Former Orangeman Outshines Phoenix Suns

ABC News On Campus reporter Matt Gelb blogs: SYRACUSE, N.Y.  –  A wide-open Carmelo Anthony took the pass from Allen Iverson, and in one swooping motion slammed the ball to score the first points of the game. The 22,115 fans inside the Carrier Dome erupted in celebration. "It feels good," Anthony said after the game. "It brought back a lot of memories … It was good to get back in front of the fans I played in front of several years ago." The NBA came back to Syracuse for one night and Anthony, the legendary former Orangeman, was the star of the show. Anthony’s Nuggets defeated the Phoenix Suns, 94-91, in an exhibition game Friday night on the Syracuse University campus. This event was all about ‘Melo’s homecoming. Anthony played inside the Carrier Dome for the first time since 2003, when he played for the Nuggets in the last NBA game at Syracuse. Of course, that same season, the freshman Anthony led Syracuse basketball to its only national championship. "There were a lot more people this time than when I came back the first time," Anthony said. "It was good playing in front of these people. I was here…they were rooting for me every game. I played a season here and brought them back a championship. And to actually come back and have a preseason game, it feels pretty good." Anthony scored 14 points in 24 minutes and threw his shoes into the crowd before leaving the court. It was Anthony’s first appearance on campus since September 2007, when he helped break ground on the Carmelo K. Anthony Basketball Center, the new basketball practice facility currently under construction at Syracuse. Anthony donated $3 million to jump-start the project. For the past two days, the NBA players have been spotted around campus. The Suns arrived Wednesday night and on Thursday, students saw Shaquille O’Neal visiting local eateries along Marshall Street and the Carousel Mall. Anthony said he made a point to hit up some of his old spots around campus. As college basketball teams around the country celebrated the official start of the season Friday night, Syracuse pushed its Midnight Madness party back a week to accommodate the game. So after opening practice during the day, Syracuse’s players sat courtside at the game, marveling at O’Neal dunks and yelling at Iverson. The Carrier Dome has been home to NBA exhibitions before. And, don’t forget, Syracuse was once home to an NBA franchise, the Syracuse Nationals. They won the 1955 NBA title before moving to Philadelphia to become the 76ers in 1963. For one night, though, the Syracuse fans enjoyed a taste of the pros for the chance to see Anthony again, even if they wanted more in the end. In the final two minutes, the remaining fans chanted "We want ‘Melo!" but Anthony didn’t play at all in the fourth quarter. "I had a long summer, man," he said, with a smile. "I wish I could have run back in there. I had a long summer, though."