Syracuse vs. Wagner: Orange host Seahawks in home opener

After tipping-off its season on the deck of an aircraft carrier, the No. 8-ranked Syracuse Orange returns to a more ideal setting Sunday when the Wagner Seahawks visit the Carrier Dome for a non-conference men's basketball game.

Syracuse (1-0) is coming off an impressive 62-49 victory over the San Diego St. Aztecs last Sunday. Junior forward C.J. Fair paced the Orange with a team-high 17 points and collected 10 rebounds, while sophomore guard Michael Carter-Williams tallied a collegiate-best 17 points.

Wagner (0-1) dropped its season opener last Wednesday to Delaware St. Hornets, who won 73-69 in overtime. The contest was the first game under new head coach Bashir Mason.

Last season, the Seahawks were able to defeat the Pittsburgh Panthers, 59-54, at the Peterson Events Center.

Match up

Syracuse projected starting five:

1. Brandon Triche (Sr., 6'4, 205 pounds): 15 points vs. San Diego St.
2. Michael Carter-Williams (So., 6'6, 185): A Naismith Award Watch List nominee
3. C.J. Fair (Jr., 6'8, 215): Began season with double-double vs. San Diego St.
4. Rakeem Christmas (So., 6'9, 242): Tallied five blocks vs. San Diego St.
5. DaJuan Coleman (Fr., 6'9, 288): Started first collegiate game vs. San Diego St.

Bench: senior forward James Southerland (6'8, 215) tallied six points, six rebounds against San Diego St.; junior center Baye Keita (6'10, 215) collected eight rebounds in season opener; freshman guard Trevor Cooney (6'4, 195) is SU's main 3-point threat coming off the bench; freshman forward Jerami Grant (6'8, 203) played sparingly vs. San Diego St.

Wagner's projected starting five:

1. Kenneth Ortiz (Jr., 6'0, 200): 12 points, eight rebounds in opener.
   
2. Dwaun Anderson (Fr., 6'4, 200): played 28 minutes vs. Delaware St.
   
3. Latif Rivers (Jr., 6'1, 175): 12 points vs. Delaware St.
   
4. Jonathon Williams (Sr. 6'6, 225): Team-high 19 points vs. Delaware St.
   
5. Naofall Folahan (6'11, 215): 11 points, eight rebounds vs. Delaware St.
   

Bench: sophomore guard Marcus Burton (6'0, 170) played 22 minutes and was 1-for-8 from the floor (five points) in the season opener; senior forward Josh Thompson (6'5, 200) played 14 minutes and tallied one point against Delaware St.

Syracuse's next game will be played Wednesday against the visiting Princeton Tigers (7 p.m. ET), who lost to the Rutgers Scarlet Knights, 58-52, on Friday.