The Middle Tennessee State Blue Raiders were looking to make a deep run after probably the biggest upset in the history of the NCAA Tournament by defeating number 2-seeded Michigan State. Syracuse barely made it into the tournament. The Orange grounded the Flyers from Dayton in the first round.

This game would end up being a blowout loss for the Blue Raiders. However, at first, it looked as if the Blue Raiders could go the distance again and take down the Orange like they did the Spartans earlier. Syracuse played really well in the first half, but it was the constant misses from the free throw line that kept MTSU in the game. At the half, Syracuse only had a slim lead. MTSU came out firing after the break. The Blue Raiders at one point would also take the lead after a three from Giddy Potts, the nation’s top three-point shooter. For Middle Tennessee though, the wheels fell off the wagon. They managed to hit only one more shot over the next 10 or 12 minutes. Syracuse built up their lead to 50-41 with about 10 minutes left in the half. The Orange would then cruise to a 75-50 win and move on to the Sweet 16.

MTSU is now GONE. Syracuse moves on to play the Gonzaga Bulldogs in the Sweet 16. Gonzaga defeated Utah to get into the Sweet 16.