NCAA Scores 2012: Syracuse Survives Upset Bid from No. 16 Seed UNC-Asheville

The Bulldogs of UNC-Asheville made a very serious bid at upsetting the top-seeded Syracuse Orange in the Round of 64 on Thursday.

But alas, the Bulldogs could not get it done. After a strong first half, UNC-Asheville wilted in the second half and lost by the final of 72-65. No. 1 seeds remain undefeated against No. 16 seeds.

However, UNC-Asheville has a legit gripe about how the game ended. The Bulldogs were victimized by several very questionable calls at the end of the game: one a missed goaltending call, one for a mystery lane violation and another on a controversial inbounds play.

Thanks in large part to these calls, UNC-Asheville saw its upset bid slide farther and farther out of reach until it was gone altogether.

That the game even ended up being close at the end is a testament to how much trouble Syracuse had adjusting to life without Fab Melo. Syracuse's defense was not as sharp as it usually is, and it took a long time for the Orange to find their rhythm on offense.

In particular, Syracuse struggled mightily from distance, making just five of their 23 three-point attempts. Kris Joseph struggled on the offensive end of the floor, shooting just 3-of-10 from the floor, including 0-of-5 from three-point range. 

The Bulldogs got strong performances from J.P. Primm and Jaron Lane. Primm scored a game-high 18 points and Lane pitched in 16 points and seven rebounds. 

Despite the controversy and despite their own struggles, the Orange will gladly take the win. They'll play No. 8 Kansas State in the Round of 32, and that's a game the Orange can win. The Wildcats had to fight tooth and nail to defeat No. 9 Southern Mississippi in the Round of 64.

Syracuse will have to play better, though. The Orange can't afford to count on the refs to bale them out.