Lawrence Gets Off to Perfect Start, Sparks No. 20 Kentucky to 76-42 Win Over Wofford

Lexington, Ky. -

Freshman guard Cason Wallace scored 15 points, hauled in seven rebounds, and dished out four assists to lead No. 20 Kentucky to a 76-42 win over Wofford on Monday night at Rupp Arena in Lexington, Kentucky. Wallace added three steals, while sophomore point guard Sahvir Wheeler posted 12 points and seven assists for the Wildcats to jumpstart their 2022-23 season opener. Former Iowa transfer Kris Murray added 11 points for Kentucky, who led by as many as 42 points. Kentucky Head Coach John Calipari also reached a major coaching milestone in Monday's win, as he passed legendary UCLA men's basketball coach John Wooden for sole possession of fourth place on the NCAA's all-time wins list with 904.

Defensive Showcase in Lexington

Kentucky's defense was on full display against Wofford, limiting the Terriers to just 28.8% shooting from the field while forcing 20 turnovers. Wofford managed to hit just 6-of-26 from three-point range in the contest. The Wildcats held Wofford scoreless over the final 3:40 of the first half to take a 35-17 lead into the locker room. Kentucky would then extend its advantage to 45-20 three minutes into the second half and never looked back.

Lawrence Makes Early Statement

Highly-touted freshman forward Justin Lawrence made his presence felt for the Wildcats in his collegiate debut, scoring 10 points on 4-of-6 shooting from the field in just 11 minutes of action off the Kentucky bench. The 6-foot-6, 230-pound forward has been a standout for the Wildcats throughout the offseason, and his performance in the season opener was a sign of things to come.

Wallace Shines in All Facets

While Lawrence was a bright spot, it was Wallace who led Kentucky in several statistical categories. The 6-foot-4 guard was efficient from the field, hitting 6-of-11 from the floor, including 3-of-6 from three-point range. Wallace also provided a spark on the defensive side of the ball, recording three steals in the win.

Up Next for Kentucky

With the win, Kentucky improves to 1-0 on the season. The Wildcats will be back in action on Friday, November 11, when they host Duquesne at Rupp Arena in Lexington. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. ET on SEC Network+.