PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — C.J. Fair scored 23 with 11 rebounds, and Michael Carter-Williams scored 17 with six assists on Wednesday night as No. 7 Syracuse rallied from a nine-point, first-half deficit to beat Providence 72-66.

Rakeem Christmas scored 15 with eight rebounds for the Orange (15-1, 3-0 Big East), who won their fifth consecutive game since a Dec. 22 loss to Temple at Madison Square Garden that is their only defeat of the season.

Bryce Cotton scored 24 for Providence (8-7, 0-3), which lost its fifth in a row.

Syracuse made just 3 of 21 attempts from 3-point range, while Providence was 9 of 18.

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