Kentucky-South Carolina Postgame Notes

KENTUCKY MEN’S BASKETBALL POSTGAME NOTES
COLONIAL LIFE ARENA | COLUMBIA, S.C.
FEBRUARY 24, 2026
ATTENDANCE: 11,318

Final Score: Kentucky 72, South Carolina 63

Team Records and Series Notes

Kentucky is 18-10 overall, 9-6 in the Southeastern Conference
South Carolina is 12-16 overall, 3-12 in the SEC.
Kentucky leads the series 56-15, including 22-10 in Columbia.
Next for Kentucky: the Wildcats return home to play host to Vanderbilt on Saturday at 2 p.m. and will be televised on ESPN.

Team Notes

In limiting South Carolina to 63 points, Kentucky is now 9-0 this season – 17-0 under Coach Mark Pope – when keeping the opponent to 66 points or fewer.
Kentucky held South Carolina to 36.8 percent from the field (21 of 57). UK is 10-0 this season when keeping the opponent under 40 percent.
South Carolina had only nine assists and the Wildcats are 10-0 this season when the opponent has 11 or fewer assists.
Kentucky had a 13-0 run in the first half, largest of the season against an SEC opponent. The Wildcats are 6-0 this season in games with a run of 13 points or more.
Kentucky won the rebounding battle, 48-28, the largest margin this season against an SEC opponent. The Cats are 14-4 on the season when outrebounding the opponent.
- The 18-5 edge in offensive rebounds created a 14-4 advantage in second-chance points.
- The 18 offensive rebounds tied for the most in a game this season, matching the effort against Loyola (MD)
The rebounding helped UK create a 34-20 advantage in points in the paint and a decisive 26-7 mark in fast-break points.
Kentucky is now 12-1 this season when leading at halftime, 33-2 under Pope when leading at the intermission.

Player Notes

Denzel Aberdeen led all scorers with 19 points, including a season-high-tying four 3-pointers.
- It is his 20^th double-figure game of the season and 11^th in the last 13 games.
- It was his sixth game with three or more made 3s this season.
- He also led the Wildcats in assists with five.
Mouhamed Dioubate muscled his way to 12 points, his seventh double-figure game of the season.
- He led the Wildcats with a plus/minus of +16.
- UK is 5-0 this season when Dioubate scores at least 12 points.
Andrija Jelavic tied his season high with 11 points, his fourth double-figure game of the season.
- UK is 6-0 this season when he scores at least eight points.
Collin Chandler put home 10 points, including a crucial 3-pointer with 1:51 remaining that gave Kentucky a 64-57 cushion.
Malachi Moreno garnered eight points, a game-high 11 rebounds and blocked two shots.
- It is the third time he has snagged a season-high 11 rebounds.
Otega Oweh had eight points, ending his career-long 30-game streak of double-digit scoring.
- He balanced his offensive night with a strong defensive showing, tying his season high for steals with five thefts.
Kentucky is currently missing Jayden Quaintance, Kam Williams and Jaland Lowe because of injury. Lowe is out for the season.
- By the time Kentucky reaches the end of the regular season, during his two years at UK, Coach Mark Pope will have played only five of 52 games against high-major opponents (9.6%) with a full roster.

In the First Half

Kentucky started the combination of Denzel Aberdeen, Collin Chandler, Otega Oweh, Andrija Jelavic and Malachi Moreno for the ninth consecutive game.
UK’s first substitutions were Brandon Garrison and Jasper Johnson at 16:04.
South Carolina hit four 3-pointers in jumping to an early 12-5 lead.
Trailing 15-9, Kentucky put together a 13-0 run – UK’s longest streak this season against an SEC opponent – is grabbing a 22-15 lead.
Kentucky went to halftime ahead 28-21.
- Aberdeen, who hit three consecutive 3-pointers during the 13-0 run, led the Wildcats in the first half with 11 points.
- This is the second-fewest points UK has allowed the Gamecocks in the first half of a game played in Columbia. UK allowed 20 vs. USC in Columbia in 1999.

In the Second Half

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