UK built an early double-digit lead and never looked back, cruising to a 107-59 win over Valparaiso inside Rupp Arena.
Kentucky had six players in double figures in the victory, led by freshman Malachi Moreno, who had 18 points and 10 rebounds. Otega Oweh had 15 points, while Collin Chandler and Mo Dioubate each had 14. Denzel Aberdeen and Brandon Garrison each had 12 points. It was the first time UK had six players in double figures since a 102-97 loss to Alabama on Jan. 18, 2025.
After the game, UK head coach Mark Pope was pleased with his team.
“I’m proud of our guys,” Pope said. “This is a good Valpo team. They’re going to win a lot of games.”
Pope liked how his team started Friday’s contest.
“I thought our guys came out with tremendous energy from the get go,” Pope said. “I felt like they functioned pretty well. We’ve got a long way to go and we’ve got to get way better, but it’s a good night for us.”
Kentucky scored on its first two possessions, on an Oweh jumper and a Chandler three, taking a 5-0 lead in the process. In fact, the Cats would hit their first six shots from the floor while building a 13-3 lead.
After a Valpo basket, UK got a three from Aberdeen, two free throws from Garrison and a Jaland Lowe layup to complete a 7-0 run and extend the lead to 20-5.
Valpo scored the next three before Jasper Johnson and Chandler hit consecutive threes. A Moreno layup and an Andrija Jelavic dunk made it 30-8 Kentucky and forced the Beacons to take a timeout.
The Beacons would get back within 20 at 34-14 before the Cats went on another run. Another Chandler three, three Aberdeen free throws, a Dioubate three, a Moreno dunk and an Oweh layup made up a 13-0 run that gave UK a 47-14.
Kentucky would make 22 of 34 (64.7 percent) of its shots in the first half, including 7 of 13 (53.8 percent) from behind the arc and the Cats led 58-26 at the break. Aberdeen led all scorers with 10 points in the first half.
The Cats scored the first five points of the second half and opened on a 9-1 run to lead 67-27. The Beacons would later score five in a row to make it 67-32 before the Cats went on an 15-6 run, including eight points from Moreno, to lead 82-38.
Kentucky would continue to increase the lead throughout the second half, with the final score being the widest margin all night.
Kentucky returns to action on Tuesday, facing Louisville at the KFC Yum! Center. Tipoff is set for 8 p.m. ET and the game can be seen on ESPN.