Syracuse’s incredible Big East Tournament run continues, helping put the Orange in the conference finals and upcoming NCAA Tournament. Syracuse (22-11 straight up, 13-16 against the spread) entered Madison Square Garden as the ninth seed, and will have to get past sixth-seeded Pittsburgh to hoist Saturday’s trophy.


Coach Jim Boeheim’s team toppled fifth-seeded Georgetown Friday as a 3 1/2-point underdog, 58-57, while the combined 115 points went ‘under’ the 129-point closing total. Syracuse is now 8-6 both SU and ATS away from home.

Guard Gerry McNamara led all scorers with 17 points on 6-of-10 shooting while also dishing out five assists. The Orange were outscored in the first half, 36-21, before cruising in the second half. Syracuse was outrebounded by the Hoyas, 29-22, but shot 47 percent (22-of-47).

The Orange started their Big East Tournament run with Wednesday’s last-second victory over Cincinnati as a one-point underdog, 74-73, and continued Thursday when they toppled top-seeded UConn in overtime as an 11-point ‘dog, 86-84.

Syracuse fell to Pittsburgh Jan. 23 as a 4 1/2-point road underdog, 80-67, when the Orange were in the midst of a midseason four-game SU and six game ATS losing skid.

Pittsburgh (24-6 SU, 15-9 ATS) has won four games in a row SU and three consecutive ATS after beating second-seeded Villanova Friday as a 4 1/2-point underdog, 68-54. The combined 122 points never seriously threatened the 136 1/2-point closing total.

The Panthers dominated the Wildcats on the boards, 36-24, while shooting 41 percent (23-of-56) from the field and limiting Villanova to just 35 percent (19-of-54). Antonio Graves stepped up with 18 points off the bench on 7-of-12 shooting, while teammate Levance Fields added 14. None of the Panthers starters reached double digits in scoring.

Pittsburgh started its postseason run with Wednesday’s victory over Louisville as a four-point ‘chalk,’ 61-56, before knocking off West Virginia Thursday as a one-point favorite, 68-57.

The Panthers are now 8-5 SU and 9-4 ATS away from home, winning those affairs by an average score of 67-64.

ESPN will provide coverage of Saturday’s Big East Tournament final beginning Saturday at 8:00 p.m. ET from Madison Square Garden in New York City.