NCAA tournament: No. 1-seeded Syracuse routs Vermont, 79-56

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Wes Johnson had 18 points to lead five Syracuse players in double figures, and the top-seeded Orange beat Vermont, 79-56, tonight in the first round of NCAA tournament in Buffalo, N.Y.

Syracuse (29-4), playing without injured center Arinze Onuaku, avenged a stunning overtime loss to Vermont (25-10) in the 2005 tournament. The Orange will play eighth-seeded Gonzaga in the second round of the West Regional on Sunday. The Zags beat Florida State, 67-60, early tonight.

Scoop Jardine had 14 points, Rick Jackson finished with 12 points and eight rebounds, and Andy Rautins had 11 points, eight rebounds and six assists for the Orange. Freshman Brandon Triche, whose confidence was suffering after scoring just nine points in his previous four games, had 10 points.

Marqus Blakely led Vermont with 17 points and Evan Fjeld added 13.

-- Associated Press

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