Bennedict Mathurin scored 27 points, Christian Koloko had a double-double and Dalen Terry was just shy of a triple-double as No. 8 Arizona overcame 21 turnovers to defeat Washington 95-79 on Monday night in Tucson, Ariz.
The Wildcats (12-1, 2-0 Pac-12) didn’t pull away until a late 12-2 run resulted in a 91-72 lead with 2:09 to go. Koloko scored 22 points with 10 rebounds. Terry had 13 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists, while Kerr Kriisa was a third 20-pointer scorer, reaching 21 points with the help of 6-of-9 shooting from 3-point range.
Washington (5-6, 0-1) has struggled offensively much of the season, but Terrell Brown Jr., who played last season at Arizona, lit up his former teammates with 28 points, eight rebounds, six assists and five steals.
Brown, who entered leading the Pac-12 in scoring at 21.4 points per game, repeatedly maneuvered into the paint against the bigger Wildcats, while Emmitt Matthews Jr. complemented his work by making 4 of 6 from beyond the arc to finish with 16 points.
Washington had 18 steals and a 25-9 edge in points off turnovers, but Arizona ultimately had too much offense, although it received only three points off the bench.
The Wildcats shot 55 percent (33 of 60).
Arizona led 49-41 at halftime and went up by 13 early in the second, but had trouble shaking the Huskies.
Matthews’ 3-pointer with 7:48 to go cut Arizona’s lead to 72-67. Mathurin answered with a three-point play on the ensuing possession and the lead grew to 79-68 on a Kriisa 3-point shot. Koloko started the game-sealing 12-2 run with a basket and foul.
Arizona made its first six shots — including four from 3-point range — and took a 22-10 lead when Koloko completed a three-point play with 14:27 to go in the half. But Brown poured in 19 points in the half as the Huskies went into the break only down eight.
Arizona assisted on 16 of its 17 first-half baskets and finished with 28 assists on 33 buckets.
–Field Level Media
