Lexington, KY -- (Sports Network) - Jodie Meeks scored a game-high 19 points to lead the Kentucky Wildcats to a 70-60 win over the UNLV Runnin' Rebels in the first round of the 72nd NIT at Memorial Coliseum.

Meeks converted all six of his free-throw attempts, but just 3-of-9 behind the three-point line for the fourth-seeded Wildcats (21-13), while Patrick Patterson and Perry Stevenson logged 16 and 10 points, respectively. Ramon Harris tacked on a game-high 10 rebounds to go along with six points and four assists.

The fifth-seeded Rebels (21-11) were paced by Wink Adams with 14 points, while Joe Darger added 11 points and Mareceo Rutledge 10 off the bench in the setback.

UNLV started off strong, leading by as many as seven points in the first half, but then the team's 3-of-17 performance behind the three-point line and 1-of-6 at the charity stripe caught up to them and they found themselves behind by a dozen at the break, 36-24.

In the second half the Rebels closed the gap late, but with 52.2 percent accuracy from the field the hosts ran off with the 10-point win.

With a 36-28 advantage on the glass, Kentucky managed to outscore the visitors in the paint, 30-16, on the night.

The Wildcats advance to the second round of the tournament and will face the winner of the Creighton/Bowling Green contest.