BOSTON (AP) -- Syracuse's Etan Thomas felt it was his play that helped Boston College close a second-half gap. He then proceeded to make sure the game was safely put away.

Thomas scored 22 points as the Orangemen (No. 5 ESPN/USA Today, No. 4 AP) set a school record for consecutive wins to start a season and remained the only unbeaten Division 1 team by defeating the Eagles 73-65 Saturday.

	Syracuse's Etan Thomas scores two of his game-high 22 points Saturday.

The Orangemen (17-0, 7-0 Big East), who led 31-26 at halftime, saw their lead sliced to 37-35 on Uka Agbai's jam 4:02 into the second half. But on the play, Agbai was called for a technical for hanging onto the rim too long. Jason Hart hit one of two free throws before Thomas took over.

Thomas hit a foul-line jumper, blocked Bell's shot from the lane and converted a three-point play on the next possession, putting the Orangemen in front 42-35 with 14:46 to play.

Following a BC basket by Singletary, Thomas added a dunk.

Boston College closed the gap to 44-40 on Singletary's 3-pointer, but Syracuse used an 8-0 run about three minutes later to put the game away.

"I had to get emotional," the 6-foot-9-inch center said. "It was my fault they cut it to two. I was messing up. It was good I got to sit for a moment (while Hart shot the technicals). That's when it kind of turned for me."

Despite the school-record win, Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim didn't see a solid team effort.

"I thought Etan was good, but everybody else ... I didn't think we were focused on what we were going to do," Boeheim said. "We have to come to play every day. When you're undefeated, I think you have a responsibility to come out and be ready every game."

Syracuse, which hosts No. 25 St. John's Monday, eclipsed their 16-0 start in 1917-18.

"It's good to be there, but I think you look at the next game," Boeheim said of his team's record. "There's nothing but tough games the rest of the way."

Tony Bland added 14 points for Syracuse, which won despite allowing 17 offensive rebounds to the smaller Eagles. The Orangemen had 12.

Troy Bell led the Eagles (9-10, 1-6) with 17 points. Jon Beerbohm and Xavier Singletary had 12 apiece. It was Boston College's sixth consecutive loss.

Unlike the three meetings against Boston College last season, Syracuse was pushed a little in the second half before Thomas helped the Orangemen take control.

Last season, Syracuse was 3-0 against Boston College, winning by an average of 27 points, including by 41 in the Big East tournament.

"In comparison to last season, there's no comparison," said Boston College coach Al Skinner. "You don't like to lose and you don't like to be where we are, but these are the type of efforts we need to compete."

The Orangemen, who beat defending NCAA champion Connecticut 88-74 in their previous game, were held without a point for the opening 3:05 against the Eagles.

"We feel we're one of the better teams in the country now," Bland said.

After the sluggish beginning, Syracuse scored six straight baskets from inside en route to a 21-10 lead midway into the first half.