CINCINNATI -- Kris Joseph hit a pair of 3s that sparked Syracuse's decisive second-half run Sunday, and the Orange kept the best start in school history going with a 71-54 victory over Cincinnati, their 10th in a row.
 
Syracuse (23-1, 10-1 Big East) closed the game with a 28-5 run that featured Joseph's two 3-pointers and a lot of good defense. Andy Rautins led the Orange with 20 points.

The Bearcats (14-9, 5-6) fell apart down the stretch, getting only one field goal and three free throws after pulling ahead 49-43 with 12:26 to go. Ibrahima Thomas led Cincinnati with a season-high 13 points.

Wes Johnson, who fell hard in Syracuse's win over Providence on Tuesday, was back in the starting lineup but played only 23 minutes. The forward took only three shots and had five points.