The one player lagging early in Arizona's season was starting Dusan Ristic.

He averaged just 4.0 points and 4.0 rebounds while making 3 of 13 shots from the field in the Wildcats' 2-0 start. Coach Sean Miller said Ristic was thinking a bit too much instead of just playing.

The message seemed to hit home as Ristic, a 7-foot junior, feasted on much-smaller Sacred Heart, scoring 13 points and pulling down 15 rebounds in 10th-ranked Arizona's 95-65 victory on Friday night in Tucson, Ariz.

"He was much more aggressive early," Miller said, "and I thought throughout the game."

Ristic was one point shy of a double-double at halftime, showing quick post moves against shorter defenders. The junior had just eight points and eight rebounds in Arizona's first two games.

"My confidence didn't go down," Ristic said of the first two games. "I just had the mindset to grab every rebound, and that's it."

Arizona freshman forward Lauri Markkanen scored 22 points to continue his hot start to his career. The 7-footer from Finland, averaging 19.5 points entering the game, made 7 of 12 shots from the field and all six of his free throws.

Miller wants his team to look for Markkanen even more in the flow of the offense.

"You just can't play like he's a normal big guy out there," Miller said.

The Wildcats (3-0) had six players score in double figure against the outmatched Pioneers (1-2), picked to finish eighth in the Northeast Conference.

Arizona freshman wing Rawle Alkins scored 18 points. Freshman guard Kobi Simmons had 14. Point guard Parker Jackson-Cartwright put in 11 points and backup post player Chance Comanche, a sophomore, scored a career-high 10 points.

Sacred Heart guard Quincy McKnight, who averaged 26.5 points in the first two games, scored 22 points, all but two after halftime after dealing with foul trouble in the first half.

Arizona was just 3 of 19 from 3-point range, starting 1 of 15 before Markkanen hit back-to-back shots from behind the arc.

"One lesson we learned tonight is we can still win games when the 3-point shot isn't going down," Miller said. "Instead of taking that 3, we throw the ball inside or drive."

Arizona never trailed but really went to work after Miller, unhappy with his team giving up transition baskets, called a timeout with the Wildcats up 14-10. Arizona responded with a 29-8 run that was punctuated with four consecutive dunks for a 43-18 lead.

"We had a hard time getting back early," Miller said. "Part of the thing that we're working through right now is we have a lot of young guys and a little bit of inexperience. The good news about a game like tonight is we get a little bit better every time we go out there."

The Wildcats led 49-25 at halftime and pushed the advantage to as many as 39 points in the second half.

Arizona starting guard Kadeem Allen, who missed Tuesday night's game against Cal State Bakersfield because of a left knee sprain, came off the bench but played just four minutes.

Arizona played its fifth game (including two exhibitions) without guard Allonzo Trier, who is rumored to have eligibility issues. School officials have not commented on Trier's absence.

NOTES: Shaquille O'Neal attended the game with his son, Shareef O'Neal, a 6-foot-9 junior forward from Los Angeles. The younger O'Neal, ranked No. 16 nationally in the 247Sports Composite rankings, was taking an unofficial visit. He is uncommitted. ... Arizona has won 35 consecutive nonconference home games. ... This was the first meeting between Arizona and Sacred Heart. ... This began a four-game Western swing for Sacred Heart as part of the Continental Tire Las Vegas Invitational. The Pioneers play at Santa Clara on Monday before two games in Las Vegas on Thursday and Friday.