Syracuse wins last second thriller

SYRACUSE, N.Y. -Freshman guard Jonny Flynn hit a 3-pointer from the top of the key with 5.3 seconds left to break a 68-all tie, and Syracuse beat Saint Joseph's 72-69 on Tuesday night in the second round of the NIT Season Tip-off.

Syracuse, which beat Siena 97-89 in the first round to start the new season, advances to the tournament semifinals next Wednesday at Madison Square Garden.

After Pat Calathes converted a three-point play with 24.5 seconds left to tie it, Flynn swished a long jumper, his only basket of the game on six attempts after scoring a school-record 28 against Siena. Paul Harris made a free throw in the final second to seal the victory over the stubborn Hawks (1-1).

Flynn also had six assists and one turnover and Harris had 18 points and 14 rebounds, his second straight double-double. Freshman Donte Greene had 18 points, Arinze Onuaku had a career-high 17 points, and Eric Devendorf had 12 points for Syracuse.

Calathes and Darrin Govens led the Hawks with 22 points apiece and Tasheed Carr had 13 points and nine assists. Ahmad Nivins, who had 19 points and nine rebounds in Saint Joseph's first-round victory over Fairleigh Dickinson, had just three points.

Syracuse, which led 33-30 at the break, started the second half with a 12-3 run as the Hawks went cold from outside after hitting 6-of-12 from beyond the arc in the first. The Orange opened a 45-33 lead on a 3-pointer by Harris from the left corner. It was only his second 3-pointer in 21 career attempts.