Looks like the NCAA has to help the Cuse get out of the first match!

North Carolina-Asheville game them a run, but I have a feeling that it's about to come apart.

And the refs had a large part in giving Syracuse just that little push of the snowball downhill.

There was about a three-possession swing right at the 11:15 media time-out (if you have the ability to watch the game again, please do so right around here). Syracuse appears to have a block-charge situation no-called in it's favor (no call, neither block by the Asheville player nor charge!) on a basket to go up 2.

The next Asheville possession is an officiating debacle. The refs appear to miss a mauling inside on an apparent attempt to drive in by Asheville, another shot appears to hit the bottom of where the rim attaches to the backboard, and a rushed shot leads to another Syracuse basket, plus one, lead is then 5.

Syracuse has had the momentum ever since, and is now up 8 with 2:30 to go.

I guess the NCAA never does want a 1 to lose to a 16. Under ANY circumstances.

ON EDIT: Bad hack with 2 minutes to go on a layup attempt which would've put UNC-A down 4 forces them to burn their last time out in a floor scramble!

The officiating has been garbage in this tournament!!!

AND AGAIN: Tack on a lane violation on a missed Syracuse freethrow (1:20 to go) up 4 with about 1:30 to go. The remake and the second of the bonus are made. Back up 6. UNC-A has halved the lead again, but must foul now.

Announcers still looking at it, can't find lane violation!

AND YET ANOTHER!!!: 3-point game with 36.9 to go, Syracuse panics on the inbound and the ball looks to go off a Syracuse player, but the call is with Syracuse again!

CHA-CHING!!!! Syracuse 72 - North Carolina-Asheville 65

The rig was for result: Final line was SYR -15.5 with the over-under at 147.5 . Vegas not involved.

POST-GAME TWEETS: Even the media is calling bullshit on this on Twitter!

Mike Greenberg (ESPNGreeny): The officiating in the Syracuse game is a complete embarrassment... I can't believe what I'm seeing... #ncaa

JT The Brick of Fox Sports Radio (JTTheBrick): Refs were in the bag for #Syracuse

To think I had this read at about the 11:15 media timeout.