FINAL: Kentucky routs New Mexico State 86-46 in season-opener

The path to a perfect season is still alive. Kentucky men’s basketball is now 1-0 as the preseason is officially behind us. On Monday night at Rupp Arena, the Wildcats opened up the 2023-24 campaign with an 86-46 win over New Mexico State.

Everyone was getting involved against the Aggies. Five different Kentucky players finished in double-figures, led by 17 points from freshman Rob Dillingham. Fellow rookies DJ Wagner (13), Justin Edwards (12), and Reed Sheppard (12) also reached double-digits while fifth-year senior Antonio Reeves added 11 of his own. Fifth-year senior Tre Mitchell just missed the mark with nine points but he also contributed nine rebounds and five assists to the cause without recording a turnover.

As a team, Kentucky shot a combined 49.2 percent from the field despite a slow start in the first half. The ‘Cats turned the ball over a mere six times compared to 18 for New Mexico State while also winning the rebounding battle 43-33. The Aggies finished just 32.1 percent from the floor and a poor 5-23 from long range.

It wasn’t a perfect start to the season-opener for Kentucky by any means. New Mexico State came out hot right away, canning a pair of three-pointers to take the early lead. Kentucky quickly settled in though and took its first lead right before the first media timeout thanks to an Edwards triple. UK held that lead for the rest of the half but rebounding was an issue in the opening 20 minutes for the undersized ‘Cats.

It wasn’t until there was a little over two minutes left in the first half that Kentucky finally extended its advantage to double-digits. A big three-pointer from Sheppard 30 seconds later woke up the Rupp Arena crowd. Unfortunately, a last-second outside shot from the Aggies dropped in right before the intermission, which cut the Wildcats’ lead down to eight, 37-29.

Reeves and Sheppard both had eight points at the break while sophomore Adou Thiero added five points and five rebounds. Thiero would later leave the game in the second half with an injury and did not return. Kentucky’s 38.7 percent shooting mark from the field was masked by New Mexico’s even worse 32.3 percent clip. New Mexico State also outrebounded the ‘Cats 24-22 following the first half of play.

Kentucky would storm out of the locker room though, winning the first five minutes of the second half 11-4. Fueled by Edwards and Dillingham triples, it was suddenly a 15-point lead for the home team. A minor scoring drought would seep its way into Kentucky’s offense in the ensuing possessions, but the defense was able to fend off any attempt at a comeback from the Aggies.

The Wildcats eventually ballooned its lead to 20-plus points as the rout was on in the final 10 minutes. Kentucky finished the game on a 17-0 run over a six-minute stretch. It ultimately resulted in an impressive 40-point win in what was a solid debut for the 2023-24 season. Next up: Texas A&M-Commerce back at Rupp Arena this Friday night.