Kentucky Begins New Season on High Note with 86-46 Win over New Mexico State
By Jamie H. Vaught
LEXINGTON, Ky. -- The Kentucky Wildcats tip off their 2023-24 campaign with a solid performance against New Mexico State in an 86-46 victory Monday night at Rupp Arena.
Leading the team-oriented Wildcats, who only committed six turnovers, were five players who scored in double figures. Freshmen Rob Dillingham and D.J. Wagner led Kentucky with 17 points and 13 points, respectively. A pair of freshman -- Reed Sheppard and Justin Edwards -- added 12 points each with senior Antonio Reeves getting 11 points.
“It was awesome," said Sheppard of his first UK game. "Putting on the jersey for the first time and running out with my teammates, running out to the best fans in the nation hollering. It was really, really cool and something that I have dreamed of my whole life. It was a dream come true, it was unbelievable.”
In the rebounding department, UK graduate student Tre Mitchell. a 6-foot-9 transfer from West Virginia, snatched a game-high 9 boards. Sophomore Adou Thiero added 7 rebounds.
Mitchell also had 9 points and a team-high 5 assists.
One of the game highlights was London, Ky., native Sheppard getting his first basket as a Wildcat with a running dunk in the late first half as the crowd of 18,438 roared.
“It felt awesome, it was really cool," said Sheppard. "First point, so it was really cool that I could do that. DJ (Wagner) made a great save and pass.”
Kentucky, which had 13 steals, finished the game on a 17-0 run, leading to the final score of 86-46.
The Wildcats, 1-0, return to action Friday, Nov. 10, at home against Texas A&M-Commerce. Game time is 7 p.m. (ET) and it will be televised on SEC Network+ (online).
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