MIAMI — Derek Glasser scored a career-high 22 points Friday, and Arizona State (25-9) overcame a second consecutive subpar performance by James Harden to win 66-57.
No. 11-seed Temple (22-12) was eliminated in the opening round for the second year in a row and hasn’t won a tournament game since 2001. Senior Dionte Christmas scored 29 in his final game for the Owls.
“If you would have told us that James Harden would have ended up with nine points and I would have had 29 points and we lost the game, I would have thought you were crazy,” Christmas said. Syracuse 59, Stephen F. Austin 44
Jonny Flynn scored 16 points, Rick Jackson and Arinze Onuaku each added 12 and the third-seeded Orange cruised past NCAA first-timer Stephen F. Austin (24-8).
Syracuse (27-9) ran out to a 20-4 lead, never letting the Southland Conference champions get anything going, and will meet Arizona State in Sunday’s second round.
