No. 23 Kentucky had to overcome a strong shooting performance from James Madison on Friday night, but the Wildcats made the necessary adjustments in the second half to come away with an 89-80 victory at Rupp Arena.

Kentucky improved to 2-0 on the season behind a balanced offensive performance, with five players reaching double figures. However, the Dukes made things difficult for the Wildcats throughout the night, knocking down 15 3-pointers and forcing Kentucky to earn its second win of the season.

The matchup also gave Justin McBride an opportunity to face his former team for the first time since transferring to Kentucky. McBride spent last season at James Madison, where he put together the best season of his college career before making the move to Lexington.

He delivered his best performance in a Kentucky uniform to date, finishing with 13 points and 8 rebounds, while knocking down 3 3-pointers. His production, along with a strong second half effort from the Wildcats, helped Kentucky avoid an early-season scare.

James Madison’s shooting keeps Kentucky on its toes

Kentucky got off to a strong start, taking a 16-8 lead after Zoom Diallo scored 10 of the Wildcats’ first 16 points. However, James Madison quickly responded and began finding its rhythm from beyond the arc.

The Dukes consistently took advantage of Kentucky’s defensive breakdowns. Every time the Wildcats appeared ready to build some separation, JMU seemed to have an answer.

Kentucky led by as many as 7 points in the first half, but the Dukes continued to chip away. James Madison eventually took the lead before Diallo drove to the basket for a layup in the closing seconds of the half, sending the teams into the locker room tied at 39.

The second half brought more of the same.

Kentucky briefly built a 4-point advantage, but James Madison continued to trade baskets with the Wildcats. After a Milan Momcilovic basket gave Kentucky a 52-51 lead, the Dukes answered with a 3-pointer to go back in front.

JMU later made its 12th 3-pointer of the night to take a 56-54 lead, putting Kentucky in need of a response with just under 14 minutes remaining.

That response would come from several different Wildcats.

Kentucky answers with a crucial second-half run

With the game hanging in the balance, Kentucky put together its most important stretch of the night.

Mason Williams tied the game with a jumper before Alex Wilkins knocked down a corner 3-pointer to put the Wildcats back in front. McBride followed with a triple of his own, and Ousmane N’Diaye capped the run with another 3-pointer.

The 11-0 run turned a 56-54 deficit into a 65-56 Kentucky advantage and gave the Wildcats some much-needed breathing room.

The Wildcats continued to control the game down the stretch, leading by as many as 14 points before finishing with the 9-point victory.

Justin McBride delivers against his former team

One of the biggest storylines entering Friday night’s matchup was McBride facing the program where he spent last season.

McBride developed a strong relationship with JMU head coach Preston Spradlin during his time with the Dukes. His decision to transfer to Kentucky gave him an opportunity to take on a new challenge, but there was still plenty of familiarity on the other sideline.

McBride made the most of the opportunity, finishing with 13 points and 8 rebounds in 27 minutes. He was efficient from the floor, going 4-6 from the field and 3-4 from 3-point range.

After the game, McBride acknowledged the emotions that came with playing against his former teammates and coaches.

“It’s definitely emotions, but you got to keep the emotions to yourself,” McBride said. “It’s just fun playing out here. My old team, no hard feelings to JMU. I love Coach Spradlin, and I’m just glad I got the win.”

Head coach Mark Pope also recognized the significance of the matchup and the relationship McBride still has with his former coach.

“He loves Coach Spradlin so much. They have a really beautiful relationship,” Pope said. “He has such a great experience at James Madison, and he’s taken on the challenge of coming here.”

Beyond the emotional connection, McBride’s performance showed another important part of what he can bring to Kentucky.

Pope has consistently emphasized the importance of McBride improving as a rebounder. The coaching staff has made that a point of emphasis throughout the offseason, and the forward delivered with 8 rebounds against the Dukes.

Pope even explained that he had the entire coaching staff send McBride a message about rebounding during the summer, with the goal of making it a consistent part of his game.

“He comes up tonight and grabs 8 huge rebounds playing the 5 a lot of minutes,” Pope said. “He shot the ball well and he was really aggressive.”

Spradlin also had plenty of praise for McBride after watching him perform against his former program.

“Man, I wish he had made more 3s playing for me like he did tonight,” Spradlin said. “I’m so proud of him.”

Spradlin added that McBride had challenged himself defensively and done a good job adjusting to Kentucky’s system and playing alongside other talented players.

Balanced scoring gives Kentucky another boost

While McBride’s performance was one of the night’s biggest storylines, Kentucky received important contributions throughout the lineup.

Diallo and Wilkins led the Wildcats with 16 points apiece. Diallo was particularly important early, helping Kentucky establish its first-half lead before continuing to attack the basket after halftime.

Pope praised Diallo’s control and decision making, especially after the guard finished without a turnover. The Kentucky coach also highlighted how much Diallo has embraced his teammates and the program since arriving in Lexington.

Wilkins provided another good scoring performance, while Mason Williams added 12 points and 5 assists. Braydon Hawthorne finished with 10 points, giving Kentucky five players in double figures.

The bench production was especially important with Milan Momcilovic struggling to find his shooting touch. Momcilovic finished 1-8 from 3-point range, but the Wildcats had enough production from the rest of the lineup to overcome his off night.

Kentucky also got Kam Williams back on the floor after his extended absence. Williams played nine minutes and scored his first points of the season, giving Pope another option as the Wildcats continue working him back into the rotation.

Diallo also spoke about how much he wanted to see McBride succeed against his former team, pointing to their relationship away from the court.

“That’s probably one of the closest guys I’m with on the team,” Diallo said. “Me and him had talks, and just seeing him play against his former team, I just wanted him to get some more confidence and boost him up because we’re going to need him.”

Defensive issues remain a point of emphasis

Despite getting the win, Kentucky still has plenty to clean up defensively.

James Madison finished with 15 3-pointers, repeatedly finding open looks and taking advantage of Kentucky’s struggles defending its offensive actions. The Dukes also did a good job attacking gaps and forcing the Wildcats to adjust their defensive rotations.

Pope was honest about his team’s performance defending the perimeter.

“It was poor. We did not shine in that aspect of the game,” Pope said.

The Kentucky coach specifically pointed to JMU’s use of flare screens and the difficulty they created for the Wildcats.

Pope acknowledged that Kentucky may need to approach those types of offensive actions differently if the teams meet again. He also credited his players for making adjustments throughout the game and doing enough to secure the win.

There were still positives on the defensive and ball handling side. Diallo, Wilkins and Mason Williams combined for zero turnovers, while Kentucky finished with just 8 turnovers as a team.

Pope credited his players and coaching staff for making adjustments with different lineups and rotations, particularly as Kentucky had to play smaller than it had in its first game.

The Wildcats were not always comfortable, but they found a way to work through those challenges.

Kentucky turns attention to Kansas

Friday night’s performance was not perfect, but Kentucky found another way to win and moved to 2-0 on the season.

At the same time, James Madison exposed some defensive issues that Kentucky will need to address as the competition gets tougher.

The Wildcats will have little time to dwell on the performance, with a major early-season test coming next.

Kentucky will face Kansas in the State Farm Champions Classic Tuesday in Chicago. Tipoff is scheduled for 9:30 p.m. on ESPN.

For more Kentucky news and coverage, follow me on X @DrewByousBBN.