No. 10 Kentucky, playing the first of three Thanksgiving week games, defeated Virginia Military Institute 92-82 Sunday in Lexington, Ky.

Kentucky (3-1) used a dominant inside game to overpower VMI (3-2). The Wildcats outrebounded the Keydets 43-22 and won the points-in-the-paint battle 42-14.

Sophomore PJ Washington powered the Wildcats' inside game with 19 points and 18 rebounds. Grad transfer Reid Travis had 22 points and six rebounds. Sophomore guard Quade Green came off the bench for 17 points, 12 in the second half.

As a team, Kentucky shot 49.2 percent, buoyed by 60.9 percent shooting in the second half.

VMI, which outscored the Wildcats 48-44 in the second half, got 35 points from Bubba Parham. He hit 11 of 20 shots, including 10 of 16 from 3-point range. Garrett Gilkeson and Tyler Creammer each added 13 points, and Greg Parham had 10.

The Keydets shot 46.8 percent, including 50 percent from 3-point range (19 of 38).

Kentucky jumped out to a 48-34 halftime advantage by controlling the interior. Washington ended the half with 11 points and nine rebounds. Travis had 12 points and four rebounds. Kentucky outrebounded VMI 27-11 before the break.

The Wildcats used a 12-0 run to push their advantage to 42-29 with 3:10 left in the first half. Washington had six points in the stretch, and Travis added four.

As a team, Kentucky shot 41.7 percent in the first half, but only 30 percent from 3-point range.

The Keydets got 15 first-half points from Parham. They shot 41.4 percent, including 7 of 16 from 3-point range.

Kentucky returns to action with games the day before and after Thanksgiving, Wednesday against Winthrop and Friday against Tennessee State. VMI plays host to Kentucky Christian on Tuesday.

--Field Level Media