Big Apple NIT Roundup : Syracuse Routs Wyoming, 107-81

Syracuse’s first two baskets came on fast-break layups. The rest of the game wasn’t much different.

The 8th-ranked Orangemen overcame Wyoming’s pressure defense and rolled to an easy 107-81 victory over the Cowboys Sunday at Syracuse, N.Y., in the quarterfinals of the Big Apple National Invitation Tournament.

“We were getting it off the glass and they were leaving us out there with three-on-one opportunities, and we were able to convert,” said Stephen Thompson, the former Crenshaw High star who led the Orangemen with 19 points.

Wyoming (1-1) hoped to shut down Syracuse’s fast break by outrebounding the Orangemen, but the strategy failed.

Syracuse (2-0) advances to the semifinals against Indiana at Madison Square Garden Wednesday night.

Indiana 84, Stanford 73--Jay Edwards scored 11 of Indiana’s first 20 points and the Hoosiers forced 5 Stanford players to foul out in defeating the 20th-ranked Cardinal at Bloomington, Ind.

Edwards, who led all scorers with 27 points, made three 3-point shots as the Hoosiers (2-0) took command early. Stanford (1-1) was led by Todd Lichti, who scored 22 points.

North Carolina 99, Georgia 91--Scott Williams, from Wilson High in Hacienda Heights, scored 25 points and Kevin Madden had 18 as the sixth-ranked Tar Heels defeated the Bulldogs at Chapel Hill, N.C.

Williams scored 7 of the game’s first 9 points and contributed to North Carolina’s 26-8 bulge in the first 8 minutes. Georgia (1-1) used an 18-2 run to close to within 28-26, but North Carolina broke the game open with a 15-0 surge at the start of the second half.

The Tar Heels (2-0) advance to the semifinals to face Missouri.

Missouri 83, Xavier (Ohio) 71--Byron Irvin scored 28 points to lead the No. 14-ranked Tigers at Columbia, Mo.