The Kentucky Wildcats improved to 2-0 on the season with a solid 100-72 victory over Bucknell on Saturday evening at Rupp Arena.
This was the first time in 46 years, since the 1978-79 season, that UK scored at least 100 points in each of the first two games.
The Cats placed five players in double figures, led by 20 points from Koby Brea off the bench.
Check out all the postgame notes from the win:
KENTUCKY MEN’S BASKETBALL POSTGAME NOTES
RUPP ARENA AT CENTRAL BANK CENTER | LEXINGTON, KY.
NOV. 9, 2024
ATTENDANCE: 20,048
Final Score: No. 23 Kentucky 100, Bucknell 72
Team Records and Series Notes
Kentucky is 2-0 on the season and Bucknell is 2-1.
This was the first meeting between the schools.
The Wildcats return to action Tuesday, Nov. 12, vs. Duke in the Champions
Classic in Atlanta’s State Farm Arena. As the second game of a doubleheader,
game time is approximately 9 p.m. and it will be televised on ESPN.
Team Notes
This was the first time in 46 years, since the 1978-79 season, that UK scored at
least 100 points in each of the first two games
o In 1978-79, UK opened with a 109-77 win over LaSalle and a 121-67 win
over West Texas.
o UK also opened with 100-point games in 1970-71 (first three games) and
1969-70 (first two games).
A point of emphasis for this game, Kentucky claimed five offensive rebounds in
the first five minutes and ended with 22 offensive boards.
o For the game, UK won the rebounding 57-35.
Kentucky notched an assist on 23 of 38 baskets tonight, an assist rate of 60.5%.
o Through two official games, UK has an assist rate of 68.8% on made
baskets.
Kentucky is 663-85 (88.6%) in the 49-year history of Rupp Arena.
Coach Mark Pope’s career record is now 189-108.
Player Notes
Amari Williams had his second double-double of the season with 13 points and
a game-high 14 rebounds. He has 26 career double-doubles.
Sparked by a career-high-tying six 3-pointers, Koby Brea notched a game-high
20 points.
o He made 6 of 8 on his 3-pointers and through two games is 10 of 12 (83.3
percent) from long range.
Jaxson Robinson had 14 points, four rebounds and tied the team best for steals
with two.
Andrew Carr (11 points) and Otega Oweh (10 points) have tallied double figures
in each of the first two games.
Kerr Kriisa tied his career-high for assists with 12 distributions. He added six
points and four rebounds.
In the First Half
Kentucky’s starters were Lamont Butler, Otega Oweh, Jaxson Robinson,
Andrew Carr and Amari Williams.
o First substitutions were Koby Brea, Kerr Kriisa and Brandon Garrison
at the 14:37 mark.
After Bucknell made an early long shot for a 3-1 lead, Kentucky scored the next
nine points and led the remainder of the way.
Midway through the half, another 9-0 spurt gave UK its largest lead of the first
period at 31-11.
Led by Robinson’s 11 points, Kentucky led 47-31 at halftime.
In the Second Half
Kentucky began the second half with the starting lineup.
Bucknell pulled within 14 points at 52-38 but got no closer.
Kentucky led by as many as 29 points at 98-69.
