NEW YORK, Nov. 23 (UPI) -- The 18th-ranked Syracuse Orangemen captured their third major early-season tournament in as many years Friday night, rallying from a 10-point, second-half deficit to claim the Preseason NIT title with a 74-67 victory over Wake Forest.
Syracuse (5-0) won the Great Alaska Shootout last year and brought home the Maui Invitational trophy in 1999.
Tournament MVP DeShaun Williams scored 23 points, matching his semifinal total, including seven during a 14-0 run that was capped by Kueth Duany's dunk and gave Syracuse a 54-50 advantage.
The Orangemen went ahead for good with 3 1/2 minutes remaining on a reverse layup by freshman center Craig Forth.
It was the second Preseason NIT championship for Syracuse, which won its 24th straight November game and improved to 45-30 at Madison Square Garden under coach Jim Boeheim.
This was the first meeting between Syracuse and Wake Forest (4-1).
In the consolation game, Melvin Ely scored all 14 of his points in the second half and also grabbed 10 rebounds as No. 21 Fresno State held off a late run for a 63-58 victory over 11th-ranked Michigan State.
Matched up with 6-8, 255-pound Aloysius Anagonye in the first half, Ely failed to score. But he moved away from the basket in the second half and used the extra space to knock down medium-range jumpers.
Ely had eight points in a 10-2 run for Fresno State (3-1) for a 53-42 advantage with eight minutes remaining. Included in the spurt were three jumpers, something that Ely has added to his bruising inside game.
Two free throws by Adam Ballinger with 3:13 remaining pulled Michigan State within 55-51. The Spartans closed to 55-53 with 1:22 left on a follow by Adam Wolfe.
Fresno State's Chris Jefferies responded with two free throws just 13 seconds later and added one with 33 seconds left for a 60-55 advantage. Michigan State freshman Chris Hill hit a three-pointer to cut the deficit to 61-58 with six seconds to go before Matt Mitchell converted two free throws to seal the victory.
Wolfe scored 11 points to lead the Spartans (2-2), who fell to 0-6 all-time at Madison Square Garden.
