MIAMI — With Syracuse's season on the cusp of slipping away, Jonny Flynn found himself getting the majority of Arizona State's defensive attention.

Eric Devendorf, Andy Rautins and the Orange exploited that perfectly.

Flynn set up Rautins' 3-pointer that started a game-saving Syracuse run, then hit Devendorf for two more 3s less than a minute apart shortly after, and the third-seeded Orange held off the sixth-seeded Sun Devils, 78-67, in a South Regional second-round game yesterday.

"All three of us were just patient and we took what was open," Devendorf said. "When we do that, good things happen."

Devendorf finished with 21 points and Rautins added 17 for Syracuse (28-9), which moves on to play Oklahoma in Memphis on Friday.

Rihards Kuksiks scored a career-high 20 points, and Ty Abbott also finished with 20 for Arizona State (25-10), which struggled mightily against Syracuse's zone and led for only 31 seconds all afternoon.

"There's not a lot of openings to be found because they have great length, they have terrific athletes, and they cover ground so well," Arizona State coach Herb Sendek said. "So what may seem momentarily open is quickly closed."

James Harden, the Pac-10 player of the year, was held to 10 points — all in the second half — on 2-for-10 shooting for Arizona State.

Rick Jackson scored 13 points, Arinze Onuaku added 12 and Flynn scored 11 for Syracuse.

Flynn also contributed seven assists, the most crucial three of those coming in a span of 2 1/2 minutes down the stretch.

"The best point guard in America," Devendorf said.