Syracuse has earned the fourth seed in the East Regional and will face Big Sky champion Montana in the second round of the NCAA tournament on Thursday.

In their final Big East appearance before heading to the ACC next season, the 19th-ranked Orange (26-9) wilted against Louisville's relentless pressure defense and squandered a 16-point advantage during a 78-61 defeat in the conference championship game on Saturday night.

Syracuse rebounded from four losses in its final five regular-season games with conference tournament victories over Seton Hall, Pittsburgh, and Georgetown before falling to the Cardinals, who earned the top seed in the NCAA tournament.

The Grizzlies (25-6), the 13th seed in the East, beat Weber (WEE'-bur) State 67-64 in the Big Sky championship on Saturday night to earn their second straight league tourney title and third in four years.

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