Kentucky’s Dominant Victory Ends Opposition Streak
In a thrilling game in Lexington, Kentucky, Otega Oweh showcased his scoring prowess by delivering 15 of his 17 points in the second half, propelling No. 14 Kentucky to an impressive 80-57 triumph over South Carolina on Saturday. Brandon Garrison, coming off the bench, added to the offensive onslaught with 15 points for the Wildcats (16-7, 5-5 SEC), who managed to bounce back after suffering defeats to No. 4 Alabama on January 18 and Arkansas on February 1.
On the other side, Collin Murray-Boyles led the scoring charge for South Carolina (10-13, 0-10) with 14 points, but his team struggled to find a rhythm offensively, enduring a seven-minute dry spell over both halves without a field goal. The Gamecocks’ shooting woes from beyond the arc only added to their struggles, as they converted only 4 of 22 attempts from 3-point range.
Kentucky received a boost with the return of Lamont Butler, who had been sidelined with a shoulder injury since January 25. His contribution of eight points and defensive presence proved vital for the Wildcats, who had been leaking points defensively in their recent outings. Despite starting guard Jaxson Robinson playing through a wrist injury sustained in practice the day before, Kentucky managed to put on a stellar defensive display.
The turning point in the game came when South Carolina cut the Kentucky lead to nine at 50-41 with 10:30 remaining in the game. However, Oweh stepped up with a crucial 3-pointer and a steal that led to a thunderous dunk, kickstarting a decisive 15-0 run that put the game out of reach for the Gamecocks.
Kentucky’s shooting woes early on were quickly rectified as they found their groove, shooting 12 for 23 for the remainder of the first half. The Wildcats closed out the half with a strong 12-1 run over the final four minutes, establishing a commanding 33-19 lead heading into the break.
Looking ahead, South Carolina will aim to turn their fortunes around when they host Mississippi on Wednesday, while Kentucky is set to face a tough test against No. 4 Tennessee on Tuesday.
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