SEATTLE -- Hot shooting and relentless play on the boards helped 16th-ranked Washington match its best start in eight years.
Nate Robinson scored 24 points and Tre Simmons added a career-high 23 in a shooting clinic that led the Huskies to a 98-69 victory Tuesday night over San Diego State.
They combined to make 13 of their first 17 shots, including eight of 11 3-pointers. Robinson finished 9-for-16 overall and 3-for-7 from beyond the arc. Simmons was 9-for-13 for the game and 5-for-7 on 3-pointers.
And when they missed, a Husky was usually around the hoop to put it back in. Washington outrebounded San Diego State 45-31, and pulled down 24 on the offensive end.
"I don't know if we could have had a better effort than we did tonight," said Washington head coach Lorenzo Romar. "Tre Simmons gave us an unbelievable lift in the first half in terms of shooting and scoring."
Jamaal Williams added with 13 points, and Bobby Jones had 10 to go with nine rebounds for the Huskies. Washington (6-1) is off to its best start since the 1997-98 squad also won six of its first seven games. That team eventually advanced to the final 16 of the NCAA Tournament.
"If they were at the top of the key when the shot went up, they were at the rim when it hit the rim. They attacked every time," said Aztecs coach Steve Fisher. "Every fear that we had turned into reality the first seven possessions of the game. We're not as bad as we showed tonight. They made us play that bad tonight."
The loss ended a four-game winning streak by the Aztecs (4-2), who had their best start in 20 years.
Washington led by as much as 37-12 in the first half and never slowed down.
Marcus Slaughter had 21 points for San Diego State, and Brandon Heath had 16 in his first game since earning Mountain West Conference Player of the Week honors. Matt Thomas added a career-best 14 points.
"Defense has been a big key for us," Simmons said. "We know we can score, but if we play defense the way we have the last two games then we'll beat anyone."
Since losing at Gonzaga on Dec. 1, Washington focused on improving its defense, and the results are evident. The Huskies forced Eastern Washington into 30 turnovers on Sunday.
San Diego State had the same problems. It didn't even take a shot over the first 2:28, and by that time Aztecs were trailing 8-0 and had committed five turnovers.
"I think we have gotten a lot better," Romar said. "Gonzaga was a wakeup call, and I think we've buckled down."
Washington held a 56-34 halftime lead and forced San Diego State 26 turnovers for the game.
