The University of Cincinnati defeated top-seeded Syracuse University 71-68 in the semifinals of the Big East mens’s basketball tournament.

The fourth-seeded Bearcats fought off a second-half rally by the Orange, who were down by 12 at the half, at Madison Square Garden in New York.

Cincinnati will play the winner of tonight’s game between Notre Dame and Louisville in tomorrow’s championship contest.

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Nancy Kercheval at nkercheval@bloomberg.net