LIVE BLOG: Kentucky at South Carolina

FINAL: Kentucky 72, South Carolina 63

A win is a win, no matter how ugly, right? Kentucky snaps its three-game losing streak by beating South Carolina by nine, 72-63. Denzel Aberdeen and Mo Dioubate were the heroes, Denzel giving the Cats life in the first half, and Dioubate in the second.

Aberdeen finished with 19 points, Dioubate 12, Andrija Jelavic 22, and Collin Chandler 10. Chandler had another monster three with under two minutes to go to push Kentucky’s lead into comfortable territory. Otega Oweh finished with eight points on 3-13 from the field, which ended his streak of games scoring in double digits at 30.

We’ll have more from this one all night.

Kentucky’s going to win the basketball game

The Cats lead by 11 with 36.2 seconds to go, so I feel safe saying that they’re going to win this very ugly basketball game. Shoutout to Mo Dioubate and Denzel Aberdeen for saving the Cats from what would have been a very bad loss.

Here comes Captain Clutch again

Who’s ready to hit a big three when Kentucky needs it the most? Collin Chandler. Chandler just banged home a trey to put Kentucky up by seven with just under two minutes to play. Denzel Aberdeen followed it up with a pair of free throws after a foul on Elijah Strong, capping off a 7-0 run.

1:28 2H: Kentucky 66, South Carolina 57

5-0 SC run cuts UK’s lead to 2

And just like that, the lead is two after a three by South Carolina’s Mike Sharavjamts. 2:43 to play…

3:30 2H: Kentucky 59, South Carolina 52

Kentucky is doing some good things, finally getting some separation. The Cats lead by seven after a layup by Mo Dioubate. Diobuate is up to 10 points, eight in the second half. He’s helping Kentucky take advantage of South Carolina inside.

A steal by Otega Oweh led to a dunk by Collin Chandler on the Cats’ previous possession. Unfortunately, Oweh turned it over after a missed South Carolina three, Kentucky’s 15th turnover of the night. South Carolina’s Eli Ellis will be headed to the free-throw line after this timeout after a foul on Chandler.

At this point, I don’t care how ugly it is, just win.

7:40 2H: Kentucky 50, South Carolina 48

Hey, there’s Otega Oweh. Oweh did what he does best and drove the lane and scored to put Kentucky back on top 50-48. Malachi Moreno got a steal on the other end and drew a foul. He’ll be at the line after this timeout.

Tie game (again)

For the fifth time tonight, this game is tied. Meechie Johnson stole the ball (Kentucky’s 14th turnover of the game) after a blocked Otega Oweh layup, and Elijah Strong scored to even it at 48 with 8:17 to go and prompt Mark Pope to call a timeout.

Not good, folks.

11:41 2H: Kentucky 43, South Carolina 41

South Carolina tied it again, but the Cats are back on top, Mo Dioubate hitting a layup and drawing a foul. He’ll head to the line after this timeout. Almost the same sequence happened on Kentucky’s previous possession, Brandon Garrison putting back a Dioubate miss, drawing a foul, and hitting the free throw.

Hopefully, those last two buckets are the start of Kentucky taking it inside against the Gamecocks. The Cats seem determined to get hot from the outside, attempting eight threes this half and just making two. South Carolina is vulnerable in the post. Capitalize!

15:22 2H: Kentucky 36, South Carolina 32

Make it four threes by Denzel Aberdeen tonight. The latest pushed Kentucky’s lead to four after Meechie Johnson cut it to one. Only Aberdeen and Jelavic have scored this half for the Cats. Otega Oweh could change that soon. He’s headed to the free-throw line after this timeout.

Andrija Jelavic takes the lead back for Kentucky

South Carolina started the half on a 7-0 run, tying it at 28 with 18:03 to go. That wouldn’t last. Andrija Jelavic took the lead back with a three-pointer, which he followed up with a jumper off an assist by Otega Oweh. Jelavic is up to 11 points so far, his best game in recent memory.

17:01 2H: Kentucky 33, South Carolina 28

HALFTIME: Kentucky 28, South Carolina 21

The Cats fell behind early, but used a 13-2 run — and 19-6 overall — to take a 28-21 lead at the break, shooting 35.5 percent overall and 25.0 percent from three. As for the Cocks, they’re shooting abysmal splits of 25/25/50.

Denzel Aberdeen was brilliant and the key to Kentucky’s breakthrough, leading the way with 11 points on 4-5 shooting and 3-3 from three with four rebounds and two assists. Andrija Jelavic has added six points, followed by Otega Oweh with four, Collin Chandler with three and Malachi Moreno and Mo Dioubate with two apiece.

For South Carolina, Mike Sharavjamts leads the way with seven, followed by Meechie Johnson with six, Nordin Kapic with three and Kobe Knox and Grant Polk with two each.

UK is destroying USC on the glass 26-15 while winning the paint (10-6) and in the fastbreak (8-0). The Cats have also assisted on seven of their 11 made field goals — cool it on the turnovers (9), though.

It hasn’t been pretty, but a lead is a lead — and they’re in a position to end this losing streak once and for all.

3:41 1H Kentucky 22, South Carolina 18

Hey, Kentucky leads — with a 10-0 run!

Two fouls on Meechie Johnson

11:21 1H South Carolina 14, Kentucky 9

South Carolina can’t miss from three (and Kentucky can’t make)

Shane Beamer is there

There aren’t a ton of fans at Colonial Life Arena, but South Carolina football coach Shane Beamer is there. Hopefully, he gets to witness a Kentucky victory.

Starting Lineups

Same five for the Cats. South Carolina is rolling with a new starting lineup with Myles Stute out.

Tonight’s officials

No Doug Shows, Pat Adams, or Courtney Green tonight in Columbia. According to Oscar Combs, Orlandis Poole, Jeb Hartness, and Owen Shortt are tonight’s officials.

KSR Pregame Chat

KSR did not make the trip to Columbia. Jack Pilgrim and Zack Geoghegan are live on YouTube anyway to preview the Cats vs. the Gamecocks. Join them below, thanks to our friends at Parlour Pizza.

Nothing new on the SEC Availability Report

The final SEC Availability Report is out, with zero updates from last night. Myles Stute remains out for the Gamecocks. The 6’7″ senior has started 23 of 24 games for the Gamecocks this season, averaging 6.1 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 0.9 assists. He’s struggled recently in SEC play, failing to score in South Carolina’s last two games.

How to Watch, Listen

Tonight’s game is on the SEC Network with Kevin Fitzgerald and Perry Clark on the call. Clark knows a thing or two about the Gamecocks, serving as an assistant on South Carolina’s staff for seven seasons (2013-2020) before retiring. He was also a head coach at Tulane, Miami (FL), and Texas A&M-Corpus Christi.