Brandon Triche scored 18 points and Kris Joseph collected 13 points and seven rebounds as No. 4 Syracuse survived a scare from visiting West Virginia, 63-61.

Playing its third straight game without starting center Fab Melo, the Orange (22-1, 9-1 Big East) were outrebounded 35-20. To make up for the deficit, Syracuse kept its guards on the perimeter and used its 2-3 defense to record 11 steals and get out in transition.

Neither school was able to gain more than a five-point advantage in the second half and the game went back-and-forth down the stretch.

Kevin Jones knocked down a corner 3-pointer for the Mountaineers with 1:45 left to knot it at 61. Triche was fouled on the ensuing possession and hit both free throws, putting Syracuse back on top, 63-61.

West Virginia was robbed of a tying basket with six seconds left. After Daryl Bryant aired a 3-point attempt, Deniz Kilicli got the offensive rebound and put it straight back up. Joseph knocked the ball out above the rim while it was still in the cylinder, but the officials called it a clean block.

Jones’ desperation 3-pointer at the buzzer rimmed out.

Jones finished with 20 points and eight rebounds for the Mountaineers (15-7, 5-4 Big East).