No. 3 Syracuse gets lucky tip, dodges No. 21 Cincy

SYRACUSE, N.Y. - With Cincinnati and Syracuse tied and the clock ticking down in the final minute, the Orange's Jerami Grant drove the lane. When his shot didn't fall, arms flailed all around the rim trying to corral the ball.

Somehow, the shot trickled in with 19.4 seconds remaining, and No. 3 Syracuse escaped with a 57-55 victory over No. 21 Cincinnati on Monday, its second scintillating win in three days.

Michael Carter-Williams scored 16 points, including a 3-pointer with 1:20 remaining to tie the game at 55.

"We didn't want to lose," Carter-Williams said. "None of us like losing. We picked up our intensity and our energy. We should've found that in the first half."

Syracuse (18-1, 6-0 Big East) had trailed by seven with just over five minutes left, rallying to win in the final minute just as it had Saturday at then-No. 1 Louisville in a 70-68 win.

"Louisville was a tough, gritty game. We're banged up and sore," Carter-Williams said. "To come back one day later and beat Cincinnati is a great feeling."

C.J. Fair was credited with the winning tip, but admitted afterward he wasn't sure who hit the ball.

"There were bodies down there and the ball just went in the hoop," Fair said.

Cincinnati's Cashmere Wright missed a 3 from straight on with 2.9 seconds left, allowing the Orange to escape with their 35th straight win at home, the longest active streak in Division I.

Syracuse had a 13-4 scoring edge in the final minutes, and Cincinnati (16-4, 4-3) suffered its third loss by two points or less. The Bearcats had won five straight.

Sean Kilpatrick led Cincinnati with 21 points, and JaQuon Parker had 11.

■ Georgetown 63, No. 24 Notre Dame 47 - At South Bend, Ind., Otto Porter scored 19 points, and the Hoyas (15-4, 3-3 Big East) handed the Fighting Irish (13-4, 3-3) their third loss in four games.

Jerian Grant scored 13 points to lead Notre Dame, which recorded season lows in points scored, field-goal percentage (35 percent) and assists (11).