Clemson, Air Force Advance In NIT

UNDATED (AP) _ Clemson and Air Force have earned the right to square off in the NIT semifinals Tuesday at Madison Square Garden. <br/><br/>The Tigers have advanced with a 74-70 win over Syracuse. K.C.

Thursday, March 22nd 2007, 9:51 am

By: News On 6

UNDATED (AP) _ Clemson and Air Force have earned the right to square off in the NIT semifinals Tuesday at Madison Square Garden.

The Tigers have advanced with a 74-70 win over Syracuse. K.C. Rivers scored a career-high 29 points to lead Clemson to the NIT semis for the first time in eight years.

The Orange trimmed a 17-point deficit to 69-68 before Rivers and Vern Hamilton each drained 2-free throws in the closing moments.

The Falcons outlasted DePaul 52-51 on Jacob Burtschi's go-ahead layup with 7.7 seconds left. Burtschi and Matt McCraw each had 13 points for the Falcons.