On the eve of Kentucky basketball’s matchup with Texas Tech, Mark Pope cautioned fans not to read too much into surprising results in other exhibition matchups around the country.
“This is training camp time,” Pope said. “This is a time where we’re focused on growing. We’re always focused on winning, but if there’s ever a time when growing almost measures up to winning, in terms of priority, it’s right now. That’s what this is for.”
That explanation came after a reminder that Kentucky had dominated No. 1 Purdue in its first exhibition game a year ago then lost its second exhibition to a Georgetown team that finished the season with a losing record.
But all things being equal, you might as well win if you can, and No. 23 Kentucky did that against No. 19 Texas Tech 76-65 in front of an energetic Rupp Arena Crowd.
Five Wildcats finished in double figures: Malachi Moreno (15), Milan Momcilovic (15), Mason Williams (14), Alex Wilkins (13) and Ousmane N’Daiye (10).
Kentucky never trailed in the second half, though Texas Tech did tie the game at 54 with 8:18 remaining. Williams scored five points as part of a 6-0 run that gave Kentucky back the lead. UK outscored Texas Tech 19-5 at the free throw line.
Turning point
Little went right for Kentucky in the first 15 minutes with eight straight missed 3-point attempts and seven turnovers, but momentum flipped thanks in large part to the Wildcats’ own defensive effort.
With 5:45 left in the first half, Moreno leaped to intercept an inbounds pass under the Texas Tech basket. He quickly gave the ball to Wilkins, who launched a full-court pass to a sprinting N’Diaye. N’Diaye converted the layup while being fouled and finished off the three-point play at the free throw line. Kentucky forced turnovers on Texas Tech’s next two possessions, converting both miscues into points.
Kentucky trailed by five points at the time of Moreno’s initial steal but led by eight just more than two minutes later. Included in the 15-0 run was UK’s only 3-pointer of the first half. Kentucky did not turn the ball over in the final nine minutes before intermission
Player of the game
Pope said he was frustrated with Williams despite the freshman totalling 10 points with three assists, three steals and one turnover in the exhibition win over Little Rock. That frustration was an acknowledgement of the importance of Williams to Kentucky’s roster, especially with Kam Williams, Trent Noah and Jerome Morton currently injured. The hype for Williams will only increase now after he hit 5 of 8 shots and 2 of 4 3-point attempts in 25 minutes. As Kentucky closed out the win Friday, Pope left Williams on the court in place of starting point guard Zoom Diallo.
Key stat
Kentucky hit just 1 of 11 3-point attempts in the first half. That didn’t stop UK players from shooting at will. Wilkins and Momcilovic helped put the game away with three combined 3s in the final five minutes, and Kentucky finished the game 7 for 24 from beyond the arc.
This story was originally published October 23, 2026 at 9:03 PM.
Lexington Herald-Leader
Jon Hale is the University of Kentucky football beat writer for the Lexington Herald-Leader. He joined the Herald-Leader in 2022 but has covered UK athletics for more than 10 years. Hale was named the 2021 Kentucky Sportswriter of the Year.
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