 9 - 🦅 9 1H 14:11 @CitrusTVSports

Great to see Benny Williams not afraid to shoot the ball. He's 2/2 early on with a pair of baseline jumpers. Justin Taylor showing it on both ends too. Drains his first 3P and then a monster block right before the media TO. 🍊 17 - 🦅 13 1H 10:58 @CitrusTVSports

Never mind about the man defense. Back to the good ol' 2-3 zone. 12 guys have touched the floor for SU, so good to see everyone getting a chance to show what they bring to the table. 🍊 22 - 🦅 20 1H 7:31 @CitrusTVSports

IUP isn't a joke. Looks like they know how to play a zone defense, and it's showing this half. Already 12 points in the paint for the Hawks. For SU, Girard leads the way with 7 points. 🍊 24 - 🦅 28 1H 4:16 @CitrusTVSports

Not the prettiest half for Syracuse. Ended the half on a 8-5 run, capped off by a Dave Morris buzzer-beater 3P to give IUP the lead. Orange with 10 turnovers which is not ideal, curious to see how SU responds to open the 2nd half. 🍊 32 - 🦅 33 HALF @CitrusTVSports

HALFTIME STATS: REB- IUP: 21 / SU: 22 AST- IUP: 7 / SU: 5 TO- IUP: 5 / SU: 10 FG%- IUP: 36 / SU: 41 3P- IUP: 5-17 / SU: 3-12 Points in the Paint- IUP: 14 / SU: 14 Bench Points- IUP: 5 / SU: 12 @CitrusTVSports

2H NOTES: -Feed Jesse Edwards the ball down low -Make IUP shoot the ball; no easy baskets in the paint -It's an exhibition, keep letting the young guys shoot the ball. This is the time to do it -Limit the turnovers and silly mistakes. Second half starts now. @CitrusTVSports

IUP opens the half on a 9-3 run, but SU crawls back to trail by just two. Judah Mintz already with 5 points in the half, a nice pull-up at the elbow and a 3P from the top of the key. But, Orange need to go on a run soon. 🍊 44 - 🦅 46 2H 15:25 @CitrusTVSports

Jim Boeheim takes a timeout. IUP seems to have all the energy and momentum right now. Now up to 12 OREB, and are outrebounding Cuse 30-29. Ethan Porterfield leads all scorers with 13 points. 🍊 46 - 🦅 51 2H 13:30 @CitrusTVSports

Not a great sign. Syracuse applying full court pressure and Symir Torrence slips and grabs at his lower leg. Luckily he just walked off on his own power. Hopefully nothing serious. 🍊 51 - 🦅 54 2H 11:38 @CitrusTVSports

Benny Williams the first to hit double digits for the Orange. Had a nice putback dunk earlier and then just knocked down a pull up jumper. Just one REB away from a double-double. Definitely a bright spot in this game. 🍊 51 - 🦅 54 2H 11:38 @CitrusTVSports

There's the surge SU was looking for. 13-0 run led by Benny Williams who is now up to 15 points on the night. Quadir Copeland with a nice baseline shot to beat the shot clock as well. 🍊 60 - 🦅 54 2H 9:03 @CitrusTVSports

Everything might not be meshing game one, but give it time. Young guys are showing plenty of bright spots, especially in this second half. Judah Mintz with a 3P and then a jumper. He's pumped about each bucket too. 🍊 65 - 🦅 59 2H 7:30 @CitrusTVSports

Well that's more like it. It's now a 29-7 run over the last 9 minutes for Syracuse. Mintz, Girard, Edwards and Williams all in double figures. Much improved half. 🍊 76 - 🦅 61 2H 4:36 @CitrusTVSports

Whatever changes were made at halftime, worked. SU outscores IUP 54-35 in the 2nd half. Girard led the way with 17, Williams finished with 15p and 12r. Tune into On The Bench with @JohnEadsIV and @iunzy_ at 10pm for more postgame coverage. 🍊 86 - 🦅 68 FINAL @CitrusTVSports