Kentucky-James Madison Postgame Notes

KENTUCKY MEN’S BASKETBALL POSTGAME NOTES
RUPP ARENA AT CENTRAL BANK CENTER | LEXINGTON, KY.
NOVEMBER 6, 2026
ATTENDANCE: 19,292

Final Score: #23 Kentucky 89, James Madison 80

Team Records and Series Notes

• Kentucky has a 2-0 record and James Madison is 0-2.
• This is the first meeting between the schools in men’s basketball.
• Kentucky has its first game away from home Tuesday, Nov. 10, when the Wildcats take on No. 17/18-ranked Kansas in the Champions Classic. As the second game of a doubleheader, game time is approximately 9:30 p.m. ET (8:30 p.m. CT in Chicago) and will be played in the United Center.

Team Notes

• James Madison tied a Kentucky opponent record by attempting 45 3-point shots.
  • JMU tied the mark set by Tennessee, which tried 45 on Jan. 28, 2025.
• Five Wildcats scored in double figures, including three players off the bench.
• Kentucky shot 50.8 percent from the field. The Cats have been over 50 percent in both games this season and have a 29-1 record under Coach Pope when making at least half their shots.
• Kentucky made 10 3-pointers and have hit the double-digit mark in both games. The Wildcats are 28-5 under Pope when making at least 10 long balls.
• The Wildcats made their last 10 free throws in the second half, finishing 15 of 19 for 78.9 percent.
• Kentucky’s length had a significant impact on the game. UK won points in the paint, 40-20.

Player Notes

• Zoom Diallo and Alex Wilkins led UK with 16 points each.
• Playing against the JMU team for which he played last season, Justin McBride notched 13 points, making 3 of 4 from long range.
  • He led the UK rebounding effort with eight boards, all coming on the defensive end.
• Mason Williams came off the bench to score 12 points and led the Wildcats with five assists.
• Braydon Hawthorne had his first double-figure game with 10 points, making 5 of 8 from the field.

In the First Half

• Kentucky started Zoom Diallo, Alex Wilkins, Milan Momcilovich, Ousmane N’Diaye and Malachi Moreno for the second-straight game.
• Mason Williams and Justin McBride were the first substitutions at the 15:20 mark.
• Kam Williams made his first appearance of the season with 9:37 remaining.
• There were three ties and nine lead changes during the first half and the teams went to intermission tied at 39.
• Diallo led Kentucky with 10 points and Moreno paced the rebounding with six.

In the Second Half

• Kentucky began the second half with the starters.
• With the game tied at 56, Wilkins, McBride and N’Diaye hit consecutive 3-pointers to give Kentucky a 65-56 advantage.
• Kentucky grew the lead to 10 points on three occasions.
• Back-to-back threes by M. Williams and McBride pushed the lead to 79-68.
• Kentucky’s largest lead was 14 points at 85-71.