NEW YORK — Connecticut didn't need six overtimes. One was enough.
Kemba Walker had 33 points and 12 rebounds in another phenomenal performance and the No. 21 Huskies held off No. 11 Syracuse 76-71 in overtime Friday night in the Big East tournament semifinals — two years after the teams played a six-overtime game for the ages.
The Huskies (25-9) improved to 10-3 in Big East semifinals with their fourth win in four days and will play fourth-ranked Notre Dame or No. 14 Louisville on Saturday night for their first tournament championship since 2004.
Scoop Jardine had 20 points for the Orange (26-7), including a pair of 3-pointers at the end of regulation that sent the game to overtime.
The first shot came with 21 seconds remaining and drew Syracuse within 68-65. After freshman Shabazz Napier missed a free throw with 15 seconds left, Jardine came down and hit another 3 with 4.6 seconds remaining to force overtime.