NEW YORK—Brandon Triche and Arinze Onuaku combined for 13 points in Syracuse’s 22-1 run to open the second half and the Orange went on to an 87-71 victory over No. 6 North Carolina last night in the championship game of the 2K Sports Classic. The Orange (4-0) were the only unranked team in the semifinals of the tournament that benefits Coaches vs. Cancer but they left Madison Square Garden with blowout wins over No. 13 California and the Tar Heels (4-1).

BLACKSBURG Her chest heaved and her feet burned as she ran across the lumpy field. None of it felt perfect to Marika Gray. But on this July day in Alexandria, perfect didn’t matter, because Gray was playing soccer again, nine months after a left knee injury shortened her sophomore season at Virginia Tech. She had established herself as a legitimate ACC player, before her knee made her start over, back on the lumpy field at home, playing against 14-year-olds from her club’s younger team. The time away from soccer deteriorated her touch and fitness worse than she had imagined. A ball rolled her way and bounced off her shin. She could barely sprint without sucking wind.

COLLEGE PARK, Md.—When a game that had been over for hours officially ended, the Virginia Tech Hokies celebrated like they usually do. Coach Frank Beamer smiled as he walked off the field, waving to the fans sitting in the visiting section of Byrd Stadium. Cornerbacks Stephan Virgil and Rashad Carmichael mugged for photos, flashing the palms of their new gloves, special for this game, to show the “VT” logo on them.

COLUMBUS, Ohio—The oldest of the Buckeyes sent Ohio State back to the Granddaddy of all bowls. Devin Barclay, a 26-year-old former pro soccer player, kicked a 39-yard field goal in overtime to give No. 10 Ohio State a 27-24 victory over No. 15 Iowa and send the Buckeyes to the Rose Bowl for the first time in 13 years. “None of our kids have gone to the Rose Bowl. I haven’t been there in 25 years [since] I was an assistant coach in the 1985 Rose Bowl,“ coach Jim Tressel said. “There’s nothing like it. It’s a great feeling.“

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - The season has just started and already a new rule designed to clarify some of the foul calls has some coaches concerned. The rule, approved by the NCAA in June, requires secondary defenders to establish position outside of the area directly below the rim to draw a charging call. Essentially, if a player is standing in an imaginary circle beneath the rim and makes contact with a shooter, it’s an automatic blocking foul - no matter if the player has position or not.

Kingston, R.I.
  When: 1 p.m.
  Radio: WTOX (1480), 12:30
  Records: William and Mary 3-1 CAA, 6-1;
Rhode Island 0-4, 1-6
  Players to watch: W &M—RB Jonathan Grimes, 110.5 yards per CAA game, WR D.J. McAulay, 33 catches, 423 yards, 3 TDs, DE Ravi Pradhanang, 3 sacks in last 4 games. URI—QB Chris Paul-Etienne, 133 yards per game, P Tim Edger, 41.6 average punt, DE Steve Weedon, 6 forced fumbles in 7 games this year.

A “second-half team” can be defined as a strong finisher or a weak starter. Either way, those involved with the University of Richmond’s football operation would like to smooth out the ride this afternoon vs. visiting Massachusetts. The Spiders trailed at Maine 14-10 last Saturday on the way to a 38-21 win. Richmond (4-0 CAA, 6-0), the top-ranked team in the FCS, has trailed at halftime in three of six games. In its last 36 games (last two seasons and this year), Richmond has outscored opponents in the second half 25 times, including each game this season. That’s a testament to halftime adjustments, off-season conditioning and perhaps sharpened focus.

Virginia Tech basketball player Allan Chaney had surgery yesterday to repair a torn labrum in his left shoulder. Chaney, a 6-9, 235-pound forward, already is sitting out this year after transferring from Florida during the offseason. He will be eligible to play as a redshirt sophomore next season. Chaney, who is from Baltimore, is scheduled to rehabilitate in time for individual workouts in the spring, Hokies coach Seth Greenberg said in a press release announcing the surgery. Chaney suffered the injury during practice.

Charleston, S.C.
  When: 1:30 p.m. Radio: Midlothian (106.9)  Records: Liberty 1-0 Big South, 4-2, Charleston Southern 0-1, 2-4
  Facts: Liberty, which is ranked 23rd in FCS and has won 12 straight conference games, has won its past three games with Charleston Southern by a combined score of 126-30. The Flames lead the Big South in scoring (31.2 points) and scoring defense (16.7). The Buccaneers have won seven consecutive games at home.

When: Noon Tickets: Sold out On the air: TV—CSN; radio: WTOX (1480), WREJ (1540)
  Records: JMU 0-3 CAA, 2-4, William and Mary 2-1, 5-1
  Players to watch: JMU—QB Justin Thorpe, 75 carries, 332 yards, 2 TDs, 33-66 passing, 420 yards, 1 TD, 3 int., DL Arthur Moats, 50 tackles, 15 for loss, 6 sacks; W&M—QB R.J. Archer, 127-203 passing, 1,321 yards, 9 TDs, 3 int., RB Jonathan Grimes, 107-483, 4 TDs, LB Jake Trantin, 43 tackles.

“We have a new cafeteria that is the most incredible eating facility you’ve ever seen on a college campus,“ Larranaga said. “You walk in, pay one price and there’s a salad bar, a fruit bar, a hamburger and hot dog grill, a pizza place, wraps. It’s got a cappuccino machine. “My wife and I went there for Sunday brunch, and they not only serve omelets, they make them right there.“

INDIANAPOLIS - Fewer than 25 percent of all major collegiate athletic departments made money in 2007-08. That finding was released yesterday by the NCAA, which surveyed all 119 Football Bowl Subdivision schools. Of those, 25 reported overall profits for the fiscal year ending June 2008, up from 19 in 2006. More than half of all football and men’s basketball programs finished in the black. Only one women’s basketball team had a profit.

Fewer than 25 percent of all major collegiate athletic departments made money in 2007-08.

INDIANAPOLIS - James Isch wants to fulfill Myles Brand’s unfinished goals at the NCAA. For now, that’s Isch’s job. He was named Brand’s interim replacement yesterday, less than a week after the NCAA president died of pancreatic cancer at age 67. Isch had been serving as the NCAA’s vice president for administration and chief financial officer, overseeing the budget for the premier governing body of college athletics. “We will continue to focus on academic reform, the fiscal stability of our organization and, most importantly, continue to emphasize the student-athlete,“ Isch said.

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - The men’s Final Four in 2011 will be played at Reliant Stadium in Houston, the NCAA said yesterday. The 2012 Final Four will be played at the Superdome in New Orleans and in the following year - the 75th anniversary of the event - it will be played at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta. The NCAA also chose most of the host sites for the early rounds in 2011-2013: