LEXINGTON, Ky. (Interstat) — Two teams coming off season-opening victories will meet Friday night when the Valparaiso Beacons face the Kentucky Wildcats at Rupp Arena.

Valparaiso (1-0) held on for a 66-63 win over Eastern Illinois on Tuesday. Isaiah Barnes led the way with a double-double, scoring 15 points and grabbing 10 rebounds. JT Pettigrew added 13 points and Rakim Chaney scored 12 for the Beacons.

Kentucky (1-0), the top-ranked team in the nation, cruised to a 77-51 victory over Nicholls State in its opener. Collin Chandler paced the Wildcats with 15 points and four assists, while Denzel Aberdeen contributed 10 points and a team-high six assists. Mouhamed Dioubate added seven points and seven rebounds.

The game marks the start of a challenging stretch for Valparaiso, which will face Marquette and Northwestern in December. For Kentucky, it is the final home contest before a highly anticipated rivalry game at Louisville on Nov. 11.

Friday’s matchup will tip off at 7 p.m. EST and be broadcast on the SEC Network.