NIT ROUNDUP : Massachusetts Advances by Beating Fordham, 78-74

Harper Williams had 14 of his 23 points in the second half and Massachusetts held off Fordham, 78-74, Tuesday night at New York in a second-round game of the National Invitation Tournament, ending the Rams’ 16-game home winning streak.

Massachusetts advanced to a quarterfinal game Thursday night at Siena.

The Minutemen (19-11) pulled away from a 39-39 tie early in the second half with a 19-7 run for a 58-46 lead with 7:30 remaining. Tony Barbee started the run with two three-point shots and Jim McCoy had nine points.

Massachusetts led by as many as 14 points when Williams scored on a layup with 3:57 remaining.

The Rams (25-8) made a late charge with a 12-3 run, getting to within within 74-72 on Damon Lopez’s rebound basket, his only field goal of the game, with 29 seconds left. Massachusetts survived when Williams and Anton Brown each sank two free throws.

Siena 63, South Carolina 58--Steve Downey had two key baskets and Doremus Bennerman added four free throws in the final 2:31 as the Saints downed the Gamecocks at Albany, N.Y.

Downey, a 6-11 senior, put Siena (25-9) ahead, 51-49, with 7:03 left on a three-point play when South Carolina center Jeff Roulston drew his fourth foul.

South Carolina (20-13) tied the score on Chris Leso’s bank shot 27 seconds later, but Siena’s Marc Brown made two free throws with 5:50 remaining to give the Saints the lead for good.

Bruce Schroeder followed with two free throws 31 seconds later to make it 55-51. Downey came up with a loose ball and scored while being fouled by Roulston for a 57-51 lead with 4:19 left.

Bennerman made two free throws with 2:31 to play and two more with 27 seconds left to keep Siena ahead down the stretch.

Roulston scored 21 points for South Carolina, which didn’t have guard Barry Manning because of an ankle injury.