No. 23 Kentucky hosts the Big 12’s Central Florida at Rupp Arena on Wednesday at 6 p.m. ET on the SEC Network for its third and final preseason exhibition game, entering the matchup after defeating Little Rock 69-49 and No. 19 Texas Tech 76-65.
Preseason Victories Over Little Rock and Texas Tech
Kentucky opened its exhibition slate with a 20-point win over Travis Ford and his Little Rock team. Milan Momcilovic paced the Wildcats with 16 points, while Alex Wilkins contributed 11. Kentucky connected on 12 of 28 attempts from beyond the arc in that contest.
The competition level shifted upward last week when the Wildcats faced No. 19 Texas Tech. Kentucky secured an 11-point victory, 76-65, placing five players in double figures. Momcilovic and Malachi Moreno each posted 15 points, freshman Mason Williams added 14, Wilkins tallied 13, and Ousmane N’Diaye chipped in 10.
Central Florida Preseason Resumé Under Johnny Dawkins
Central Florida arrives in Lexington having also played two exhibition games. The Knights opened with an 84-81 loss at LSU, where Dior Johnson led the team with 18 points. In their most recent outing, the Knights defeated Rollins College, paced once again by Johnson with 19 points and seven rebounds.
Head coach Johnny Dawkins enters his 11th season in Orlando guiding the Knights. Central Florida finished last season with a 21-12 record, culminating in a first-round appearance in the NCAA Tournament against UCLA.
| Team | Exhibition Opponent | Result | Leading Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kentucky | Little Rock | Win, 69-49 | Milan Momcilovic (16 pts) |
| Kentucky | No. 19 Texas Tech | Win, 76-65 | Milan Momcilovic / Malachi Moreno (15 pts) |
| Central Florida | LSU | Loss, 84-81 | Dior Johnson (18 pts) |
| Central Florida | Rollins College | Win | Dior Johnson (19 pts) |
Broadcast Details and Game Information
Wednesday’s matchup serves as the final tune-up for Kentucky before the regular-season schedule tips off. Tipoff at Rupp Arena is scheduled for 6 p.m. ET, with live television coverage provided nationally by the SEC Network.
