South Carolina Gamecocks fall to No. 14 Kentucky Wildcats in 80-57 defeat

The South Carolina Gamecocks suffered a significant loss to the No. 14 Kentucky Wildcats, with a final score of 80-57. Despite an early lead, the Gamecocks struggled offensively, allowing the Wildcats to dominate in bench points and points in the paint. This defeat marks South Carolina's tenth consecutive SEC loss, highlighting ongoing challenges in their season.

Feb 8, 2025; Lexington, Kentucky, USA; South Carolina Gamecocks forward Collin Murray-Boyles (30) shoots the ball during the first half against the Kentucky Wildcats at Rupp Arena at Central Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Jordan Prather-Imagn Images
Feb 8, 2025; Lexington, Kentucky, USA; South Carolina Gamecocks forward Collin Murray-Boyles (30) shoots the ball during the first half against the Kentucky Wildcats at Rupp Arena at Central Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Jordan Prather-Imagn Images | Jordan Prather-Imagn Images

The South Carolina Gamecocks fell to the 14th-ranked Kentucky Wildcats with a final score of 80-57. It was a tough afternoon for the Gamecocks, who struggled offensively, shooting just 32.8% from the field and an even more concerning 18.2% from beyond the arc. Despite a solid effort on the boards, with 35 total rebounds, South Carolina couldn’t keep up with Kentucky’s offensive firepower.

Collin Murray-Boyles led the Gamecocks with 14 points, adding eight rebounds and a steal in his effort to keep the team competitive. Josh Wright also contributed 12 points, while B.J. Thomas put up 11 points despite shooting just 3-12 from the field. Nick Pringle was a presence in the paint, scoring nine points and grabbing nine rebounds. However, South Carolina’s offense lacked efficiency, as multiple players struggled with their shooting, leading to a difficult afternoon.

Off the bench, the Gamecocks failed to find much production, with no player scoring more than four points. The team’s inability to knock down shots, especially from three-point range, made it hard to keep pace with Kentucky. Additionally, the Gamecocks recorded only seven assists as a team, highlighting the offensive struggles in moving the ball effectively against a tough Wildcats defense.

Overall, this loss drops South Carolina to 10-13 on the season, and they will need to regroup quickly to get back on track. While they showed fight on the boards, the shooting woes and lack of offensive rhythm were too much to overcome against a strong Kentucky team.

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