Dayton stuns Syracuse 55-53 to advance
Syracuse's Trevor Cooney (10) knocks the ball away from Dayton's Vee Sanford (43) during the first half of a third-round game in the NCAA men's college basketball tournament in Buffalo, N.Y., Saturday, March 22, 2014. (AP Photo/Bill Wippert)
Dayton coach Archie Miller reacts during the first half of a third-round game against Syracuse in the NCAA men's college basketball tournament in Buffalo, N.Y., Saturday, March 22, 2014. (AP Photo/Bill Wippert)
Dayton's Jordan Sibert (24) drives past Syracuse's Rakeem Christmas (25) during the first half of a third-round game in the NCAA men's college basketball tournament in Buffalo, N.Y., Saturday, March 22, 2014. (AP Photo/Bill Wippert)
Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim reacts to a call during the first half of a third-round game against the Dayton in the NCAA men's college basketball tournament in Buffalo, N.Y., Saturday, March 22, 2014. (AP Photo/Bill Wippert)
Syracuse's C.J. Fair (5) shoots over Dayton's Jordan Sibert (24) during the first half of a third-round game in the NCAA men's college basketball tournament in Buffalo, N.Y., Saturday, March 22, 2014. (AP Photo/Bill Wippert)
BUFFALO, N.Y. — Dyshawn Pierre scored 14 points and Jordan Sibert hit a key 3-pointer with 47.7 seconds left as Dayton stunned Syracuse 55-53 Saturday night to earn a spot in Sweet 16 for the first time in three decades.
Syracuse was poised to pull out another close victory, but Tyler Ennis’ 3-point attempt clanged off the rim at the buzzer.
Dayton (25-10), the 11th seed in the South Regional, advances to the regional semifinals next week and will play Kansas or Stanford.
The third-seeded Orange (28-6), who finished second in their first year in the Atlantic Coast Conference, struggled all game against the swarming Dayton defense, missing all 10 attempts from beyond the arc, while the Flyers hit seven times from long range.
