SYRACUSE 74, RUTGERS 64: C.J. Fair scored a career-high 21 points to go along with eight rebounds and Scoop Jardine hit a pair of big shots down the stretch as visiting No. 2 Syracuse escaped Rutgers for its seventh straight victory.

Jardine collected 17 points, seven assists and three steals for the Orange (27-1, 14-1 Big East), who pushed their lead in the Big East to 2 ½ games over Marquette and Notre Dame with three to play.

The Scarlet Knights (12-15, 4-10) squandered a chance to take down their third ranked opponent this season. They have dropped five in a row.

Rutgers pulled to within two points on seven different occasions in the second half but could never manage to sneak past the veteran Syracuse squad.

The Scarlet Knights cut it to 64-62 with 3:09 left but Jardine came down and buried a jumper on the ensuing possession. Fair grabbed steals on each of Rutgers’ next two trips and Jardine supplied the dagger, nailing a 3-pointer with 1:12 on the clock to push it to 69-62.

The Orange sealed it at the free throw line.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Rutgers F Gilvydas Biruta matched a career high with 21 points … Scarlet Knights leading scorer Eli Carter was held to seven points on 3-of-13 shooting … Syracuse can clinch the Big East regular season title with a home win over South Florida on Wednesday.