More perspective on South Carolina's big win over Kentucky
South Carolina made a little bit of history last night.
The Gamecocks, days removed from one of the worst losses in program history–a 43-point drubbing by Tennessee–went up to Rupp as double-digit underdogs and pulled off a three-point upset over Kentucky.
South Carolina never trailed. And, when diving into the history of the matchup, it makes last night’s victory even more impressive.
•Subscribe to Gamecock Central until Aug. 31 for only $29.99
For starters, South Carolina has been in the SEC over 30 seasons now with Rupp typically being a house of horrors.
Before Tuesday night, the Gamecocks were a paltry 2-27 playing Kentucky in Lexington and hadn’t won there in their last eight tries. The average margin of defeat was 24.4 points and the slimmest margin of defeat was 15 points.
South Carolina’s last win at Rupp came Jan. 31, 2009. The Gamecocks went up there and won 78-77 thanks to 47 combined points from Zam Fredrick and Devan Downey.
Mike Holmes tackled on 15 more, Sam Muldrow had 12 rebounds and Dominique Archie rounded out the starting five.
So for South Carolina to go up to Rupp, snap not only a losing streak in that building but Kentucky’s 28-game home winning streak was huge.
•Become a NIL supporter of your South Carolina Gamecocks!
Lamont Paris became just the third coach in program history to win a game at Rupp. Darin Horn did it that 2009 year, the same year South Carolina won 21 games and almost went to the NCAA Tournament.
Eddie Fogler did it in 1997, ruining senior night for the Wildcats as South Carolina clinched the SEC Championship outright.
The 68 points allowed were the fourth-fewest South Carolina allowed to Kentucky in series history. The only others lower were 66 in that 1997 win then 65 and 62 in losses.
Meechie Johnson also put on a game for the record books. He finished with a career-high 26 points while going 6-for-10 from three and dishing six assists.
Top 10
- 1Breaking
Deion Sanders violations
Coach Prime caught by NCAA
- 2
Pat Coogan
Notre Dame center entering Transfer Portal
- 3New
Top 25 QBs in CFB
Looking ahead to 2025 season
- 4
2025 Heisman Odds
The early front-runners are in
- 5Trending
Bill Belichick signs
UNC coach inks deal
Get the On3 Top 10 to your inbox every morning
By clicking "Subscribe to Newsletter", I agree to On3's Privacy Notice, Terms, and use of my personal information described therein.
He becomes the first South Carolina player since 2010–when Sports Reference’s database started–to score at least 25 points, hit at least six threes and finish with six assists in a single game.
• Subscribe (for free) to the Gamecock Central YouTube page!
Johnson is just the sixth Gamecock to score at least 26 points against the Wildcats since 2005. Sindarius Thornwell, Chris Silva, Jermaine Coiusnard, Tre Kelley and Downey were the only other ones.
Kelley, Downey and Thornwell were the only ones to do it at Rupp.
GG Jackson finished with 16 points as a freshman in his first game ever at Rupp Arena. It’s the most points by a South Carolina freshman against the Wildcats since Michael Carerra scored 25. Damien Leonard was the only other true freshman to do it, putting up 19 points.
• Get South Carolina basketball news and analysis via email
Jermaine Couisnard had 26 points in his first game against Kentucky but he was a redshirt freshman that season.
South Carolina shot 55 percent from three on 20 attempts. It’s just the seventh time since 2010 the Gamecocks shot at least 55 percent from deep on at least 20 attempts. The last time it happened was 2019 against Texas A&M.
The Gamecocks (8-8, 1-2) snapped a two-game skid this season and gave South Carolina its first SEC win of the Lamont Paris era.
They’ll have to bottle that up and continue building, returning home Saturday for another league tilt against Texas A&M. Tip-off is scheduled for 6 p.m. on the SEC Network.
