Momcilovic Drops 24 Points in Kentucky Debut Against Manhattan

Milan Momcilovic scored 24 points in his first game for Kentucky on Tuesday night. The 6-foot-9 forward added five rebounds as the Wildcats defeated Manhattan 85-57. He converted eight of his 12 field goal attempts, including six of nine shots from behind the three-point line.

Momcilovic arrived in Lexington after spending three seasons at Iowa State. During the offseason, Kentucky offered him a contract reported to be worth approximately six million dollars. He accepted the deal, joining a program that is currently in its third year under head coach Mark Pope.

The transfer has already shown strong shooting consistency. Last season at Iowa State, he averaged 7.5 three-point attempts per game and shot 48.7 percent from long range. Those efforts helped Iowa State reach the Sweet 16 for the second time in three years. After Tuesday's performance, his career three-point percentage over his last 38 games stands at 49.3 percent.

Coach Pope expressed confidence in the new recruit's role. He stated that he wants Momcilovic to take 15 three-point shots per game if the team can create that volume. Given the player's recent history of high-volume shooting, that target aligns with his previous production levels.

The victory marks Kentucky's third consecutive season-opening win. As of Wednesday morning, the Wildcats rank No. 20 in the CBS Sports Top 25 And 1 daily college basketball rankings. The SEC continues to lead in conference representation within that list.

Eight SEC schools currently appear in the Top 25 And 1. Florida holds the No. 1 spot, followed by Texas at No. 6, Arkansas at No. 10, Tennessee at No. 16, Alabama at No. 21, Missouri at No. 23, and Vanderbilt at No. 25. No other conference has more than six teams in the rankings.

Momcilovic's debut was his only game at Kentucky so far. The Wildcats will continue their season with their next scheduled contest, building on the momentum from their start.