TUCSON, Ariz. -- Arizona coach Sean Miller likens the top-ranked Wildcats size and power to a running team in football: The longer an opponent plays against it, the more it wears down. The Washington Huskies found out just what he means. Nick Johnson scored 24 points, Aaron Gordon had 18 points and 11 rebounds, and Arizona pulled away late for a 71-62 victory Saturday. "Sometimes the story line is a little different at halftime than it is at the end of the game because you can kind of wear that opponent down and the carries that go for 2 or 3 yards in the first half break wide open in the second," Miller said. "You just have to stay with it." The Wildcats did and are off to their best start since the 1931-32 team opened with a school-record 16 straight wins. It wasnt easy. One of the best rebounding teams in the country, Arizona (15-0, Pac-12) had a hard time keeping the Huskies off the glass or from scoring inside in a tight first half. The Wildcats turned up the defensive pressure in the second half, particularly on the perimeter, to stretch the lead in the final 3 minutes. Arizona had 10 dunks among its 24 field goals and hit 7 of 8 free throws in the final 2 minutes. T.J. McConnell overcame a poor-shooting game with six assists, five rebounds and four steals while teaming with Johnson to hound the Huskies at the top of Arizonas defence. "Thats what good teams do, nettle through adversity," said Johnson, who hit all six of his free throws in the closing minutes. "They are a good team. Their record may not sure it, but they are good. We knew that going into the game. We made our run and made our shots when it counted." The Huskies didnt. Washington (9-6, 1-1) kept up with the bigger Wildcats well into the second half behind good shooting and strong inside play. The Huskies went cold down the stretch, though, shooting 10 of 33 in the second half while missing all seven of their 3-point attempts. C.J. Wilcox led Washington with 20 points. Perris Blackwell had 12 points and 12 rebounds and knocked around Kaleb Tarczewski inside, helping to hold Arizonas centre to seven points on 2-of-10 shooting. "When they took the lead, I feel that we got away from the things we were trying to do defensively and offensively," Washington coach Lorenzo Romar said. "We had to hit home runs every time we took possession of the ball and I dont think we accomplished that." Washington had a tough non-conference schedule and opened Pac-12 play with an impressive road win, racing past Arizona State early for a 76-65 victory. The Huskies faced a much stiffer challenge against Arizona. The Wildcats have been No. 1 for a month and have one of the nations best defences behind a group of versatile, athletic players. Arizona was at its defensive best in its conference opener Thursday, setting McKale Center records by holding Washington State to 25 points, nine field goals and 20 per cent shooting. The Huskies were able to keep up with the Wildcats in the first half, scoring inside and outrebounding them to lead 35-33. "We missed a couple easy shots that we normally convert and we need to convert in the future," Miller said. Washington took a quick six-point lead in the second half, but Shawn Kemp Jr. fouled out with 10:37 left, leaving their Huskies with one of the few players who could match up with Arizonas size. The Wildcats also turned up the defensive pressure, holding the Huskies to one field goal in a 10-minute span. Gordon was quiet in the first half and, at the urging of his coaches, became more aggressive, scoring some big baskets while grabbing 10 rebounds. Johnson was good at both ends, following a 360 dunk in the first half with a couple more acrobatic moves in the second. He and McConnell also keyed Arizonas defensive effort in the second half, creating havoc and steals with their constant pressure. Washington point guard Nigel Williams-Goss had a hard time shaking Arizonas two best perimeter defenders, hitting 4 of 12 shots for nine points while committing three turnovers. "Its tough going against their defence with our small lineup, but we just needed to work," Wilcox said. "In the second half, they were relentless and thats one of the main reasons why they are No. 1 in the country." John Tavares Jersey . - Leon Draisaitl scored a hat trick as the Prince Albert Raiders stormed past the Swift Current Broncos 5-2 in Western Hockey League action Tuesday. Bryan Trottier Jersey . -- Adrian Peterson takes a look around the league and sees big money flying everywhere. http://www.islanderssale.com/customized/. - Justin Turner is at his best with runners in scoring position, and he delivered again in a big spot for the Los Angeles Dodgers. Clark Gillies Jersey . The Mercedes duo of three-time Canadian Grand Prix champion Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg has won all six races to start the season, finishing one-two in the last five. Matt Martin Jersey . The Opening Day starter played 53 games this season hitting .192 with nine home runs and 25 RBI. Red Sox manager John Farrell has decided to start Jose Iglesias at third base as of late instead of Middlebrooks. MILWAUKEE -- Jean Segura smiled in his first game at Miller Park since returning to the Milwaukee Brewers following the death of his 9-month-old son. The shortstop still grieves, but it will be nights like the one Segura had in a 5-2 victory Monday over the Cincinnati Reds that will provide some distraction. Segura went 2 for 3 with a triple and scored two runs, and Milwaukee took advantage of two misjudged balls in the outfield by Chris Heisey to hand Cincinnati its fourth straight loss. "It was a tough week for me, and for my family, too," Segura said. "I (came) here, worked, trying to do the best I can to help the team." The 24-year-old Segura took bereavement leave after learning of son Janniels death following a 7-6 loss on July 11 to the St. Louis Cardinals. He went home to the Dominican Republic before returning to the club after the All-Star break for the weekend series in Washington. Segura said he wasnt nervous coming back to play before his hometown fans. Manager Ron Roenicke said he thought Segura was back mentally into the game. "Hes still going to have those times when he thinks about it, but I liked when he first came back," Roenicke said. "I thought it was really important for him to know that the team was behind him." Wily Peralta (11-6) allowed three hits, including Billy Hamiltons solo homer, in seven innings. Francisco Rodriguez threw a 1-2-3 ninth for his 29th save. Cincinnatis Mat Latos (2-2) gave up four earned runs and eight hits in seven innings. It could have been a much closer game had Heisey made those two plays in left. The lights were on at Miller Park for an evening game that started under overcast skies, though Heisey seemed to be most bothered by the conditions. "Tonight was just one of those nights where I didnt have a very good day," Heisey said. Three runs scored on the two plays. In the third, Ryan Braun hit a two-run double that Heisey took a couple of steps in on before retreating as the high liner went over his head.dddddddddddd The four-year veteran with 134 career starts in left field lost Carlos Gomezs high fly ball to the warning track in the fourth inning that turned into an RBI ground-rule double that made it 4-0. Arms turned upward near his waist, Heisey looked lost as the ball bounced a couple of feet away. Heisey tried to reach for the ball as it caromed over the wall, and Segura scored from second on a play that could have gotten Latos out of the inning. "I ended up running to a perfect spot, just couldnt pick the ball back up when I turned my head," Heisey said. "It just disappeared into the bluish-white sky. I couldnt find the ball." Gomez then scored on an error by Donald Lutz, subbing for the injured Joey Votto at first base. An errant relay throw by second baseman Ramon Santiago in the third inning allowed Segura, who had tripled, to score. Segura, who has been struggling all season at the plate, has his average back up to .236. He has been driving the ball more of late. "Ive been working at it all year long. Its going to come," he said. The Reds lost again after resuming the season with a three-game sweep by the New York Yankees. Manager Bryan Price was ejected Monday in the sixth inning by home plate umpire David Rackley after Devin Mesoraco got into a heated argument over a called third strike on a checked swing. NOTES: Reds OF Jay Bruce, in an 0-for-15 slump, got the night off. ... The last four homers hit by Hamilton have come against the Brewers. ... A kitchen fire at a Miller Park restaurant early Monday morning left the restaurant, escalators, elevators and a few other areas in left field unusable because of water damage. ... Cincinnatis Homer Bailey (8-5) opposes Milwaukees Jimmy Nelson (1-1) on Tuesday night. ' ' '