PARADISE ISLAND, Bahamas (AP) Michael Gbinije and Trevor Cooney each had 17 points and Syracuse beat No. 18 Connecticut 79-76 on Thursday to advance to the championship game of the Battle 4 Atlantis.
Tyler Lydon added 16 points off the bench. Gbinije also had seven assists.
The teams traded the lead at the start of the second half, with neither able to get much separation.
That changed around the 13-minute mark when the Orange (5-0) tightened their zone on defense, and started an 18-8 spurt that gave Syracuse a 65-55 lead with 7:45 remaining. The Orange then fought off several spurts by the Huskies (4-1) to preserve the win.
Daniel Hamilton led UConn with 18 points. Sterling Gibbs and Rodney Purvis each added 12.
The Huskies play Gonzaga in the third-place game on Friday.
