Coach Herenda Press Conference

LEXINGTON,Ky. – The Fairleigh Dickinson men's basketball team fell 83-52 to No. 8 Kentucky at Rupp Arena on Saturday afternoon.

Senior forward Kaleb Bishop paced the Knights with 12 points, eight rebounds, two assists and two blocks in the loss, while redshirt junior Xzavier Malone-Key scored nine with five boards. Jahlil Jenkins, Brandon Rush and Elyjah Williams finished with eight points apiece on the afternoon.
 
E.J. Montgomery led the way for the Wildcats (7-1) by making 12-of-16 from the field en route to game-high 25 points. Four Wildcats scored in double figures with Keion Brooks Jr. tallying 15 points with five boards and Nick Richards who netted a 12-point, 10-rebound double-double.
 
The Knights (2-6) were held to 32.3 percent overall and 20.8 percent from three-point range, while the Wildcats converted 51.6 percent from the field. The eighth-ranked Wildcats struggled from deep making just 2-of-11 (18.2 percent) but took advantage at the free throw line by hitting 17-of-19.

"We came out early and competed but Kentucky was firing on all cylinders and they made everything difficult for us the rest of the afternoon," said Greg Herenda following the game. "To play Kentucky in Rupp was incredibly special but I just wish we would have played the way we normally do but again I think Kentucky had a lot to do with it. We had some special individual moments today but collectively we just never got it going. The experience for our players, program and university was awesome. I can't thank Coach Cal and everyone at UK enough for the opportunity."
 
The Knights trailed 18-13 in the early going before a 7-0 burst provided the Wildcats with their first double-digit lead of the contest with 8:32 to play in the half.
 
Jenkins ended a nearly six-minute drought for the Burgundy and Blue by draining a step back 3-pointer, which snapped a 17-0 run by the hosts. On the ensuing possession, a turnover led to a trifecta from Rush, which made it a 35-19 game four minutes shy of the break.
 
The Knights would enter the locker room trailing 43-23 after shooting 30 percent from the field and connecting on just 3-of-16 (18.8 percent) from behind the arc. Led by Montgomery's 14 points and seven rebounds, the Wildcats shot 52.9 percent in the stanza and out-rebounded the Burgundy and Blue 22-15. 
 
Jenkins paced the Knights in the opening half with eight points and two assists, while Malone-Key had five points and three rebounds.
 
The Wildcats would establish their first 30-point cushion, 65-35, after Brooks struck from behind the arc with 10:48 to play in regulation.
 
The Knights travel to Jersey City to face Saint Peter's in their next contest, Wednesday, December 11.