LEXINGTON – October 16, 2026 – Michael Willis
The 2026-27 men’s basketball season tipped off tonight as the Kentucky Wildcats faced the Little Rock Trojans in their first exhibition game of the season. It was a special night, with the Trojans led by former Wildcat Travis Ford. It also marks a crucial third season for head coach Mark Pope, as the previous two seasons have left many fans disappointed. Kentucky’s 69-49 victory over the Trojans was an encouraging start and a good way to build excitement around Wildcats basketball.
It was a slow start for the Cats, who made just one of their first four field-goal attempts and turned the ball over twice to open the game. However, an early three-point play by Alex Wilkins put Kentucky back in front, 5-4, after trailing early. Wilkins’ basket sparked a 13-0 run that gave the Wildcats a 15-4 lead. Kentucky’s offense struggled again midway through the first half, going more than four minutes without a field goal. Despite the scoringdrought, the Cats maintained their advantage with strong defensive play, holding the Trojans to just 19% shooting from the field.
The Wildcats took a 30-19 lead into halftime, relying on their defense to keep Little Rock at bay. Kentucky held the Trojans to just 23% shooting from the field, while Little Rock connected on only one of its 11 attempts from three-point range.
Seven different players scored for the Cats in the first half. Zoom Diallo and Milan Momcilovic led Kentucky with seven points apiece. Although Malachi Moreno did not score before halftime, he grabbed seven rebounds and dished out two assists, leading the Wildcats in both categories.
Kentucky came out scoring in the second half, putting up 11 points in the first four minutes to extend its lead to 41-25. However, Little Rock’s full-court pressure began to cause problems for the Wildcats, who committed three turnovers on inbound plays. Just as Kentucky’s offense appeared to be stalling again, Momcilovic knocked down back-to-back three-pointers to help put the game out of reach. The Wildcats maintained control the rest of the way, securing a 20-point victory.
Momcilovic led Kentucky with 16 points, connecting on four of his seven attempts from beyond the arc. His shooting ability could be a major factor for the Wildcats this season. During the postgame interview, both Momcilovic and Pope discussed how his presence on the floor creates “gravity,” drawing defenders away from the paint and creating more opportunities for his teammates.
Kentucky has two more exhibition games before the regular season officially begins. Next up are the Texas Tech Red Raiders on Friday, Oct. 23, in what should be a much tougher test for the Wildcats. Pope said after the game that it was good to face another opponent and that he was eager to watch the film and identify areas where the team can improve.
The Wildcats will look to build on their opening exhibition victory as they continue preparing for the start of the regular season.
