PHILADELPHIA – The charity for troubled youths started by Jerry Sandusky more than three decades ago – and through which the retired Penn State assistant football coach met the boys he is charged withLOUISVILLE, Ky. – Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim preferred to look on the bright side despite all his team’s problems.
Senior leaders Scoop Jardine and Kris Joseph struggled. The Orange missed shot after shot.
Only C.J. Fair had an answer against with Louisville, which was poised for an upset.
“Our defense was getting crucial stops when we needed them,” Fair said. “And, defense wins games.”
Championships, too.
Fair scored 13 points and No. 2 Syracuse scored the final six points of the game to beat the 19th-ranked Cardinals 52-51 on Monday night, snapping a seven-game losing streak against Louisville in a game that reminded Boeheim of the NCAA tournament.
“You’re going to get in games like this in the tournament. I don’t care who you are. You’ve got to be ready to be able to make those plays at the end of games,” Boeheim said. “If they make a play, hit one shot, the end, we lose. In the tournament, you go home and you’re going to play teams like Louisville and teams just as good or better.”
Louisville (20-6, 8-5) rallied with a 15-2 run to take a 51-46 lead, but the Orange (26-1, 13-1) held the Cardinals without a point over the final 3 1/2 minutes.
“It was a defensive battle and they came up with the plays at the end,” Louisville coach Rick Pitino said.
Fab Melo scored 11 points for Syracuse, which won for the sixth straight time.
NO. 4 KANSAS 59, KANSAS ST. 53: In Manhattan, Kan., Tyshawn Taylor had 20 points in a virtuoso performance for Kansas, which fended off a stiff test from Kansas State putting the Jayhawks alone in first place in the Big 12.
Jeff Withey added 18 points and 11 rebounds.
No. 9 BAYLOR 79, IOWA ST. 64: In Waco, Texas, Perry Jones III rediscovered his shooting touch with 18 points and Baylor rebounded from consecutive losses.
Freshman Quincy Miller added 16 for the Bears.
Women
No. 2 CONNECTICUT 73, OKLAHOMA 55: In Norman, Okla., Tiffany Hayes scored 23 points, Bria Hartley added 20 and Connecticut beat Oklahoma for its 12th straight victory.
No. 13 TENNESSEE 91, No. 7 KENTUCKY 54: In Knoxville, Tenn., Meighan Simmons scored a season-high 25 points and Tennessee routed Kentucky.
Shekinna Stricklen added 18 points for the Volunteers (18-7, 9-3 Southeastern Conference).
MINNESOTA 64, No. 16 NEBRASKA 58: In Minneapolis, Kionna Kellogg’s basket broke a tie with 1:01 left as Minnesota beat Nebraska. Rachel Banham led the Gophers (13-14, 5-8 Big Ten) with 21 points.
