The opening moments of tonight's game captured the essence of Kentucky's season in a nutshell. South Carolina came out firing, sinking four early threes, while Kentucky's Otega Oweh lost control of the ball, sending it out of bounds. This was a sign of things to come.
Coach Mark Pope's strategy of using Andrija Jelavić as a stretch four seems questionable. Jelavić struggled, missing his first three open attempts from beyond the arc.
It might be time to let him work closer to the basket, where he can be more effective. Despite this, Kentucky continued to position him on the perimeter.
For those expecting a determined start from a team fighting to keep its season alive, Kentucky's early performance was a letdown. They found themselves trailing 14-9, shooting a dismal 4-for-15 with four turnovers and a missed dunk, with 12 minutes left in the half. It wasn't until Denzel Aberdeen hit back-to-back threes, igniting a 10-0 run, that Kentucky took a 19-15 lead with just under eight minutes remaining.
The first half was a scrappy affair. Despite the disjointed play, Kentucky led 28-21 at the break. Both teams struggled offensively, combining for just 18-for-59 from the floor and 8-for-32 from three-point range.
Kentucky's nine first-half turnovers could have been costly, but South Carolina's poor shooting meant they couldn't fully capitalize. It was one of the Gamecocks' lowest-scoring first halves of the season.
Aberdeen led Kentucky with 11 points in the first half, while the rest of the team contributed just 18 points combined.
Second-half struggles and a tense finish
South Carolina started the second half as they did the first, with a 7-0 run to tie the game. Jelavić finally found his range, hitting his first three and adding a nice finish from an Oweh assist, ending with a season-high 11 points.
Kentucky's offensive woes continued, shooting just 4-for-14 in the first eight minutes of the second half. Turnovers remained a problem, with four more in the first ten minutes, allowing South Carolina to stay in the game.
The Gamecocks tied it at 48 with just over eight minutes left, prompting a timeout from Coach Pope. After the break, Oweh scored his fourth point, and Malachi Moreno's steal led to two free throws, pushing the lead to four.
Neither team could sustain momentum. Kentucky managed a brief surge, taking a 59-52 lead after a Collin Chandler dunk, marking their 18th fast-break point of the night. But could they hold on?
Collin Chandler delivers in the clutch
With 3:30 remaining, South Carolina hit two free throws, and Oweh missed a layup. Mike Sharavjamts found himself wide open for a three, cutting the lead to two.
The tension was palpable.
Malachi Moreno hit a tough inside shot, and Mo Dioubate's block on Meechie Johnson was crucial. Then, Captain Clutch Collin Chandler nailed a three, extending the lead back to seven.
Kentucky forced South Carolina into the foul game, and with 1:10 left, they finally secured the win.
It wasn't pretty, but Kentucky emerged victorious in a 72-63 battle.