# Kentucky beats Texas Tech 76-65 behind five double-figure scorers

The No. 23 Wildcats used a balanced attack and a 15-0 first-half run to win the ranked exhibition at Rupp Arena.

By The Signal Edition | Sports / College Basketball
Published: 2026-10-23T23:28:00Z
Updated: 2026-10-24T05:18:00Z
Canonical: https://www.thesignaledition.com/article/kentucky-texas-tech-exhibition-1m553hd
Image: https://www.thesignaledition.com/media/eded152cad4698b890762e2b5b6681e2.webp (Kentucky guard Zoom Diallo controls the ball during team action; credit: UK Athletics)

## Summary
- No. 23 Kentucky defeated No. 19 Texas Tech 76-65 in a preseason exhibition at Rupp Arena.
- Milan Momcilovic and Malachi Moreno scored 15 points apiece as five Wildcats reached double figures.
- Kentucky closed the first half with a 15-0 run and improved to 2-0 in exhibition play.

## Balanced Wildcats pull away

No. 23 Kentucky beat No. 19 Texas Tech 76-65 on Friday night at Rupp Arena, placing five players in double figures in its second preseason exhibition. Kentucky’s athletics department and Texas Tech both confirmed the final score and the exhibition status of the game. [1](https://ukathletics.com/news/2026/10/23/no-23-kentucky-tops-no-19-texas-tech-on-friday/) [2](https://texastech.com/news/2026/10/23/mens-basketball-no-19-tech-falls-to-no-23-kentucky-in-exhibition-matchup)

Milan Momcilovic and Malachi Moreno led Kentucky with 15 points each. Freshman Mason Williams scored 14 off the bench, Alex Wilkins added 13 and Ousmane N’Diaye had 10. The Wildcats shot 49% from the field and made 19 of 22 free throws, according to the postgame accounts. [1](https://ukathletics.com/news/2026/10/23/no-23-kentucky-tops-no-19-texas-tech-on-friday/) [3](https://ukathletics.com/news/2026/10/23/kentucky-texas-tech-postgame-notes/)

## A response after Texas Tech’s early lead

Texas Tech led 25-18 with 6:50 remaining in the first half, but Kentucky answered with a 15-0 run and took a 37-33 advantage into halftime. Wilkins later hit two important three-pointers as the Wildcats protected their lead down the stretch. [3](https://ukathletics.com/news/2026/10/23/kentucky-texas-tech-postgame-notes/) [4](https://www.aseaofblue.com/kentucky-wildcats-basketball/185263/texas-tech-recap-final-score-5-things-to-know-uk)

Kentucky finished with 11 turnovers after committing seven early, an improvement from the 19 it had in its exhibition opener against Little Rock. The result moved the Wildcats to 2-0 in preseason play, though exhibition games do not count toward either team’s regular-season record. [3](https://ukathletics.com/news/2026/10/23/kentucky-texas-tech-postgame-notes/) [4](https://www.aseaofblue.com/kentucky-wildcats-basketball/185263/texas-tech-recap-final-score-5-things-to-know-uk)

The official postgame notes recorded an attendance of 19,228 and credited Kentucky with 18 assists on 25 made baskets. Texas Tech erased a 12-point second-half deficit to tie the game at 52, but Kentucky closed with a 22-11 run after the score was tied at 54. [3](https://ukathletics.com/news/2026/10/23/kentucky-texas-tech-postgame-notes/)

Kentucky’s final exhibition is scheduled against UCF on Oct. 28 before its Nov. 3 regular-season opener against Manhattan. Texas Tech described Friday’s game as its final preseason matchup before the 2026-27 season, giving both coaching staffs a last set of high-level film before results begin to count. [1](https://ukathletics.com/news/2026/10/23/no-23-kentucky-tops-no-19-texas-tech-on-friday/) [2](https://texastech.com/news/2026/10/23/mens-basketball-no-19-tech-falls-to-no-23-kentucky-in-exhibition-matchup)

## Reporting sources
1. [Kentucky Athletics: No. 23 Kentucky Tops No. 19 Texas Tech on Friday](https://ukathletics.com/news/2026/10/23/no-23-kentucky-tops-no-19-texas-tech-on-friday/) (2026-10-23)
2. [Texas Tech Athletics: No. 19 Tech falls to No. 23 Kentucky in exhibition matchup](https://texastech.com/news/2026/10/23/mens-basketball-no-19-tech-falls-to-no-23-kentucky-in-exhibition-matchup) (2026-10-23)
3. [Kentucky Athletics: Kentucky-Texas Tech Postgame Notes](https://ukathletics.com/news/2026/10/23/kentucky-texas-tech-postgame-notes/) (2026-10-23)
4. [A Sea of Blue: Kentucky Basketball surges past No. 19 Texas Tech: 5 things to know](https://www.aseaofblue.com/kentucky-wildcats-basketball/185263/texas-tech-recap-final-score-5-things-to-know-uk) (2026-10-23)