Syracuse, N.Y. ? Syracuse was itching for a close game, and Hofstra was more than willing to oblige.

The Pride (9-1) drained a dozen three-pointers, made more than half their shots and led most of the game Thursday night, but the seventh-ranked Orange rallied late behind Hakim Warrick, Gerry McNamara and Terrence Roberts for an 80-75 victory.

It was the closest finish of the season for Syracuse (13-1). Only one of the Orange’s victories this season has been by fewer than 13 points, 56-45 over Princeton in the second game of the season.

“Absolutely, we needed a game that was close, especially going into the Big East next week,” said McNamara, who had 17 points, six assists and one turnover despite missing his first seven shots. “To be able to execute late in the game is key. We made the right plays down the stretch.”

Warrick had 29 points, one off his career high, and Roberts came off the bench to finish with a career-best 20 points and nine rebounds.

Antoine Agudio had 17 points, Carlos Rivera 16 and Loren Stokes 15 for the Pride, who rallied from nine points back and came within 74-73 on a three by Mike Radziejewski with 1:41 left.

“We tried to find a way to win it at the end there,” Hofstra coach Tom Pecora said. “But they ended up getting eight more shot opportunities in the game than we did because of their offensive rebounding. And we had a couple of poor timely turnovers at the end.”

No. 1 Illinois 69, Northwestern State 51

Las Vegas — Luther Head scored 18 points and shot 5-for-9 from three-point range, leading No. 1 Illinois in the Las Vegas Holiday Classic.

Hofstra's Michael Radziejewski splits Syracuse defenders Hakim Warrick, right, and Terrence Roberts, left. The Orange survived, 80-75, Thursday in Syracuse, N.Y.

Deron Williams added 14 points and six assists for the Illini (13-0), who never trailed.

Jermaine Spencer, Clifton Lee and Jermaine Wallace each had seven points to lead Northwestern State (5-7), which had 20 turnovers that Illinois turned into 23 points.

No. 4 North Carolina 107, Cleveland St. 64

Chapel Hill, N.C. — Raymond Felton ran his streak of consecutive three-pointers to 12 and finished with 13 points and eight assists, helping North Carolina (11-1). Sean May had 16 points to lead six players in double figures for the Tar Heels. Omari Westley had 18 points for the Vikings (3-5), who lost their fifth straight.

No. 5 Wake Forest 98, North Carolina A&T 76

Winston-Salem, N.C. — Justin Gray scored 21 of his 23 points in the first half, lifting Wake Forest. Eric Williams added 19 points for the Demon Deacons (11-1), who won their sixth straight. Sean Booker scored 18 points for the overmatched Aggies (1-11).

No. 11 Connecticut 123, Quinnipiac 71

Hartford, Conn. — Josh Boone had a career-high 22 points and eight blocks, leading Connecticut. Boone dominated inside for the Huskies (8-1), who had eight players in double figures and scored 72 points in the paint.

No. 14 Arizona 84, Richmond 71

Tucson, Ariz. — Chris Rodgers tied his career high with 20 points, and Ivan Radenovic and Salim Stoudamire had 16 each to help Arizona (10-2) outlast Richmond (5-5) in the championship game of the Fiesta Bowl Classic.

St. John’s 63, No. 17 North Carolina St. 45

New York — St. John’s, a program going through the worst two years in the school’s 90-plus seasons of basketball, had fans thinking of the glory days with a thrashing of North Carolina State in the championship game of the Holiday Festival.

Daryll Hill had 19 points for the Red Storm (6-4).

No. 19 Louisville 78, Eastern Kentucky 63

Louisville, Ky. — Francisco Garcia scored 23 points and went over 1,000 for his career, leading Louisville (10-2).

No. 21 Mississippi State 71, Virginia Tech 65

New Orleans — Lawrence Roberts scored 25 points and grabbed 19 rebounds, lifting Mississippi State (12-2) in the Sugar Bowl Classic.