The No. 14 Kentucky Wildcats rebounded from a two-game skid in impressive fashion, routing the South Carolina Gamecocks 80-57 on Saturday at Rupp Arena.
Kentucky (16-7, 5-5 SEC) welcomed back key players Lamont Butler and Jaxson Robinson from injury and received a huge boost from sophomore Otega Oweh, who scored 15 of his game-high 17 points in the second half to put the game out of reach.
Wildcats Overcome Slow Start
After losses to No. 4 Alabama and Arkansas that dropped them to .500 in SEC play, the Wildcats came out flat against the struggling Gamecocks. South Carolina seized an early lead and was within striking distance, down 50-41, with 10:30 remaining.
But that’s when Oweh took over, hitting a clutch three-pointer and converting a steal into a dunk that ignited a decisive 15-0 Kentucky run. The spurt ballooned the lead to 20 points and effectively put the game away.
Key Players Step Up
In addition to Oweh’s outburst, the Wildcats received strong contributions from:
- Brandon Garrison – 15 pts off the bench
- Lamont Butler – 8 pts, sturdy defense in return from shoulder injury
- Jaxson Robinson – 6 pts, 4 ast, 5 reb in 20 min despite hurting wrist in practice
The across-the-board production was a welcome sight for a Kentucky team that had been overly reliant on star forward Reggie Clay during its recent slide. Clay still led the way with a solid 12-point, 8-rebound effort.
“It was great to have Lamont and Jaxson back out there,” Kentucky head coach John Calipari said. “And the way Otega stepped up in the second half, that’s the kind of spark we need from our bench.”
Gamecocks’ Woes Continue
On the other side, it was more of the same for a South Carolina squad that fell to 10-13 overall and remained winless in SEC play at 0-10. Collin Murray-Boyles led the Gamecocks with 14 points but got little help.
South Carolina endured a seven-minute stretch spanning halftime where it failed to make a field goal and shot just 4-of-22 from three-point range for the game. The offensive ineffectiveness allowed Kentucky to overcome its sluggish start.
Looking Ahead
The victory sets the stage for a marquee matchup on Tuesday when No. 4 Tennessee visits Lexington. The Volunteers currently sit atop the SEC at 9-1 in conference play.
Before that, South Carolina will attempt to secure its first SEC win when it hosts Ole Miss on Wednesday. The Rebels are just 1-9 in league action.
For Kentucky, getting back on track was crucial with the season hitting its stretch run. While still two games out of first, the Wildcats will have opportunities against Tennessee and Alabama to claw their way back into the conference title picture.
Saturday’s emphatic win steadied the ship and gives Kentucky momentum heading into the teeth of its schedule. If Oweh can provide consistent scoring punch and Butler and Robinson return to form, the Wildcats remain a threat in the wide-open SEC.
