Tuesday night, the Kentucky Wildcats went on the road to Columbia, South Carolina, desperate to end a three-game skid, and they did just that with a 72-63 win over the Gamecocks.
It was far from a polished performance. Kentucky managed only 28 points in the first half and struggled for offensive rhythm for much of the night, but somehow South Carolina only scored 21. South Carolina battled back and even pulled even late in the second half, but Kentucky answered with a decisive 11-4 run to regain control
and secure the much-needed victory.
Denzel Aberdeen provided the spark Kentucky needed, delivering steady play when the offense stalled. Timely contributions from Mohamed Dioubate and Andrija Jelavic helped stabilize things, while the defense did enough to prevent South Carolina from fully capitalizing on Kentucky’s inconsistencies.
There is no sugarcoating it, though. Kentucky still has plenty to clean up. Missed opportunities, uneven shooting, and stretches of stagnant offense continue to be concerns. Still, wins are never easy in this league, and this one carried clear importance given the recent slide.
One notable development saw Otega Oweh finish in single digits for the first time this season, bringing his double-digit scoring streak to an end.
With three Quad I matchups looming, Kentucky will need sharper execution if it hopes to build momentum and improve its SEC Tournament positioning. It may not have been pretty, but it was exactly the kind of result Kentucky needed.
After the game, Pope recapped the game alongside Dioubate and Jelavic. Here is a recap of what they said via KSR.
