No. 23 Kentucky defeats feisty James Madison

LEXINGTON, Ky. (WKYT) - The James Madison Dukes came to fight Friday night at Rupp Arena.

The Dukes, coached by former Morehead State headman Preston Spradlin, gave the No. 23 Kentucky Wildcats (2-0) all they could handle in an 89-80 win.

Kentucky was led in scoring by its starting backcourt. Junior Zoom Diallo and sophomore Alex Wilkins tied for the team high with 16 points each.

The Cats had three players score in double figures off the bench. Senior forward Justin McBride, a former JMU player, scored 13 points. Freshman guard Mason Williams had 12 points. His fellow freshman, forward Braydon Hawthrone, had 10.

Kentucky and JMU traded the lead early in the second half, and the Dukes led 56-54 with 13:59 to play. A quick 9-0 run over the next two minutes put the Cats up 65-56, a lead they would never relinquish.

The Dukes (0-2) did not let Mark Pope’s team breathe in the first half either.

The Cats’ biggest lead was seven points, 32-25, with six minutes to go in the half. JMU also rode nine first-half 3-pointers to a 39-all tie at the break.

Kentucky takes on No. 17 Kansas next Tuesday in the State Farm Champions Classic in Chicago.