SYRACUSE 59, Stephen F. Austin 44
In Miami, Jonny Flynn scored 16 points, Rick Jackson and Arinze Onuaku each added 12 and third-seeded Syracuse cruised past NCAA first-timer Stephen F. Austin. Syracuse (27-9) ran out to a 20-4 lead over the overmatched Southland Conference champs. Stephen F. Austin (24-8) missed 12 of its first 13 shots, started a mind-numbing 0-for-15 from three-point range, and trailed by 26 points five minutes into the second half. Benson Akpan led Stephen F. Austin with 12 points and Nick Shaw scored 10.
ARIZONA ST. 66, TEMPLE 57
James Harden made only one field goal Friday, and it was a big one. Arizona State’s scoring leader struggled most of the game but sank a three-pointer with 4:02 left, helping the Sun Devils (25-9) hold off Temple. Harden went 1-for-8 and was held to nine points, less than half his average. Junior Derek Glasser scored a career-high 22 points and Jeff Pendergraph also had 22 for the Sun Devils, playing in the tournament for the first time since 2003. No. 11 seed Temple (22-12), led by Dionte Christmas’ 29 points, was eliminated in the opening round for the second year in a row and hasn’t won a tournament game since 2001.
