New York, NY (Sports Network) - It was only fitting the final Big East battle
between Syracuse and Georgetown was decided in overtime.
C.J. Fair made up for his forgettable play in regulation with a highlight-reel
dunk and a late steal, sparking the 19th-ranked Orange into the conference
tournament final with a thrilling 58-55 victory over the fifth-ranked Hoyas.
James Southerland, Brandon Triche and Baye Keita each scored 13 points for
fifth-seeded Syracuse (26-8), which has won three games in three days and will
play the winner of the Louisville-Notre Dame semifinal on Saturday.
The Hoyas (25-6), which had swept the season series by a combined 33 points,
lost as the No. 1 seed in this event for just the second time.
Mikael Hopkins had a team-high 15 points for Georgetown, while Markel Starks
and Otto Porter Jr. chipped in 13 and 12, respectively, in the loss.
The storied programs met in the first-ever Big East Tournament title game in
1980. Georgetown won that contest and rallied from a 12-point second-half
deficit to force overtime on Friday, but the Orange pulled out the victory in
their final showing in this event before moving to the ACC next season.
GAME NOTES:
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