MIAMI (AP) - So far, this season couldn't be better for Miami.

The No. 24 Hurricanes have won their first 13 games, the first time they have gone through their nonconference schedule without a loss.

The latest victory came Sunday with a 71-48 win over St. Francis, Pa., behind 21 points by John Salmons.

"We're very, very pleased with the victory and anxious to move on," Miami coach Perry Clark said.

The Hurricanes are on the second-longest winning streak in school history. Miami opens its Big East schedule Wednesday at Georgetown. Then come road games at Connecticut, St. John's and Virginia Tech.

"If we go out and play hard, Hurricane basketball, we can come out 4-0," Salmons said. "The strong start has given us the confidence to continue playing well when go into the Big East."

The Hurricanes have defeated Indiana and UNC Charlotte, NCAA tournament qualifiers last season. There was also a victory over LSU on Thursday in the Sugar Bowl Classic in New Orleans.

"I had some concern because of where this game fell, between LSU and Georgetown," Clark said of a possible letdown against St. Francis.

But Clark's worries ended soon after tip-off. Miami moved ahead 14-2 in the first seven minutes and was never threatened. Salmons had five points in the spurt and scored 14 points in powering Miami to a 42-22 halftime lead.

The Hurricanes did not allow a Red Flash field goal in the final seven minutes of the game.

"For us just to be able not to be upset, speaks volumes for these guys' mentality," Clark said.

For Miami, Marcus Barnes finished with 12 points, including 3-of-7 from 3-point distance. Elton Tyler added 10 points and four blocks. The Hurricanes had a season-best 10 blocks.

Reiner Mougnol led St. Francis (2-7) with 13 points, while Steveroy Daley scored 12 points, all in the second half.

"We didn't expect to win this game," St. Francis coach Bobby Jones said. "This was more of a reward to get out of 20-degree weather and come to Miami."

In the second half, the Red Flash cut Miami's advantage to 58-47 on Rodney Gibson's basket and free throw with 7:22 remaining.

But the Hurricanes responded with a 10-0 run in the next four minutes. Darius Rice keyed the run with a 3-point field goal and a follow off his missed layup.

"Last year our mindset was if we were up eight points late in the game, we would say, 'Here we go again,"' Miami's James Jones said. "That's not happening this year. We play tough until the end."