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TUCSON (AP)- Arizona coach Sean Miller wanted to play it off as just another game. But deep down he knew he couldn't. It was his UA debut.

A new era. And a victory. His Wildcats had just defeated Northern Arizona 87-70 at McKale Center for his first win as Arizona's new coach.

"Being the head coach at Arizona is an honor," Miller said. "Coaching in McKale is an honor. Being the person...in charge is a big thing to me. It means a lot to me. But once you are out there as the coach you just want your team to perform. And getting better is important. I enjoyed today and for all our fans and players it was a good first game to win."

Arizona's Jamelle Horne chuckled a bit when speaking of Miller's debut, in part because he knew it was special.

"It's a great feeling," Horne said of being part of it. "But I'm more happy about our group. We have a ton of young guys; a small amount of older guys. We stuck together and pulled out the win. It was great."

Outside of a moment or two, it was also a one-sided game. Arizona had a 23-point lead with 1:28 left in the first half, settling for a 51-31 lead at the half.

"We expected them to come out and be fired up, this being their home opener," said NAU coach Mike Adras. "They are very good in this building. They didn't disappoint, that's for sure."

Arizona held a 20-point lead for most of the second half before NAU twice closed it to 13, the latest coming at 79-66 with 3:22 left.

Four Wildcat players scored in double figures with Solomon Hill leading the way at 17 points. He added eight rebounds.

"I just wanted to go out there and do everything right," Hill said. "I didn't want them (coaches) to have anything bad to say when we watch video (of the game). I just went out there and played."

Arizona leader Nic Wise, who tweaked an ankle in practice earlier in the week, started the game and finished with 15 points and four assists. He played just 11 minutes in the opening half and was removed from the game with five minutes left and UA leading 77-59. But he came back into the game when NAU closed the gap to 79-66.

Wise's presence helped UA regain its composure for the victory.

Arizona fed off the energy of Jamelle Horne, who had two early blocks and a third just before the half. Horne finished with 14 points and 11 rebounds and a career-high three blocks. It was his second career double-double.

Arizona played without guard/forward Kevin Parrom, who was diagnosed with a stress fracture in his left foot. Parrom injured the foot earlier in the week in an exhibition win over Western New Mexico. He's expected to miss four to eight weeks.

NAU junior guard Cameron Jones had a game-high 29 points and helped a late NAU charge, hitting a 10-footer with 3:20 left to make it 79-66.

Miller, who was hired away from Xavier, replaced UA interim coach Russ Pennell. Miller's hiring is widely considered Arizona's new era of men's basketball after Hall of Fame coach Lute Olson retired 13 months ago after 24 years at the school. Olson started his career at UA with a 72-65 victory in 1983.