Junior guard Brandon Triche and sophomore guard Dion Waiters each have netted nine points to help the top-seeded Syracuse Orange earn a 33-27 halftime lead over No. 4 Wisconsin Badgers in a NCAA Tournament, Sweet 16 contest in Boston, Ma. The winner advance to the Elite 8 to face either No. 2 Ohio St. Buckeyes or No. 6 Cincinnati Bearcats on Saturday.
Trailing 20-18 with 7:06 to go in the first half, the Orange (33-2) used a 15-5 run, which featured all six of sophomore forward C.J Fair's points, to take a 33-23 lead with 2:31 to go.
However, two late free throws by Josh Gasser and a transition layup from senior guard Jordan Taylor for Wisconsin, helped trimmed the lead to six heading into the locker room.
Wisconsin began the game 8-for-12 from the field, including 4-for-8 from behind the 3-point line, to take its two-point advantage at around the halfway mark.
Junior forward Jared Berggren has netted a team-high 10 points for Wisconsin, which finished the half shooting 10-for-25 (40-percent). The Badgers have made 5 of their 11 long-range attempts.
Meanwhile, the Orange have out-rebounded the Badgers, 13-9, and have made 63.9-percent from the field.
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