(AP Photo/AJ Mast)INDIANAPOLIS – The decades-old zone defense of Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim claimed another frustrated victim Friday night. 11 seed Orange held sixth-seeded San Diego State without a field goal for nearly a quarter of the game, sweet-shooting Buddy Boeheim hit seven 3-pointers and finished with 30 points, and Syracuse cruised to a 78-62 victory inside Hinkle Fieldhouse and into the second round of the NCAA Tournament. It gets harder to drive.”“Buddy Buckets” nearly outscored San Diego State by himself. Schakel finally got a 3-pointer to go right out of halftime, giving the few San Diego State fans in the crowd a long-awaited reason to cheer. San Diego State hoped to make a deep run after its loaded 30-2 team last season missed out on a chance to play in the tournament.

BYU forward Matt Haarms (3) celebrates after BYU defeated San Diego State in an NCAA college basketball game Friday, Dec. 18, 2020, in San Diego. 18 San Diego State 72-62 on Friday despite Matt Mitchell’s career-high 35 points. But BYU (7-2) regained control and handed San Diego State (5-1) its first loss. San Diego State: The Aztecs couldn’t handle BYU’s size early. San Diego State: Faces Saint Mary’s at Cal Poly SLO on Tuesday.