Frank Howard and Oshae Brissett pick up Tyus Battle and his sore back with career nights to enter their first test against Maryland at 5-0.
In what proved to be a tougher game than anticipated, the Syracuse Orange hosted Toledo in what would be a grind it out affair. Syracuse was shorthanded in the contest but still surged to a 72-64 win without Tyus Battle for much of the second half.
After playing his best game of his career, Syracuse center Paschal Chukwu found himself in foul trouble for the first time. He picked up two early fouls before the first media timeout.
With he and Bourama Sidibe in foul trouble and Tyus Battle struggling from the field with back pain after a hard fall, Oshae Brissett and Frank Howard assumed the scoring load with career games.
Sidibe checked into the game after being limited on Monday with soreness in his knee. He too would pick up his 4th foul midway through the second half.
The story of the contest was Howard, who started the game 4-of-6 from the field and finished with a career night. He’s starting to come into his own on the offense end and looks the part of floor general.
The Orange sealed the deal, starting their season 5-0 despite bumps in the road and a painful back for Battle. They get their biggest test of the year on Monday against Maryland in the Carrier Dome at 7 p.m.