No. 2 Syracuse Survives UConn Upset Bid

by David Cassilo / @dcassilo

After 13 straight postseason wins for UConn, the Huskies finally lost at the hands of No. 2 Syracuse, 58-55. The win advances the Orange to the semifinals of the Big East tournament.

After hitting halftime down three, UConn came out strong after the break and built a lead as large as eight points. While senior starters Scoop Jardine and Kris Joseph struggled for the Orange, it was the unheralded James Southerland who stepped up late. The junior forward score all 10 of his points in the final eight minutes. Sophomore guard Dion Waiters also added 18 points for the Orange as the Syracuse bench outscored its starters by two points.

For the Huskies, it was a game they felt they should have won.

From the Danbury News Times:

“We were up, we acted like we had won the game,” said UConn point guard Shabazz Napier. “We should have played better on offense and dug down deeper on defense. We let up — pretty bad.”

The win was the 31st of the year for Syracuse. It will now play Cincinnati in the Big East semifinals. The Bearcats beat No. 13 Georgetown, 72-70, in double overtime.