LEXINGTON – November 3, 2026 – Michael Willis
In their first game of the 2026-27 regular season, the Wildcats defeated the Manhattan Jaspers 85-57. The 28-point victory was exactly what the team needed to build momentum heading into the new season. The Cats played well on both ends of the court and had essentially sealed the victory before halftime.
Manhattan showed some fight early in the game, taking a 13-9 lead, but the Cats responded by knocking down three consecutive three-pointers to regain the lead at 18-13. Kentucky continued its hot shooting, making six consecutive shots and putting together a 25-3 run. The Cats dominated the remainder of the first half, taking a commanding 48-22 lead into the break.
Nine different Kentucky players scored in the first half, led by Milan Momcilovic with 11 points. Momcilovic also accounted for three of Kentucky’s eight first-half three-pointers. The Wildcats led in every major statistical category and put together their best half of basketball of the season.
Kentucky continued to play well in the second half, building its lead to as many as 39 points before easing off the pressure. That allowed the Jaspers to cut into the sizeable deficit, but the outcome was never in doubt as the Wildcats cruised to an 85-57 victory.
Momcilovic led all Kentucky scorers with 24 points, knocking down six of his nine attempts from beyond the arc. As a team, Kentucky shot 53% from the field, including 39% from three-point range. It was an impressive offensive performance and an excellent way for the Cats to open the season.
The Wildcats also shined defensively. Led by Alex Wilkins, who recorded seven steals, Kentucky held Manhattan to just 35% shooting from the field. The Cats forced 13 turnovers and, more importantly, converted those mistakes into 18 points. The defensive pressure played a major role in Kentucky’s comfortable victory.
Kentucky will face James Madison on Friday night at 7:00 p.m. It will be the Wildcats’ final home game before heading to Chicago to take on Kansas in the Champions Classic.
