(CNN) — Syracuse became the first team to punch a ticket to the Final Four of the NCAA men’s basketball tournament, powering ahead of Marquette by a 55-39 score Saturday.
The two Big East foes scored a paltry 42 points, combined, in a hard-fought first half, with Syracuse entering the intermission up 24-18.
But the Orange dominated in the second half, eventually cruising to victory before a crowd at Washington’s Verizon Center that included President Barack Obama.
Wichita State and Ohio State will vie to join Syracuse in Atlanta, when they battle Saturday night in Los Angeles in another Elite Eight clash.
The entire Final Four will be settled by Sunday. Louisville and Duke square off in one contest, while Michigan and Florida fight for the chance to take on Syracuse in the tournament semifinal.
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