The 2023-24 basketball season is officially underway, as the No. 16 Kentucky Wildcats defeated New Mexico State 86-46 on Monday night in Rupp Arena at Central Bank Center.
The victory sealed Kentucky’s 100th win in season openers and kept UK Coach John Calipari undefeated in home openers during his tenure.
Sophomore Adou Thiero scored the first two points of the season after crashing the boards and getting a stick back on a missed lay-up attempt in traffic by D.J. Wagner. A pair of three-pointers by Antonio Reeves helped the Wildcats get out to a 23-15 lead at the 8:10 mark, and a Tre Mitchell basket at the end of the half gave Kentucky a 37-29 halftime lead.