Feb. 5, 2000
By TIM WHITMIRE
AP Sports Writer
LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) – Timely defensive pressure and 3-pointers meant anotherwin for 14th-ranked Kentucky.
Jamaal Magloire scored 23 points and Keith Bogans 21 on Saturday as theWildcats pulled away from South Carolina in the second half for a 76-63victory.
Four days after reasserting Southeastern Conference supremacy with a13-point win over No. 6 Tennessee, Kentucky (17-5, 7-1) came out tentativeagainst the Gamecocks’ zone defense, committing seven first-half turnovers.
However, with Bogans able to freelance against the zone and Kentuckyanswering 11 3-pointers by South Carolina (9-13, 1-8) with eight, the Wildcatstook control in the second half.
“Our poise in clutch situations is what has stuck out this year,” coachTubby Smith said. “We have been making the right choice in big situations, andthat is good to see out of a young team. We were a little flat today. A lot ofthat was due to the Carolina zone, but offensively we showed poise and patiencewhen it counted.”
It was the 13th win in 14 games for Kentucky and the first without reserveforward-center Jules Camara, who is out for up to four weeks with a footinjury. Most of Camara’s playing time was picked up by freshman Marvin Stone,who scored four points and grabbed three rebounds, but turned the ball overthree times.
Desmond Allison scored 11 points and Tayshaun Prince 10 for the Wildcats,while Magloire led the team with 10 rebounds.
The Gamecocks lost their eighth straight. They were led by Jamel Bradley’sfour 3-pointers and 14 points. Marius Petravicius and Chuck Eidson each scored13.
The game featured 10 lead changes and six ties. The Gamecocks trailed only65-60 with 5:26 remaining, but were outscored 11-3 by the Wildcats down thestretch.
“Our first 35 minutes were very good,” South Carolina coach Eddie Foglersaid. “With five minutes to go, we were still in the game, with the ball.”
Fogler’s team had no answer for Magloire, who was in and out of foul troubleand played only 27 minutes. The senior center scored eight of Kentucky’s first15 points and finished 6-of-7 from the field and 11-of-11 from the free-throwline.
“Magloire gives them a presence inside that nobody else in the SoutheasternConference has,” Fogler said. “He makes things extremely difficult.”
Though South Carolina hung close, Kentucky point guard Saul Smith targeted a25-second span early in the second half as the Gamecocks’ undoing.
With the score tied at 39 and 15:32 remaining, the Wildcats went ahead forgood on a pair of Magloire free throws.
On South Carolina’s subsequent inbounds pass, Smith tipped the ball toStone, who slammed it home.
Then, as South Carolina tried to bring the ball upcourt, Bogans stole theball and charged in for a dunk and a 45-39 lead with 15:15 left.
“You get one turnover or steal and you convert, the crowd jumps in there,”Saul Smith said. “They pick up their intensity and we have to pick up ours,because the crowd’s into it now, because we play with them.”
“We use the press at a time when we can get them rattled a bit,” TubbySmith said. “We made them play faster than they wanted and that allowed us toget those 10 turnovers in the second half.”
Though South Carolina closed within 47-46 with 12:28 left, Kentuckyresponded with consecutive 3-pointers by J.P. Blevins to build its lead back to53-48 with 11:30 to go.
Kentucky made 16 of 18 free throws overall and won the rebounding battle33-28.
The most spectacular play of the game belonged to Bogans. As time ran downin the first half with Kentucky trailing 35-33, Stone rebounded DamienKinloch’s missed layup and threw an outlet pass to Bogans, who caught the ballnear halfcourt. After looking at the clock and seeing there were 3 secondsleft, Bogans charged toward the basket and threw down a hard slam, tying thescore at the break.
