SYRACUSE - Syracuse finished a lot better than it started against Le Moyne, and that had the Orange breathing a little easier with the regular season less than a week away.

Demetris Nichols scored 23 points and Louie McCroskey had 13 points, 10 rebounds and six assists to lead Syracuse past its crosstown rival 94-54 Thursday night.

It was the Orange's second game in three nights against a Division II team, and it was a marked improvement over Tuesday's lethargic 86-73 win over Saint Rose. Syracuse, which won easily despite 20 turnovers against the Golden Knights, had 26 assists and only 11 turnovers against the Dolphins.

“I thought we moved the ball better,” said Gerry McNamara, who had six points and nine assists. “We were more patient in the second half. We moved the ball quite well and played good defense. Tonight was a big step.”

Especially for freshmen Eric Devendorf and Arinze Onuaku, who combined for 27 points. Devendorf hit two 3-pointers and finished with 16 points, and the 6-foot-9, 255-pound Onuaku had 11 points and eight rebounds.

“This was a good game for us in a lot of ways,” said Orange coach Jim Boeheim, who was around for all 40 minutes of the game. He was ejected in the final minute of the first half against Saint Rose, the first time he was thrown out of a game in his 30-year career.

“In the second half, we got better shots,” Boeheim said. “We penetrated, we passed better, and our turnovers were a huge improvement, which is a good sign.”

Both teams came out ice-cold. Syracuse missed its first nine shots, and the Dolphins missed their first 12. The Orange gained a 1-0 lead on a McCroskey free throw in the first minute of play, then kept its fans standing and clapping for the first basket until Devendorf hit a jumper in the lane at 15:45.

When Corey Smith hit a 3-pointer from the left side at 12:34 and Damani Corbin followed with a basket off the glass, Le Moyne only trailed 10-5.

And the Dolphins managed to stay close. Stefan Horbanczuk's long 3 from the right wing moved them within 21-18 with 6:44 to go in the half.

“We hung with them, six minutes left in the first half we were down by only three,” Le Moyne coach Steve Evans said. “But we have no bench, and in the second half that hurt us. Overall, we survived. Right now, we're still learning. We've got a long ways to go.”

After Corbin hit a pullup jumper at 5:59, Syracuse held the Dolphins without a basket for the rest of the period and went on a 17-3 run to close the half and open a 40-23 lead.

If anything, the game was a confidence-builder for Nichols, who has been erratic in his Syracuse career. With the Orange's good ball movement, Nichols, a junior, went 4-for-7 on 3-pointers.

“Demetris is a good shooter, and it's up to our guys to get him good shots,” Boeheim said. “I thought Louie and Gerry did a good job tonight in finding people. That's what Demetris needs. He needs people to help him.”

Jason Holmes led the undermanned Dolphins with 16 points, Corbin had nine points and five assists, and Smith had eight points.

The Syracuse bench outscored Le Moyne's 38-11.

A three-point play by Terrence Roberts and a 3 from the left corner by Nichols gave Syracuse its biggest lead, 90-47, with 3:57 left in the game.

Roberts, who hurt his right knee against Saint Rose, had eight points and four rebounds in 16 minutes before fouling out. Center Darryl Watkins also fouled out, finishing with six points and four blocks in 19 minutes.

Syracuse, which finished with 25 fouls, opens the regular season Tuesday at home against Bethune-Cookman. And the Orange don't want their big men watching so much from the bench.

“When Terrence and Mookie (Watkins) are not in there, we're playing with a small lineup for a large part of the game,” Boeheim said. “That's something that concerns me a lot.”