Arizona hits century mark in first round NCAA win

Arizona Wildcats Basketball


It was almost like the second-seeded Arizona Wildcats (31-4) toyed with 15-seeded North Dakota tonight in Salt Lake City. Arizona hit the century mark and won the NCAA opener easily, 100-82.

Probably a good 20 points more than Sean Miller would've like to have seen scored on his Wildcats.

Offensively, not too shabby with all five starters in double figures. Laura Markkanen scored 20, Rawle Alkins scored 20, Allonzo Trier added 18, Dusan Ristic chipped in 12 and Kadeem Allen finished with 10 points. Chance Comanche played 19 minutes, scored six points and pulled down a team-high seven rebounds, while Parker Jackson-Cartwright added eight points, five rebounds and four assists in 24 minutes of playing time.

Could the Wildcats have been looking ahead? Maybe.

Still, the Wildcats move on to face a much stronger opponent, Saint Mary's. The Gaels beat VCU 85-77 earlier tonight. Saint Mary's (29-4) has lost only four times this season -- three of the losses were to the No. 1 seed in the West Region, the Gonzaga Bulldogs.

There will be no toying with the Gaels.