LAS VEGAS (AP) -- The way Arizona (No. 3 ESPN/USA Today, No. 4 AP) toyed with Nebraska Saturday night, the Cornhuskers might want to wait another 30 years for a rematch.

The first basketball meeting between the schools in three decades was never really in doubt as the Wildcats dominated inside to beat Nebraska 80-59 in the opening game of the Las Vegas Showdown.

	Arizona's Michael Wright stuffs the ball for two of his game-high 22 points.

"We were in a groove and we weren't going to be stopped," said Michael Wright, who led Arizona with 22 points.

Arizona turned the game into a blowout by holding Nebraska scoreless for nearly five minutes to open the second half, and led by as many as 25 points midway through the second half before coach Lute Olson rested his starters

The Wildcats dominated on the inside, with Loren Woods scoring a personal high 19 points, including seven during the 15-2 run that opened the second half. Woods also tied a school record with seven blocks.

"Their size was intimidating and their freshmen didn't play like freshmen," Nebraska coach Danny Nee said. "We did the best we could. We just haven't played this level of a team."

Woods, a 7-foot-1 junior transfer from Wake Forest, was a force under the baskets for Arizona, which started two freshmen and two sophomores.

He downplayed his best game as a Wildcat, however.

"I don't believe I really made that much of a difference," Woods said. "We still would have probably won even if I wasn't in the game."

Olson was a little more impressed.

"He's really made himself available for shot blocks," Olson said. "He's anticipating better under the basket and changing shots."

Arizona (9-1) led by as many as 25 points midway through the second half, and the Wildcats substituted liberally the rest of the game. Nebraska (4-5) got to within 64-50 with 7:30 left, but Olson reinserted his starters and the Cornhuskers could get no closer.

"We have to be able to put teams away," Olson said. "We were in position to do that in the first half but we let them back in."

The game was the first half of the Las Vegas Showdown. In the second game, No. 14 Oklahoma State beat UNLV 89-75.

Arizona led 42-33 at halftime behind 12 points apiece by Woods and Wright.

"We banged them up pretty good in the first half," Woods said.

Nebraska's only lead came on the first basket of the game by Larry Florence. Arizona quickly ran off eight straight points, however, and, after a 9-0 run a few minutes later, the Cornhuskers never challenged.

Gilbert Arenas added 15 for Arizona. Nebraska was led by Florence with 16 points, while Danny Walker and Kimani Ffriend had 11 apiece.

It was the second win in a row for Arizona over a non-ranked team, after facing three top-10 opponents in a seven-day stretch. Arizona's only loss came during that stretch to Connecticut (No. 4 ESPN/USA Today, No. 3 AP).

Nebraska was playing without senior guard Cookie Belcher, out with an injured wrist.