LEXINGTON, Ky. — In a commanding performance, Otega Oweh scored 21 points, and Koby Brea contributed 18 from the bench as No. 23 Kentucky decisively defeated Wright State 103-62 in Mark Pope’s first game as head coach on Monday night.
Pope took over the position in April following John Calipari’s move to Arkansas, bringing along nine transfers to refresh the team’s roster. Among the standout players, Oweh, who transferred from Oklahoma, achieved an impressive shooting performance, making 8 of 9 attempts from the field and successfully hitting all three of his three-point attempts.
Brea also had a perfect night from the arc, sinking all four of his 3-point shots as Kentucky excelled overall, going 11 for 24 from long range. Lamont Butler contributed with 14 points on 6 of 12 shooting, while Amari Williams, recovering from an injury that sidelined him during Kentucky’s last exhibition game, made a significant impact with 12 points and 13 rebounds.
Other notable players for the Wildcats included Andrew Carr and Ansley Almonor, each scoring 11 points. For the Raiders, Brandon Noel led the scoring with 20 points, supported by Alex Huibregtse who had 16 points and Solomon Callaghan with 15 points. However, Wright State struggled offensively, managing only 35% shooting from the field.
The key takeaway for Wright State was their offensive difficulties, with their most effective stretch not occurring until they made four consecutive baskets in the second half. They faced immense pressure from Kentucky’s defense, which contested nearly every shot.
On the other hand, the Wildcats displayed agility on both ends of the court, effectively contesting rebounds defensively while efficiently distributing the ball on offense. Kentucky dominated the boards with a count of 41-32, amassing an impressive 56-26 scoring advantage in the paint and contributing 37-21 in bench points.
A noteworthy moment of the evening was Pope’s entrance into Rupp Arena, where he was greeted by a crowd of 19,635 fans, filling the venue he once called home.
A significant statistic from the game was the 30 assists recorded by Kentucky on their 39 field goals, showcasing their teamwork and ability to share the ball.
Looking ahead, Wright State will host Ohio Christian on Wednesday evening, while Kentucky is set to host Bucknell on Saturday before facing off against Duke in the Champions Classic.