Sanford Pentagon to host Oregon-Syracuse men’s basketball game in December
Sanford Sports announced that the Sanford Pentagon will host the Oregon Ducks and the Syracuse Orange in a non-conference matchup on Dec. 17.
Oregon vs. Syracuse is the second announced NCAA Division I men’s basketball game that the Sanford Pentagon will host this year. Nebraska will take on Oregon State on Nov. 18.
“This is a big-time matchup with two of the most recognizable and successful programs in college basketball,” said Jesse Smith, vice president of Sanford Sports in a press release. “We take a tremendous amount of pride in being able to bring championship-caliber teams from across the country to Sioux Falls and are excited for these two schools to make their Pentagon debut in front of a passionate crowd and incredible atmosphere on Heritage Court.”
Syracuse, a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference, is starting a new era in their basketball program after abruptly replacing Hall of Fame coach Jim Boeheim earlier this year. Adrian Autry, a former Syracuse point guard and assistant during Boeheim's coaching tenure, has taken over the program. The Orange rank sixth all-time in NCAA Division I wins and finished last season with a record of 17-15.
“We are excited to play in the Sanford Pentagon against Oregon,” Autry said in the release. “I believe this game will help to enhance our non-conference schedule and will be a great game for our players and our program. We are looking forward to the challenge.”
Oregon, a member of the Pac-12, finished last season with a 21-15 record. Head coach Dana Altman has won 20-plus games in each of the last 13 seasons. He also has a streak of 26 consecutive winning seasons as a head coach that extends beyond his time at Oregon.
“This is a great opportunity for our program,” Altman said. “We are excited to play in this historic venue against an opponent like Syracuse. Our team is looking forward to visiting Sioux Falls.”
This year’s contest will be only the second time that Oregon and Syracuse have played each other. The Ducks defeated the Orange 80-65 in the Empire Classic at Madison Square Garden in 2018.
Since opening in 2013, the Sanford Pentagon has hosted more than 80 Division I men’s and women’s college basketball games.
This article originally appeared on Sioux Falls Argus Leader: Sanford Pentagon to host Oregon-Syracuse men’s basketball game
