NEW YORK – Jim Boeheim couldn’t help but think of the last three-plus decades as he entered Madison Square Garden on Wednesday for a big game for Syracuse.

The Orange managed a 75-63 victory over Seton Hall to advance to the quarterfinals of the Big East tournament — Syracuse’s last Big East tournament as it heads for the Atlantic Coast Conference next season.

Additional Photos

Brandon Triche keyed a big second-half run Wednesday as Syracuse beat Seton Hall to advance to the Big East quarterfinals at Madison Square Garden. The Associated Press

“I was thinking about all the times coming here,” Boeheim said after his 48th Big East tournament win, 13 more than the second-place coach. “I first came to the Garden when I was a sophomore in college, the old, old Garden. Seems like about 50 years ago. Oh, it was 50 years ago.

“I was thinking in the locker room before the game, about some of the games, and some of the highlights. Things have kind of been two years coming, but now that it’s here, your whole life has been spent in this league, and the last 31 years coming to this building, that’s a lot. That’s a lot of memories, a lot of time.”

James Southerland hit five 3-pointers in the first half to keep No. 19 Syracuse in the game and Brandon Triche keyed a big second-half run for the Orange.

Fifth-seeded Syracuse (24-8) extended its Big East tenure with the win and the Orange will play fourth-seeded and 17th-ranked Pittsburgh in the quarterfinals on Thursday.

CINCINNATI 61, PROVIDENCE 44: Sean Kilpatrick scored 17 points to lead the Bearcats (22-10) past the Friars (17-14) in a Big East tournament game at New York.

VILLANOVA 66, ST. JOHN’S 53: Mouphtaou Yarou made his first seven shots and scored 18 points, sending the Wildcats (20-12) over the Red Storm (16-15) in the second round of the Big East tournament.

BUCKNELL 64, LAFAYETTE 56: Mike Muscala scored six of his 20 points during a decisive second-half stretch to help the Bison (28-5) capture their second NCAA tournament berth in three seasons by beating the Leopards (19-15) in the Patriot League title game at Lewisburg, Pa.

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

USC: Michael Cooper quit as coach after four seasons.

BASEBALL

ST. JOSEPH’S 13, KEENE STATE 6: Alex Lorenc had three hits with three RBI as the Monks (4-7) handled the Owls (6-1) at Auburndale, Fla.

Lorenc hit a three-run triple during a seven-run fourth inning that gave the Monks a 7-2 lead.

APPRENTICE 8, SOUTHERN MAINE C.C. 6: Devorn Lake had two hits with three RBI as the Builders (13-2) downed the Seawolves (11-8-1) at Hampton, Va.

Devin Lyshon had two hits with an RBI and a run scored for the Seawolves.

ALBERMARLE 8, SOUTHERN MAINE C.C. 2: Cody Foreman went 2 for 4 with two RBI for the Dolphins (12-8) against the Seawolves (11-9-1) at Hampton, Va.

Zachary Horton had three hits and an RBI and Jason Weatherbee scored both runs for SMCC.

FLORIDA ATLANTIC 15, MAINE 6: Tyler Rocklein had five hits with three RBI as the Owls (11-7) downed the Black Bears (9-11) at Boca Raton, Fla.

Scott Heath had three hits for Maine.

BOWDOIN SWEEPS HUSSON: Oliver Van Zant got the win in the opener and Henry Van Zant won the second game as the Polar Bears posted two 7-0 victories over the Eagles at Lakeland, Fla.

SOFTBALL

BOWDOIN 6, DENISON 3: Gen Barlow hit a grand slam in the seventh inning to lift the Polar Bears in their opener against the Big Red (3-3) at Clermont, Fla.

Casey Correa had two hits and an RBI for Bowdoin.

BOWDOIN 4, ST. SCHOLASTICA 3: Toni DaCampo singled home Hanna Wurgaft in the bottom of the seventh to beat the Saints (4-4) at Clermont, Fla.

DaCampo also hit a solo home run and Wurgaft tripled and scored twice for the Polar Bears.

VALPARAISO 3, MAINE 0: Sierra Pico pitched a two-hitter with five strikeouts and the Crusaders (10-8) scored all of their runs in the second inning against the Black Bears (1-21) at Fort Myers, Fla.

FLORIDA GULF COAST 3, MAINE 2: The Eagles (17-9) scored single runs in the third, fourth and fifth innings and held off the Black Bears (1-22) at Fort Myers, Fla.

WOMEN’S LACROSSE

BOWDOIN 16, UNE 4: Carolyn Gorajek and Emma Beecher each had four goals as the visiting Polar Bears (2-0) handled the Nor’easters (0-3) at Biddeford.

BATES 12, ENDICOTT 7: Emma Brinkman had four goals to lead the Bobcats (1-3) over the Gulls (1-1) at Beverly, Mass.

MEN’S LACROSSE

BATES 14, UNE 9: Jack Allard scored five goals as the Bobcats (2-2) beat the Nor’easters (2-2) at Lewiston.

Tyler Thomas led the Nor’easters with three goals.

BOWDOIN 9, ST. LAWRENCE 6: The Polar Bears (1-1) scored the final five goals over the Saints (2-2) at Washington.

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