Ad Disclosure
Kentucky races past struggling South Carolina to snap 2-game losing streak
By Sydney Hunte
Published:
Kentucky has had a shaky last few weeks, but it snapped a 2-game losing streak in resounding fashion on Saturday as it defeated sputtering South Carolina 80-57 at Rupp Arena.
The Wildcats, winners for just the second time in their last 6 outings after a 14-3 start, improved to 16-7 overall and 5-5 in the SEC. The Gamecocks fell to 10-13 and remained winless (0-10) in league play.
South Carolina opened up with an 11-8 lead 7 minutes into the contest, but the Wildcats used an 11-0 run — capped by a Koby Brea 3-pointer — to go up 19-11 with 8-and-a-half remaining in the frame.
The Gamecocks pulled to within 21-18 with just under 5 minutes remaining in the half, but the Wildcats scored the next 7 points to up their advantage to 28-18 with 1:56 left in the first as the visitors were held without a field goal for the final 4:55 of the half.
Despite falling behind by as many as 18 early in the second half, South Carolina eventually made it 50-41 with 10-and-a-half to go before Kentucky opened up its largest lead of the game, 73-47, with 3:50 left.
The Wildcats, who finished 48.4% from the field, enjoyed a balanced scoring day as 4 players hit double digits, led by Otega Oweh’s 17 points on 6-of-10 shooting. Brandon Garrison, who missed just 1 of his 8 shots, dropped in 15 while Amari Williams and Brea added 10 each. Lamont Butler, back in the lineup after 2 weeks out due to a shoulder injury, scored 8 points, including 4-of-5 from the line.
Collin Murray-Boyles gutted out 14 points on 5-of-13 shooting for the Gamecocks, who went an abysmal 4-of-22 from beyond the arc as part of a 32.8% day from the floor.
Kentucky remains at home for a 7 p.m. ET Tuesday tip-off against No. 4 Tennessee, who dominated Oklahoma 70-52 in Norman on Saturday. South Carolina hosts No. 25 Ole Miss on Wednesday.
Sydney is an Atlanta-based journalist who has covered everything from SEC and ACC football to MLS, the U.S. men's national soccer team and professional tennis. His work has appeared on such platforms as SB Nation, Cox Media Group and FanSided.
