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Kentucky beats Albany 78-65 in season opener

Jamal Murray scored 19 points, reserve Derek Willis got a career-high 14 and Kentucky outlasted Albany 78-65 in the season opener for both schools.

Jamal Murray - photo by Walter Cornett

– photo by Walter Cornett

Jamal Murray scored 13 of his 19 points in the second half, reserve got going with a career-high 14 in the first and No. 2 Kentucky outlasted 78-65 Friday night in the season opener for both schools.

Murray overcame an uneven first half to shoot 6 of 9 from the field after halftime and 8 of 15 overall, including several thunderous dunks that energized the crowd. He also had eight of Kentucky's 16 assists in his debut to help the Wildcats (1-0) stay safely ahead of the scrappy Great Danes (0-1).

Willis got Kentucky going with several career bests including scoring along with five rebounds. and each had 12 points for Kentucky, which won the first of back-to-back games.

Peter Hooley had 18 points and Evan Singletary 17 for Albany, which got within 71-59 with 3:36 remaining.

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