Kentucky Routs Manhattan in Season Opener
Milan Momcilovic scored 24 points as Kentucky beat Manhattan 85-57 in its first game of the season.
Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Basketball
Kentucky defeated Manhattan 85-57 in its season opener, leading by as much as 39 points with five minutes remaining. Milan Momcilovic led the Wildcats with 24 points, going 6-for-9 from three-point range.
Why it matters
The win gives Kentucky an early statement after a stretch of sloppy play in the closing minutes, and it showed contributions from several offseason transfers. Kentucky's next test comes Friday against James Madison in Lexington.
Momcilovic went 6-for-9 from three-point range for 24 points, while Alex Wilkins recorded a career-best seven steals and 11 points with five assists. Kentucky committed 14 turnovers to Manhattan's 13, a closer margin than the final score suggests.
The players
Milan Momcilovic
Kentucky guard who led the Wildcats with 24 points and six made three-pointers in the season opener.
Alex Wilkins
Kentucky guard who finished with 11 points, five assists and a career-best seven steals against Manhattan.
Mark Pope
Kentucky's head coach, who has led the program through its offseason roster turnover.
The details
Kentucky started 4-for-12 from the floor in the first eight minutes before pulling away. Manhattan finished on a 13-2 run, and Zoom Diallo added 12 points as three of Kentucky's six offseason transfers scored in double figures.
Timeline
Tuesday: Kentucky defeated Manhattan in its season opener.
Friday: Kentucky hosts James Madison in Lexington.
Season Trajectory
Kentucky's opener is an early read on a roster rebuilt largely through the transfer portal, with three of six newcomers scoring in double figures. How consistently those players perform against stronger opponents will shape the Wildcats' early season trajectory.
Fantasy managers tracking Momcilovic and Wilkins will want to note their early production. The Friday home game gives a clear next look at whether the opener's scoring holds up.
The takeaway
Early-season results from a transfer-heavy roster are a useful signal, but a single opener against Manhattan is a limited sample. Watching how the group handles James Madison on Friday will offer a clearer picture.
What happens next
Kentucky hosts James Madison in Lexington on Friday.
Further reading
For more on the program, see our Basketball coverage.
Source note: This article includes information reported by [your]NEWS - Freddy Peralta to make Rays' debut vs. Rockies - The Tampa Bay Rays were active right up to Monday night's trade deadline, and their most significant addition is set to debut with his new team on Tuesday. Right-hander Freddy Peralta (5-9, 4.99 ERA), acquired from the New York Mets on Sunday, will be on the mound when Tampa Bay plays the second contest of.
