The Syracuse Orange lit up historic Hinkle Fieldhouse from three-point range and used a high-energy suffocating zone defense to blow past sixth-seeded San Diego State 78-62 and advance to the round of 32 of the NCAA Tournament.

When Buddy Boeheim, who led all Orange with 30 points, left the floor in the first half with 16 of the Orange's 18 points, Syracuse was down a point. By halftime, Syracuse was up 14 points thanks to a defense that held SDSU to less than 25% shooting for the half.

“Our defense got better. We almost shut them out the rest of the half,” coach Jim Boeheim said.

(AP)

The second half didn't go much better for the Aztecs.

For the game, the Syracuse zone defense, which San Diego State coach Brian Dutcher said his team was "excited" to play against, held the Aztecs to just 36% shooting and 28% shooting from three-point.

“Once we got everyone going, it was a really good basketball game,” Boeheim said after the game. “Our defense was good, but they missed some open shots."

As he'd been throughout the final strech of the season, Boeheim put the Orange on his back with 7-for-10 shooting from three-point range. In the past five games, he has scored 26 or more points in four games, including 30 or more in his last two.

Fourteen three-pointers were most the Orange have scored in their NCAA Tournament history.

Sophomore guard Joe Girard III added a dozen points and seven assists.

Syracuse will play Sunday against the third-seeded West Virginia, who beat Morehead State in the First Round. With Boeheim and Bob Huggins on the sidelines, the game will feature two coaches who are members of the 900-win club.