Final score: Syracuse 76, St. John's 59

It started out as an exciting night, lots of electricity in the air. But Syracuse took the air out of the Garden with a methodically exceptional second half. The No. 4 team in the country doubled its 11-point halftime lead; going up by 22 a few times. It cruised. Coac h Jim Boeheim got a chance to give some of his players curtain calls before the Orange's many fans.