SYRACUSE -- Demetris Nichols had 20 points, Andy Rautins scored 15 and Syracuse beat San Diego State 80-64 in the second round of the NIT on Monday night before a tournament-record crowd.

An orange-clad crowd of 26,752, the largest in NIT history, gave the game a championship atmosphere, and Syracuse didn't disappoint, hitting nine 3-pointers and stifling the Aztecs with some staunch defense.

Syracuse (24-10), the second seed in the South, will play the winner of the Clemson-Mississippi game, which also was played Monday night.

Sixth-seeded San Diego State (22-11) was just one of three teams to pull a first-round upset on the road, beating third-seeded Missouri State 74-70.

It was only the second postseason win for the Aztecs in 37 seasons at the Division I level. The streak was short-lived.

Syracuse, clinging to a 38-33 halftime lead, outscored the Aztecs 19-7 to start the second half, finishing the burst with an 11-0 run that gave the Orange a commanding lead.

Rautins had five 3-pointers, Nichols had three, and center Darryl Watkins had eight rebounds and six of the Orange's nine blocks. Terrence Roberts added eight points and eight rebounds, and freshman Paul Harris had 12 points and six rebounds.

Lorrenzo Wade led the Aztecs with 16 points before fouling out with just more than two minutes left, and Mohamed Abukar had 13. Senior guard Brandon Heath, whose 3-pointer in the final seconds won the Aztecs' first-round game, finished with 14 points.

For the complete story, read Tuesday's edition of The Citizen