Cats use size, 3-pointers to overwhelm Arkansas Little Rock 69-49

Travis Ford has played a lot of basketball games. He has coached a lot of them too and encountered a first in his return to Rupp Arena on Friday night.

Ford, an important part of Rick Pitino's early teams at Kentucky who is now in his first season at Arkansas Little Rock, had no answer or match for Kentucky's size in a 69-49 loss to the Wildcats. 

Kentucky forced 12 turnovers, scored 18 points off those miscues, and limited the Trojans to just 31 percent shooting from the field. Ford's squad made only two long-range shots out of 20 attempts. Led by Malachi Moreno with 11 rebounds, the Wildcats held a 42-35 edge on the glass and didn't surrender a second-chance point.

While Kentucky's size overwhelmed Little Rock, Kentucky's 3-point shooting was a difference-maker for the hosts. The Wildcats connected on 12 3-points, led by Iowa State transfer Milan Momcilovic, who knocked four shots from long range. Justin McBride and Alex Wilkins made two treys each as seven different players drained a three in the first of three exhibition games.

Kentucky placed three players in double figures, led by Momcilovic, who finished with 16 points. Momcilovic added seven rebounds and a steal. His seven rebounds tied a career high.

Wilkins added 11 points, while freshman guard Mason Williams chipped in with 10 points, three assists and three steals.

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