Dion Waiters scored 16 points to lead No. 1 Syracuse to its best start in school history with a 71-63 win over Pittsburgh at the Carrier Dome.

Syracuse (20-0, 7-0 Big East) passed the 1999-2000 Orange squad, and also picked up win No. 876 for coach Jim Boeheim, tying legendary Kentucky coach Adolph Rupp for fourth on the all-time list.

Pittsburgh (11-8, 0-6) lost for the seventh straight game and had its five-game winning streak versus Syracuse snapped.

Waiters, who comes off the bench, finished with double figures for the eighth straight game. Forward Kris Joseph added 12 points, including a huge 3-point bucket to give Syracuse breathing room with Pitt knocking at the door midway through the second half.

An elbow jumper from Talib Zanna pulled the Panthers to within four with just over eight minutes remaining, forcing Boeheim to call a timeout. Syracuse answered with back-to-back 3-pointers from Joseph and Waiters to extend the lead back to double figures.

Ashton Gibbs, a game after becoming Pitt’s all-time 3-point leader, scored 10 and went 2 for 9 from the perimeter. Lamar Patterson and Cameron Wright also chipped in 10 points each in the loss.

The Orange jumped out to a 13-0 lead, but Pitt head coach Jamie Dixon switched to a 2-3 zone, slowing down the Syracuse offense and keeping the long Orange frontcourt off the glass. That adjustment allowed the Panthers to claw back into the game, trailing 35-26 at the half. Pitt out-rebounded Syracuse 38-24, including an 18-6 edge on the offensive glass.

Syracuse 7-footer Fab Melo swatted away six shots while chipping in with 10 points and 10 rebounds. Guard Scoop Jardine added 12 points and 10 assists.

C.J. Fair’s tomahawk slam at 5:25 of the first half got the Carrier Dome crowd on its feet, drawing the foul and completing the traditional 3-point play. Fair finished with seven points.