Boeheim’s Army opened its best-of-three first-round series in The Basketball Tournament with a dominant 82-52 victory over Hall In on Tuesday night at Walsh Gymnasium in South Orange, New Jersey.
While Syracuse alumni Buddy Boeheim, Cole Swider and Elijah Hughes headlined the roster, it was newcomers Kao Akobundu-Ehiogu and Tyson Walker who helped set the tone early. Akobundu-Ehiogu controlled the paint from the opening possession, and Boeheim’s Army never trailed after reclaiming the lead midway through the first quarter, building a double-digit advantage before halftime.
Swider took over offensively in the second quarter, scoring 16 first-half points while delivering buzzer-beating baskets at the end of both the first and second quarters. Akobundu-Ehiogu continued to dominate inside throughout the second half, finishing with 17 points and 11 rebounds, while Swider poured in a game-high 28 points. Walker also provided a spark before exiting with an apparent injury in the fourth quarter. Boeheim’s Army shot 50.8% from the field and limited Hall In to 32.8% shooting to take control throughout the matchup.
The Syracuse-based team can now clinch the series and advance to the next round with a victory in Game 2 on Thursday at 7 p.m. at Upstate Medical Arena at The Oncenter War Memorial in Syracuse. If necessary, Game 3 will also be played in Syracuse on Friday.
Kyle leads sports coverage and hosts the Concrete Jungle podcast. Have a lead or question? Send it to kyle@fingerlakes1.com.