SYRACUSE, N.Y. (AP) β Rakeem Christmas scored a career-high 35 points, Trevor Cooney added 21, and Syracuse beat Wake Forest 86-83 in overtime on Tuesday night.
Michael Gbinije’s step-back 3-pointer staked Syracuse to a 79-75 lead midway through the extra period, and after a layup by Devin Thomas pulled the Demon Deacons (9-9, 1-4 Atlantic Coast Conference) within 79-78 with 75 seconds left, Christmas sank six straight free throws to boost the margin to 85-80.
Codi Miller-McIntyre countered with a long 3 from the wing with 4.7 seconds to play, and Cornelius Hudson clanged a shot off the rim from beyond half court at the buzzer that would have forced a second overtime.
Gbinije, who had 17 points and 11 rebounds, missed a chance to win it in regulation for Syracuse (13-4, 4-0) when his driving layup bounced off the rim with 3.2 seconds left and the game tied at 71.
