The Syracuse University men's basketball program will play in its second of three games in a four-day span Monday night as the Orange, ranked No. 5 in both the AP and USA Today/ESPN Coaches polls, host Manhattan University at the Carrier Dome in the opening round of the NIT Tipoff Tournament. SU will play the tail end of a doubleheader (7 p.m. on ESPNU), which features Brown University and the University at Albany playing first at 4 p.m. The winners of each contest advance to play each other Tuesday night (7 p.m) in the Regional finals.
On Saturday, the Orange (1-0) began its 2011-12 campaign with a dominate 78-53 victory over Fordham University. Senior forward Kris Joseph netted a game-best 16 points, while sophomore guard Dion Waiters chipped in with 14 points off the bench.
Meanwhile, also on Saturday, the Jaspers (1-0) started its year with a victory, 62-48, over New Jersey Institute of Technology. Junior guard George Beamon compiled 15 points and 10 rebounds for his eighth double-double in his collegiate career.
Both the Orange and the Jaspers are hoping to win back-to-back games to advance to the NIT Tipoff Tournament's semifinals, which will be held at Madison Square Garden in New York City.