Kentucky begins new era by topping Morehead State

Kentucky freshman Eric Bledsoe scored 24 points while starting in place of John Wall, and the fourth-ranked Wildcats opened the John Calipari era with a 75-59 home win over visiting Morehead State on Friday night.

Patrick Patterson added 20 points -- including his first career three-pointer -- to go with 12 rebounds, and Darnell Dodson scored 15 points as Kentucky (1-0) pulled away in the second half.

Kenneth Faried led Morehead State (0-1) with 17 points, but the defending Ohio Valley Conference champion couldn't keep up, even with Wall sitting on the bench.

The highly touted recruit sat out as part of an NCAA suspension for accepting improper benefits from his AAU coach. He is expected to play Monday against Miami (Ohio).

-- RIDER 88, MISSISSIPPI STATE 74: Mike Ringgold and Novar Gadson scored 21 points each, and the visiting Broncs pulled off the first big upset of the season with a win over the No. 18 Bulldogs.

Rider drove to the basket relentlessly and hit 62.5 percent of its three-point shots to knock off lifeless Mississippi State on the night the Bulldogs (0-1) received their 2008-09 Southeastern Conference championship rings.

Rider used a 15-5 run near the end of the first half to take a 47-45 halftime advantage and never relinquished it. Ryan Thompson scored 16 for Rider (1-0).

-- KANSAS 101, HOFSTRA 65: Xavier Henry hit five three-pointers and scored 27 points to set a school freshman record, and the top-ranked Jayhawks wore down the visiting Pride.

Kansas (1-0) is a favorite to win its second national title in three years and played like it against Hofstra (0-1), overcoming some occasional sloppy moments to win its 37th consecutive home opener and eighth straight season opener.

Sherron Collins added 23 points and Cole Aldrich had 11 points and eight rebounds, lifting the Jayhawks to their 42nd straight win at Allen Fieldhouse.

-- MICHIGAN STATE 97, FLORIDA GULF COAST 58: Durrell Summers scored 14 of his 17 points in the first half, and Kalin Lucas scored 21 to lead the No. 2 Spartans at home.

Michigan State (1-0) started sloppy and sluggish, but Summers's go-ahead dunk on an alley-oop sparked a 17-4 run that put the Spartans in control. Michigan State then coasted to its 33rd straight win in a home opener and 40th in a row against a nonconference team at the Breslin Center.