PROVIDENCE, R.I. — Rick Jackson scored a career-high 28 points, 17 in the second half, and No. 4 Syracuse recovered from an eight-point deficit to beat feisty Providence 99-85 on Tuesday night.
Andy Rautins scored a season-high 28 points, Jackson added nine rebounds and Arinze Onuaku had 12 points and nine boards for the Orange (26-2, 13-2), who clinched a double-bye into the quarterfinals of the Big East tournament.
After Jamine Peterson hit a 3-pointer to open the second half and give the Friars a 55-47 lead, Syracuse scored the next 14 points. Marshon Brooks made a basket for Providence (12-15, 4-11) with 13:29 left to cut the deficit to four points, but the Orange scored the next 12 to put it away.
Brooks and Peterson both scored 23 for Providence, which has lost seven straight since beating then-No. 19 Connecticut on Jan. 27.