GAME NOTES: It can only get easier for UT-Arlington and Montana State from here, or at least the battered programs hope that's the case, as the two teams square off on Friday at Worthington Arena.

The Mavericks and Bobcats were the latest victims of the No. 1 team in the country earlier this week and look to bounce back against one another here.

Texas-Arlington went into Rupp Arena on Tuesday and was handed a 92-44 throttling by top-ranked Kentucky, which ended the first half on a 40-5 run and led by as many as 50.

Lonnie McClanahan scored 10 points to lead the Mavs, who entered play off back-to-back wins over Grand Canyon and Houston Baptist. They shot 12.5 percent (4-of-32) in the first half, with their leading three scorers -- McClanahan, Jamel Outler and Johnny Hill -- going a combined 1-for-14.

McClanahan's team-high average dropped to 12.0 ppg, while Outler and Hill are sitting at 10.6 and 8.4 ppg, respectively.

Montana State suffered an even more lopsided defeat on Sunday, falling 86-28 to the Wildcats, who led by 28 points at the break and scored the first 26 points of the second half.

The Bobcats turned the ball over 21 times, shot a woeful 19.7 percent from the floor and did not have a double-digit scorer. Joseph Frenchwood IV led the way with just seven points.

Averaging just 54.0 ppg during its 0-4 start, Montana State can certainly use someone to step up on the offensive end. Marcus Colbert leads the team at just 10.0 ppg, while Danny Robison sits second at 9.3.

The Bobcats also have nearly twice as many turnovers than their opponents (82-44).

Getting annihilated by Kentucky is humbling, but starting the season 0-5 is debilitating. That's what Montana State faces Friday, and in their home opener, look for the Bobcats to put up a fight.