Kentucky landed five players in double-figure scoring as the Wildcats turned away Texas A&M-Commerce. 81-61, before 19,646 fans at Rupp Arena on Friday night.
UK moved to 2-0 in the first-ever meeting between the two teams. The Lions dropped to 0-3.
Antonio Reeves paced the Wildcats with 21 points, including five treys. Tre Mitchell had 18 and a game-high eight rebounds.
Justin Edwards tallied 16 and grabbed seven rebounds, Rob Dillingham followed with 12 and D.J. Wagner tossed in 11.
The Wildcats used a 9-0 run to open a 52-37 lead and built it to 22 late.
Kentucky will next face No. 1 Kansas (2-0) in the Champions Classic at the United Center in Chicago on Tuesday. Tipoff is set for 9:30 pm.
At Lexington
SCORE BY HALVES:
TAMC (0-3)…..30 31 – 61
UK (2-0)………38 43 – 81
Scoring:
Texas A&M-Commerce (61) – Jerome Brewer Jr. 1(3) 1-2 12; Kalen Williams 7(1) 2-2 19; Tommie Lewis 1(5) 1-2 18; Alonzo Dodd 2 1-5 5; Zondrick Garrett 2 0-0 4; and Evan Phelps 0(1) 0-0 3. Totals: 13(10) 5-11 61.
Kentucky (81) – Tre Mitchell 7(1) 1-1 18; Rob Dillingham 3(1) 3-4 12; Justin Edwards 6 4-4 16; Antonio Edwards 3(5) 0-0 21; D.J. Wagner 5 1-1 11; and Reed Sheppard 0(1) 0-0 3. Totals: 24(8) 9-10 81.
Next up: Kentucky (2-0) vs. Kansas (2-0), 9:30 pm, Nov. 14, Champions Classic, United Center, Chicago, Ill.