COL BKB: Syracuse 79, Vermont 56

Top-seeded Syracuse, which had been idle since losing in the quarterfinals of the Big East Conference tournament to Georgetown, jumped on Vermont early and set up a second-round meeting with Gonzaga on Sunday.

The NCAA Tournament went another year without a No. 16 seed defeating a No. 1. Such an upset has never occurred since the tournament was expanded to 64 teams. Kansas and Kentucky won as No. 1 seeds on Thursday and Duke did so earlier Friday.

Syracuse built a 35-10 lead with 6:30 remaining in the first half, settled for a 22-point advantage at halftime and then rested its starters for much of the second period.

Johnson scored 18 points and was one of five Syracuse players in double figures. The Orange (29-4) shot 52 percent from the field and converted 10-of-22 from 3-point range.

Vermont, which defeated Boston University in the finals of the America East tournament to earn an NCAA bid, got 17 points from Marqus Blakely. The Catamounts finished with a 25-10 record.

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