Kentucky Basketball Exhibition Score: UK vs. Minnesota State Mankato Updates and Highlights

Wildcats Win Exhibition Opener Against Minnesota State Mankato, 86-59

Kentucky basketball opened its exhibition schedule with an 86-59 victory over Minnesota State Mankato on Sunday afternoon at Rupp Arena. The Wildcats were led by freshman guard Cason Wallace, who scored a game-high 20 points while shooting 8-of-15 from the field and 3-of-7 from three-point range. Antonio Reeves and Jacob Toppin added 14 points each for Kentucky, while Oscar Tshiebwe finished with 12 points and 10 rebounds.

Kentucky Dominates Second Half to Pull Away

The Wildcats led by just six points at halftime, but they turned up the defensive intensity in the second half and held Minnesota State Mankato to just 28% shooting from the field. Kentucky also forced 14 turnovers in the second half, which led to several easy baskets in transition.

Wallace Impresses in First Game as a Wildcat

Wallace, a five-star recruit from Georgia, made his Kentucky debut on Sunday and looked impressive in his first game in a Wildcat uniform. The 6-foot-4 guard showed off his versatility, scoring in a variety of ways and also contributing on the defensive end with three steals.

Other Notable Performances

In addition to Wallace, Reeves and Toppin, several other Kentucky players had solid performances on Sunday. Tshiebwe was a force on the boards, grabbing 10 rebounds in just 18 minutes of action. Sahvir Wheeler dished out six assists, while Chris Livingston added nine points and five rebounds.

Looking Ahead

Kentucky will return to action on Friday, November 4, when they host Howard in their regular season opener. The Wildcats will then host Duquesne on Monday, November 7, before traveling to Kansas on Saturday, November 12, for their Champions Classic matchup against the Jayhawks.