LEXINGTON, Ky — Koby Brea made a significant impact off the bench, contributing 20 points with six three-pointers, while Jaxson Robinson added 14 points, helping the No. 23 Kentucky Wildcats defeat Bucknell 100-72 on Saturday.

The Wildcats improved their record to 2-0, starting off slow in the first half with a lackluster performance from beyond the arc. However, Brea and Kerr Krissa each connected on three-point shots within a short span, propelling Kentucky to a 20-7 lead with just over 13 minutes remaining in the opening half.

For the Bison, who fell to 2-1, Ian Motta was the standout player with 18 points, but the team struggled overall, shooting only 39.7% from the field. Josh Bascoe contributed 15 points, while Amari Williams added 13, Andrew Carr scored 11, and Otega Owens chipped in 10 for Kentucky. Williams had a notable performance with 14 rebounds, marking his second consecutive double-double, while Krissa dished out 12 assists.

In the early moments of the game, Bucknell also faced shooting woes, trailing 22-9 after the first ten minutes, hitting just 3-of-12 attempts. For Kentucky, their successful performance was characterized by a team effort where 10 players got on the score sheet. Despite their early struggles from the three-point line, the Wildcats managed to tally 50 points in the paint and capitalized on 14 turnovers by the Bison to score an additional 22 points.

A crucial turning point came when Kentucky established control with a 9-1 run followed by a 9-0 surge, enabling them to build a commanding 31-11 lead by the 8:55 mark of the first half. Bucknell was unable to close the gap significantly after that, with the closest they managed being 35-23 from a jumper by Motta with 4:37 left in the half.

In terms of statistics, Kentucky head coach Mark Pope had stressed the importance of rebounding after their previous win, especially on the offensive glass. The Wildcats responded impressively, out-rebounding Bucknell 57-35, which included 22 offensive rebounds.

Looking ahead, Bucknell will host Mount St. Mary’s on Wednesday for their first home game of the season. Kentucky, on the other hand, is set to face their first significant challenge against No. 7 Duke in the State Farm Champions Classic in Atlanta at 9 p.m.