LEXINGTON – November 23, 2026 – Michael Willis
In their second exhibition game of the season, the Wildcats defended their home court against the Red Raiders of Texas Tech. A week removed from their underwhelming victory over Little Rock, the Cats wanted to make a statement against a more formidable opponent. It wasn’t a blowout victory by any means, but the Wildcats’ performance over the final 30 minutes of the game was much improved from their previous outing.
The Raiders took an early lead after a 7-0 run put them ahead 9-4, with Kentucky’s turnovers leading to five of those points. The Cats trailed by four to five points for much of the first half until a Malachi Moreno dunk, followed by a Milan Momcilovic three-pointer, put the Wildcats back in the lead with 4:17 remaining in the half.
Kentucky led Texas Tech 37-33 at halftime, thanks in large part to taking better care of the basketball. The Cats committed seven early turnovers but went the final nine minutes of the half without another one. A 15-0 Kentucky run followed, providing a much-needed spark for the offense.
The Wildcats opened the second half with a 10-2 run, extending their lead to 12 points. However, the Raiders weren’t ready to go away, knocking down back-to-back three-pointers to keep themselves within striking distance. Texas Tech eventually tied the game with 8:51 remaining. It looked like the matchup was headed for a close finish, but a late 8-2 run by the Cats pushed the lead to nine points and put the game out of reach. Kentucky secured the 76-65 victory.
Moreno and Momcilovic led the Cats in scoring with 15 points apiece. Mason Williams, Alex Wilkins, and Ousmane N’Diaye also finished in double figures. N’Diaye led the team in rebounding with seven boards.
After scoring just two points in the first half, Wilkins finished with 13 points. He scored nine of those points in the final five minutes, helping push the Cats across the finish line when it mattered most.
Mason Williams was a standout in tonight’s matchup. Williams scored 14 points and committed zero turnovers in his 27 minutes on the floor. Fans have questioned whether Williams would be a contributor on this team. Tonight, he answered those questions.
