The Associated Press

LEXINGTON - Those who wondered where Kentucky's offense would come from this basketball season found out during the Wildcats' exhibition opener Tuesday night.

Four players scored in double figures, and returning starters Gerald Fitch and Erik Daniels combined for 50 points to lead the Wildcats past Nike Elite 107-89 at Rupp Arena.

Fitch, a senior guard, scored 26 points on 10-for-16 shooting, and Daniels shot 12-for-21 and finished with 24 points, 10 rebounds and five assists.

Had the game counted, Fitch, Daniels and Cliff Hawkins (17 points on 8-for-10 shooting) all would have had career scoring highs and Daniels would have had a career high in rebounds.

Fitch, who played despite the death of his grandmother Sunday in Georgia, scored 12 of Kentucky's first 16 points.

Kentucky coach Tubby Smith said he was pleased with the Wildcats' success in transition against Nike Elite, a team consisting primarily of former major-college players. The Wildcats scored 30 points off 17 Nike Elite turnovers and shot 55.4 percent.

"We came out, did some things well," Smith said. "I'm a little disappointed in our defense. We gave up too many layups, but I thought we shot the ball well. I was glad to see us make open shots, make jump shots, and that's going to be a real plus for us.

"Overall, I thought we played a good game. We've got a lot of work to do. It's a work in progress."

Nike Elite coach Bill Frieder, the former coach at Michigan and Arizona State, came away impressed.

"They got a real nice team. Every time we did something bad, they made us pay," Frieder said. "Most of these (Nike Elite) guys are out of college. That's the only thing that kept us in it."

Kentucky led 54-44 at halftime, stretched its lead to 20 points early in the second half and weathered a brief rally as Nike Elite closed to 74-64.

Kelenna Azubuike then slammed home an alley-oop pass from Daniels, igniting a 15-6 run that sealed the win. Azubuike, who started his first game at Kentucky, added 14 points and seven rebounds. Kentucky outrebounded Nike Elite 43-31.

"It felt good," Daniels said of the play. "I saw him cutting down the lane. He is the best athlete on the team, and I knew he'd catch it."

Kentucky's 107 points were more than it scored in all but one game last season, when the Wildcats finished 32-4.

Team Nike	M	FG	Att	FT	Att	R	A	F	TO	TP
Watkins	34	10	18	0	0	3	5	0	6	21
Richardson	24	0	4	2	2	1	2	2	5	2
Blackmon	20	3	6	0	0	6	1	2	1	7
Millage	21	3	9	0	0	1	1	4	1	7
Mimms	33	6	10	1	2	5	1	2	2	18
Fletcher	27	6	10	6	7	4	2	2	2	18
Cisse	27	7	9	0	0	5	0	0	0	14
Jennings	13	1	5	0	1	3	1	1	0	2
Totals	200	36	71	9	12	31	13	13	7	89

Team rebounds - 3.

Kentucky	M	FG	Att	FT	Att	R	A	F	TO	TP
Hawkins	26	8	10	0	0	2	4	2	0	17
Stockton	8	1	1	0	0	1	0	0	1	3
Fitch	29	10	16	2	2	2	2	1	1	26
Carrier	9	0	2	0	0	0	1	1	0	0
Obrzut	4	1	1	0	0	0	0	1	0	2
Cote	7	1	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	3
Perry	7	0	1	0	0	1	0	2	0	0
Daniels	29	12	21	0	0	10	5	1	3	24
Alleyne	15	2	6	2	3	5	0	1	0	6
Thomas	3	0	0	0	2	0	0	0	0	0
Azubuike	29	7	12	0	0	7	2	0	1	14
Hayes	25	3	8	3	4	11	3	1	1	9
Moss	3	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	0
LeMaster	2	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	1	0
Heissenbuttel	3	1	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	3
Totals	200	46	83	7	11	43	17	10	9	107

Team rebounds - 3.

Kentucky	54	53	-107
Team Nike	44	45	-89

3-pointers - N 8-18 (Watkins 1-3, Richardson 0-2, Blackmon 1-3, Millage 1-5, Mimms 5-5), UK 8-21 (Hawkins 1-2, Stockton 1-1, Fitch 4-7, Carrier 0-2, Cote 1-2, Perry 0-1, Daniels 0-2, Azubuike 0-2, Hayes 0-1, Heissenbuttel 1-1). Technicals - None. Officials - Boudreaux, Hampton, Nance. Attendance - 15,238.