SOUTH BEND, IND. ? Boston College found out what top-ranked teams UCLA, DePaul and San Francisco learned in years past — Notre Dame isn’t where undefeated teams want to play.

Colin Falls matched his career high with 23 points, and Chris Thomas added 19 points and nine assists as the Irish ended the fourth-ranked Eagles’ 20-game winning streak and handed them their first loss of the season, 68-65, Tuesday night.

Eagles coach Al Skinner said the loss was disappointing, but wouldn’t prevent the Eagles from accomplishing their goals.

“Being unbeaten, that’s nice and all, but that’s not our goal,” he said. “Our goal is to be as successful as we can in the league. The fact of the matter is, we’re in first place.”

The Eagles (20-1, 9-1 Big East), playing their first game this season on national TV, and top-ranked Illinois (24-0) were the only unbeaten teams left in Division One. The Illini are alone now, surviving a scare before beating Michigan, 57-51, Tuesday night.

The Eagles were the latest team to arrive at the Joyce Center undefeated and leave with a loss. The most famous Irish win over an unbeaten team occurred in 1974, when UCLA came in 13-0 and on an 88-game winning streak. The Bruins lost when the Irish outscored the Bill Walton-led Bruins 12-0 over the final 3:32 to win, 71-70.

The Irish also beat a top-ranked UCLA team that was 14-0 in 1971; beat No. 1 San Francisco (29-0) in 1977; and beat top-ranked DePaul (25-0) in double overtime in 1980.

Boston College junior Craig Smith said the loss had nothing to do with the pressure of trying to stay undefeated. The key was the Irish caught the Eagles a little off-guard with their zone defense, then shot 51 percent themselves.

“They got us out of our offense because of their defense and due to the fact they also were hitting shots,” he said. “When you’re home, it’s like that.”

Boston College players, from left, Nate Doornekamp, Sean Marshall and Akida McLain watch from the bench. The fourth-ranked Eagles suffered their first loss of the season, falling to Notre Dame, 68-65, Tuesday in South Bend, Ind.

The Irish (14-6, 6-4) squandered an 11-point lead in the final six minutes Saturday at No. 8 Syracuse before losing, 60-57. They held a 62-54 lead over Boston College, but the Eagles closed to 62-59 as Jared Dudley made two free throws and then converted a three-point play.

Chris Quinn and Dennis Latimore each added 10 points for the Irish.

No. 1 Illinois 57, Michigan 51

Ann Arbor, Mich. — Dee Brown scored 16 points, and Illinois became the lone unbeaten team in Division One.

The Illini (24-0, 10-0 Big Ten), who trailed by eight points early in the second half, were held to their lowest point total of the season.

Dion Harris had 21 points and seven rebounds for Michigan (12-12, 3-7), which has lost seven straight — its longest losing streak since the 1999-2000 season.

6News video: Illinois stands alone in unbeaten ranks

No. 5 Kentucky 69, Florida 66

Lexington, Ky. — Kelenna Azubuike scored 18 points, and Kentucky rallied from a nine-point second-half deficit.

The Wildcats (18-2, 9-0 Southeastern Conference) beat Florida (14-6, 6-3) for the eighth straight time and 10th in 11 games. The Wildcats hold a three-game lead in the SEC East with seven games remaining.

No. 18 Pittsburgh 55,

St. John’s 44

Pittsburgh — Chevon Troutman scored 19 points to lead the Panthers, who wore down St. John’s in the second half with their size and strength.

Chris Taft had eight of his 12 points in the second half for Pittsburgh (16-4, 6-3 Big East).

Daryll Hill had 18 points for the Red Storm (8-12, 2-8), who upset Pitt, 65-62, Jan. 18 in New York.