Kris Joseph led the way with 27 points and Scoop Jardine scored 21 as No. 5 Syracuse remained undefeated with an 81-74 victory over Providence on Tuesday in the Big East opener for both schools.

Rick Jackson pulled down 17 rebounds for the Orange, who meet No. 15 Notre Dame at home on Saturday.

Syracuse (14-0) took control at the end of the first half when it closed the period on a 15-7 spurt to grab a 42-32 lead at the break. Providence (11-3) did not lay down in the second half, and pulled to within 51-47 when Marshon Brooks made a free throw with 13:30 left.

The Orange responded with a 9-0 run to push the lead back to double digits but the Friars kept pushing, and closed it to 71-67 when Brooks and Gerald Coleman scored all the points during a 13-5 burst.

Providence was still within four points with less than a minute to play, but Syracuse hit its free throws down the stretch to seal it.

Brooks finished with 27 points for Providence, which gets St. John’s and No. 6 Pittsburgh at home over the next week.