Kiyan Anthony scored 18 points to lead Syracuse to an 80-50 road victory over Drexel in Philadelphia on Saturday.
Anthony, a heralded freshman and the son of Syracuse legend Carmelo Anthony, shot 7-of-12 from the field, as the Orange (3-0) shot 48 percent as a team overall. Naithan George and Donnie Freeman contributed 13 points apiece, while William Kyle III notched eight points, 10 rebounds, three blocks, and three steals.
Syracuse continued to play without JJ Starling, its top returning scorer, who is sidelined with a lower-body injury and has not played since early in the season opener.
Drexel (1-3) had one player score in double-digits — Eli Beard, who finished with 13 points. Kevon Vanderhorst contributed nine points and five assists for the Dragons, while Shane Blakeney and Villiam Garcia Adsten added seven points each.
Drexel shot just 32 percent from the floor and misfired on 17 of its 23 attempts from beyond the arc. Eighteen turnovers didn’t help matters either.
Anthony scored 12 first-half points as Syracuse held a 37-32 lead at the break. However, the first 2 1/2 minutes of the second half belonged entirely to the Orange, as George made a couple of buckets and Anthony had one of his own to help the visitors go in front 43-33.
Beard countered with a 3-pointer, but the Dragons did not score again for nearly four minutes. During that span, Freeman and Sadiq White Jr. each knocked down a pair of free throws before baskets by White and Nate Kingz made it 51-36.
Luke Fennell’s three free throws with 8:29 remaining sent the Syracuse lead north of 20 for the first time, 59-38. Kyle then added back-to-back field goals as the Orange moved in front by 25.
Anthony’s free throw with 3:36 to play extended the cushion to 30 as the Orange coasted the rest of the way to remain perfect on the young season.
