LEXINGTON, Ky. (Interstat) — The Kentucky Wildcats look to rebound from their first loss of the season when they host the Eastern Illinois Panthers in a non-conference men’s basketball game Friday at Rupp Arena.

Kentucky (2-1) is coming off a 96-88 road loss to rival Louisville on Tuesday. In that game, guard Denzel Aberdeen led the Wildcats with 26 points, while Collin Chandler added 12. The defeat followed a pair of dominant home victories to open the season, including a 107-59 win over Valparaiso.

Eastern Illinois (1-2) also seeks to bounce back from a loss, having fallen 78-58 at Notre Dame on Tuesday. Kooper Jacobi scored 20 points for the Panthers in the defeat, and Preston Turner added 14. The Panthers’ lone win this season was a 65-57 home victory over Nicholls State on Nov. 7.

The matchup presents a stark contrast in scheduling difficulty. Following this game, Kentucky prepares for a high-profile showdown with Michigan State in New York, while Eastern Illinois continues a challenging road stretch that includes a visit to Purdue later this month.

Friday’s contest tips off at 7 p.m. EST.