Kentucky MBB punked at home by South Carolina, 71-68

What else can you say?

On Tuesday night in Rupp Arena, Kentucky men’s basketball (10-6; 1-3 SEC) was punked and humiliated by the South Carolina Gamecocks (8-8; 1-2 SEC), 71-68, in what was the most demoralizing loss of the season for the Wildcats. This defeat came shortly after the ‘Cats suffered a 78-52 blowout loss to Alabama over the weekend. UK started Tuesday night sluggish and didn’t pick it up until the game was all but over. South Carolina hit an uncharacteristic 11-20 from beyond the arc compared to just 3-10 for the ‘Cats.

Kentucky managed to outshoot South Carolina 51 percent to 48 percent and even won the turnover battle by nine, but making eight fewer three-pointers spelled doom. Oscar Tshiebwe led the way for UK with 19 points and 12 rebounds while CJ Fredrick and Antonio Reeves combined for 27 points.

From the opening tip, Kentucky came out with the same energy it did a few days ago against the Crimson Tide. At the first media timeout, the ‘Cats were already down double-digits as South Carolina landed the first punch. The Gamecocks would push the lead to 15 points, 21-6, not even seven minutes into the night as UK showed little signs of life.

Kentucky would wake up down the stretch of the opening half with a Fredrick jumper that cut South Carolina’s advantage down to just four, but the Gamecock’s ballooned its lead once again from there. At the half, UK trailed 42-32 with the Gamecocks putting up as many first-half points as they did all game in their most recent loss to Tennessee.

Star freshman Cason Wallace, who started the game and played eight minutes for Kentucky, was eventually listed as questionable for the remainder of the night with a lower back injury, per UK Athletics, and did return to the bench after halftime. Senior forward Jacob Toppin did not suit up due to a shoulder injury.

Out of the intermission, the ‘Cats quickly trimmed the Carolina lead to just six points only to have it wiped right away. SC did an impressive job holding onto the advantage, never allowing Kentucky to get within five points throughout the first 10 minutes of the second half.

UK’s breakthrough came with roughly seven minutes left, making it just a three-point deficit with 6:47 left in regulation. But eight quick points from South Carolina made it an 11-point lead again as Kentucky was forced to call a timeout at the under-four-minute mark. Then, the ‘Cats finally hit a groove.

A Reeves three cut it to eight, a second-chance layup from Daimion Collins made it six, Sahvir Wheeler trimmed it to four with a layup of his own, and Fredrick set the Rupp Arena crowd on fire with a three that made it a one-point contest with 51 seconds left. The good vibes didn’t last though. South Carolina hit a pair of free throws before Wheeler turned it over on the ensuing possession.

Kentucky would get one more chance to tie the score and force overtime but missed a couple of triples in the closing moments. As a result, South Carolina locked up its biggest win of the season by a final score of 71-68 as UK drops its second straight.