Kentucky-Texas Tech Postgame Notes

KENTUCKY MEN’S BASKETBALL POSTGAME NOTES
RUPP ARENA AT CENTRAL BANK CENTER | LEXINGTON, KY.
OCTOBER 23, 2026
ATTENDANCE: 19,228

Final Score: No. 23 Kentucky 76, No. 19/16 Texas Tech 65

Team Records and Series Notes

• UK is now 157-13 all-time in exhibition games.
• This game does not count in the series record. Kentucky leads the countable series 5-0, including 2-0 in Lexington.
• The Wildcats complete exhibition play on Wednesday, Oct. 28 at home against UCF.  Game time is 6 p.m. and it will be televised on the SEC Network.
  • The regular season begins Tues. Nov. 3 at home vs. Manhattan.

Team Notes

• Kentucky shot 49 percent from the field, 25 of 51.
• Kentucky had 18 assists on 25 made baskets, an assist percentage of 72 percent.
• Kentucky took care of the ball well for most of the game with only four turnovers in the final 29 minutes. The Wildcats totaled 11 miscues for the game.
• Through two games, the opponents are shooting 36 percent from the field (44 of 122) and 20 percent on 3-pointers (10-50).

Player Notes

• Five Wildcats scored in double figures, led by Momcilovic and Moreno with 15, Williams with 14, Wilkins with 13 and N’Diaye with 10.
  • N’Diaye led the UK rebounding with seven.
  • Wilkins had a game-high seven assists and also led the Wildcats in steals with three.
  • Momcilovich led the plus/minus statistic with +20.

Coach Mark Pope

• UK is 5-1 in exhibition play under Mark Pope.
• Pope will enter his 12^th season as a head coach with a 233-134 all-time record, including 46-24 entering his second season at Kentucky.

In the First Half

• Kentucky started Zoom Diallo, Alex Wilkins, Milan Momchilovich, Ousmane N’Diaye and Malachi Moreno.
• Mason Williams and Justin McBride were the first substitutions at the 14:06 mark.
• Kentucky got the first basket but Texas Tech was strong early and had a 25-18 lead with 6:50 remaining.
• Over the next three and one-half minutes, UK went on a 15-0 run for a 33-25 lead.
• Tech narrowed the gap to 37-33 at halftime.
• Momcilovic led the Wildcats with 10 points, with N’Diaye and McBride leading the rebounding with three each.

In the Second Half

• Kentucky began the second half with the starters.
• The Wildcats opened the half with a 10-2 run, building their largest lead of the game at 47-35.
• The Red Raiders rallied, tying the score at 52 with 8:52 to go.
• Tied at 54, Mason Williams swished a 3-pointer with 7:51 to go, then followed with a steal that led to a free throw by Moreno, then hit a jumper in the lane for a 60-54 lead.
• Wilkins followed with two free throws and a pair of 3-pointers to stretch the gap to 70-61.
• All totaled, after the game was tied at 54, Kentucky closed the game with a 22-11 run.