Big Apple NIT : Syracuse Has No Trouble With Indiana, 102-78
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NEW YORK — Steve Thompson and Matt Roe led No. 6 Syracuse on a first-half surge and the Orangemen reached the final of the Big Apple National Invitation Tournament with a 102-78 victory over No. 20 Indiana Wednesday night.
The Orangemen will play No. 13 Missouri in Friday’s championship game. The Tigers downed No. 6 North Carolina, 91-81, in the other semifinal.
Syracuse (3-0) routed the Hoosiers (2-1) with a 54-30 first-half blitz in the second meeting ever between the two basketball powers. Indiana beat Syracuse by a point for the 1987 national championship.
Thompson finished with 23 points, and Derrick Coleman had 17, freshman Billy Owens added 15 and Roe had 13. Sherman Douglas had 8 points and 14 assists.
Chuckie White had 17 for Indiana.
Byron Irvin scored 21 points and Missouri (3-0) gave Coach Norm Stewart his 500th collegiate coaching victory.
Scott Williams had 25 points for North Carolina (2-1).
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