Connect with us

Kentucky defense stifles South Carolina for 58-43 win

Devin Booker scored 18 points, Aaron Harrison added 13 and Kentucky came away with a 58-43 victory over South Carolina on Saturday.

Devin Booker - photo by Walter Cornett

Devin Booker – photo by Walter Cornett

Devin Booker scored 18 points, Aaron Harrison added 13 and No. 1 Kentucky matched its best start under coach John Calipari with a 58-43 victory over South Carolina on Saturday.

The Wildcats (19-0, 6-0 Southeastern Conference) pulled away with 14 straight points after the Gamecocks (10-8, 1-5) took their last lead at 24-23 with 4:31 in the opening half.

Kentucky’s lead never fell below double digits after that.

The Wildcats were 19-0 in 2010, Calipari’s first season in Kentucky when he had NBA standouts John Wall and DeMarcus Cousins. That run ended in this building with South Carolina’s 68-62 stunner. The sold out crowd was just as loud after Sindarius Thornwell’s 3-pointer put the Gamecocks out front.

Tyler Ulis started the comeback for Kentucky with a steal and basket before Booker made two fouls shots and a jam and the Wildcats were on their way.

Read full article here.

Walter Cornett, of Glendale, Kentucky, is the owner and operator of Walter’s Wildcat World. He founded WildcatWorld.com in 1998 making it one of the oldest Kentucky basketball fan sites in operation today.

On This Day in UK Basketball History

On December 5, 1953, Cawood Ledford broadcasts his first game as the radio “Voice of the Wildcats.”

 

On December 5, 1953, Cliff Hagan scored 51 points against Temple.

 

On December 5, 2009, freshman John Wall bounced back from a bout with dehydration and a queasy encounter with an IV drip to finish with 16 points -- including the clinching free throws with 4.3 seconds left -- seven assists, five rebounds and three steals to lift the Wildcats to a 68-66 victory over the North Carolina Tar Heels.  This was the first signature win of Calipari's tenure and proved his rebuilding job was well ahead of schedule.

 

Wildcats Born on This Date

More in Kentucky Basketball