TUCSON, Ariz. Robert Williams Jersey . -- 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." Red Auerbach Jersey . Gomes drove in all three runs, including a go-ahead two-run homer in the eighth inning, and Cleveland rallied for a 3-2 win over the Chicago White Sox on Sunday. Boston Celtics Jerseys . But qualifying for her first Scotties Tournament of Hearts after years of falling short in tough Manitoba provincial championships is as good as consolation prizes get for the 29-year-old from Winnipegs Fort Rouge Curling Club. http://www.celticssale.com/kids-dennis-johnson-celtics-jersey/ .C. - Blair Jones scored the eventual winner in the third period as the Abbotsford Heat defeated the Oklahoma City Oil Barons 3-2 in American Hockey League action on Friday.KAPALUA, Hawaii -- Webb Simpson might have pulled out of the Tournament of Champions to be with his caddie if he were not on an island in the middle of the Pacific. Reassurance came from Paul Tesori, his caddie and close friend whose newborn son is in intensive care in a Florida hospital. "Paul sent me a text this morning, just told me he loved me and wanted to go out and fight as hard as I would any other day," Simpson said Sunday after doing just that. Simpson made four birdies in a five-hole stretch on the back nine at Kapalua for a 5-under 68, giving him a share of the lead with defending champion Dustin Johnson and Jordan Spieth going into the final round Monday on the Plantation Course. On a glorious day of sun and surf, Simpson played with a heavy heart. His caddie and friend, Paul Tesori, was in a hospital in Florida with newborn son Isaiah in intensive care. Simpson said the child suffered a seizure shortly after he was born with indications of an infection in his brain. One of Tesoris best friends in the business is Ted Scott, the caddie for Bubba Watson, who is filling in this week as Simpsons caddie. Tesori tweeted that he tuned into the telecast at Kapalua in time to see his sons name on Scotts hat. "I felt like we were out there playing for Isaiah," Simpson said. "Paul needs something to watch there in the hospital. Its been a long few days, so hopefully, we gave him something good to see on TV. But it was tough. I was thinking about him a lot out there." Winning on Monday wont be easy. Simpson was the first to reach 14-under 205, thanks to a terrific par save on the 17th and a long two-putt par on the 18th hole, a par 5 with a front hole location that made it difficult to get close because the green and the grain move sharply away. Spieth, the 20-year-old Texan who looks just as good as he did during a sensational rookie season, got back into the mix with a tough birdie on the par-3 eighth and capped off a 69 with a 15-foot birdie putt on the 17th and a long two-putt for par on the 18th. Spieth won the John Deere Classic last year. This is his first time with at least a share of the 54-hole lead. "This is a new position for me," Spieth said. "Ive never slept on a 54-hole lead. Im excited about it and its going to be a fun time tomorrow to get to play with Webb for the third time this week." The most intimidating figure is Johnson, whose power is suited for the Plantation Course. Johnson also had a 69 and was disappointed at playing the par 5s in 3-under for the day. One of them was a tap-in eagle on the par-5 ninth. But he hhad to settle for pars on the long holes on the back nine. Paul Pierce Jersey. One shot hit the front of the green and rolled off the putting surface on the 15th and into a valley. On the 18th, his 4-iron came up short and left him a pitch that had to be perfect. It was a few inches from that. The pitch didnt have enough roll to glide with the grain and left him a 15-foot birdie chance that he missed. "Other than that, I played pretty good," Johnson said. No matter. Hes still tied for the lead, still in good position to start the new year the same way he did in 2013. Zach Johnson, who had a three-shot lead going into the third round, couldnt make anything and shot a 74. His only birdie was a two-putt on the par-5 fifth hole. Still, he was only two shots behind at 12-under 207 heading into the Monday finish. Instead of building his lead, Zach Johnson effectively gave more players in this winners-only field a chance. Gary Woodland (67), PGA champion Jason Dufner (69), Brandt Snedeker (69) and Kevin Streelman, who had a 33 on the back nine to salvage a 70, were within three shots of the lead. Masters champion Adam Scott wasted a chance to join them. Scott was at 11-under and in range of the par-5 15th until he smothered a long iron into the hazard and had to scramble for a bogey. He missed a 7-foot birdie putt on the next hole, missed the green and took bogey on the 17th and closed with a birdie for a 69. He still was only four shots behind. Simpson has made 12 of his 18 birdies this week on the back nine, and his hopes are to stay in the mix and work one more day of magic. The most intriguing character in this mix is Spieth, who a year ago didnt have status on any tour in the world. A couple of good finishes on tour through sponsor exemptions helped secure his card. He won at the John Deere Classic, finished No. 7 in the FedEx Cup, played in the Presidents Cup team and came into the week at No. 22 in the world. This figures to be a big test -- a share of the lead, contending with the defending champion and a major champion. Spieth figures he cleared a big hurdle Sunday when he didnt lose patience over a few bad breaks. He thought back to last year, when he struggled in the third round. He wasted good birdie chances on the 15th and 16th and was starting to run hot. "But I got to 17 tee box and thankfully, that view kind of calmed me down a little bit and I was able to snag a birdie there," he said. Spieth figures to need more of those Monday, as will everyone else who wants to open the year with a win and guarantee a return to Maui next year. ' ' '