No. 2 Syracuse 58, Connecticut 55: Dion Waiters scored 18 points and James Southerland hit some big shots in the second half as the Orange stretched their winning streak to 11 games and handed the Huskies their first postseason loss since 2010.

First-team All-Big East forward Kris Joseph jammed his thumb in pregame warmups and ended up shooting just 1 for 8 from the floor. But Syracuse’s leader stepped up in other spots, grabbing six rebounds and a pair of steals while forcing his way to the free throw line for eight points.

Waiters went 8 for 11 from the field and was the only player to finish with more than 10 points for the top-seeded Orange (31-1).

No. 9 seed Connecticut (20-13) likely secured its spot as an at-large team in the NCAA tournament with victories in the first two rounds at Madison Square Garden but had its postseason win streak snapped at 13 games.

The Huskies burst out of the locker room with a 15-4 run to take a 39-31 lead early in the second half. Syracuse locked down on the defensive end and began to chip away.

Connecticut would go nearly six minutes without a point as the Orange jumped back on top. Southerland hit two 3-pointers and Waiters made the jumper that gave them back the lead, 48-47, with 5:45 left.

Southerland hit another long jumper with 1:13 remaining that stretched it out to 55-49 and clinched it with a pair of free throws.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Shabazz Napier scored 15 points and Andre Drummond added 14 points and 10 rebounds to lead the Huskies … Syracuse committed just four turnovers … Connecticut shot 34 percent (22 for 64), including 6 for 23 from beyond the arc.