UW Men's Basketball | Syracuse outhustles Huskies, 91-85

NEW YORK – Freshman Donte Greene scored 25 points and No. 21 Syracuse overcame some poor free-throw shooting over the final two minutes for a 91-85 victory over Washington in the third-place game of the NIT Season Tip-Off on Friday.

The Orange (4-1) were able to hold a double-figure lead for most of the second half thanks to their defense. Syracuse had 12 steals in forcing 21 turnovers and the Orange were able to convert many of those into easy transition baskets.

Syracuse shot 51.9 percent from the field (27-for-52) coming off its worst shooting game of the season — 36.2 percent in the 79-65 semifinal loss to Ohio State at Madison Square Garden.

Greene, who had seven rebounds and three blocks against Washington, had 21 points and 10 rebounds against Ohio State.

Eric Devendorf had 18 points and freshman Jonny Flynn added 16 for Syracuse, which finished 34-for-52 from the free-throw line (65.4 percent). But the Orange went 5-for-12 from the line over the final 2:09 as Washington (3-2) was able to get as close as 88-85 with 24 seconds to play.

Flynn, Arinze Onuaku and Paul Harris each went 1-for-2 from the line after that and the Huskies missed 3-point attempts on both of their possessions.

Quincy Pondexter had 20 points and 15 rebounds for Washington, while Justin Dentmon scored 16 points. Pondexter was one of three who fouled out of the game for the Huskies, who had 35 fouls called compared to 17 against Syracuse. The Orange played zone defense most of the game.

Syracuse scored on four possessions after Washington turnovers in a 15-0 run that gave it a 31-25 lead with 6:16 left in the first half.

The lead was still 74-60 when Flynn made two free throws with 8:24 left, but Washington turned the tables on the Orange and started forcing its own turnovers for easy baskets.

Dentmon scored down low with 1:50 left to pull the Huskies within 86-81. Syracuse missed a shot after running the shot clock down, but Onuaku blocked a shot by Matthew Bryan-Amaning and that started the Orange's run of going 1-for-2 from the line the rest of the way.

Washington lost 77-63 to No. 15 Texas A&M in its semifinal.

This was the first meeting between the schools.