Kentucky Defeats Struggling South Carolina in SEC Clash

Wildcats snap 3-game losing streak with 72-63 victory over Gamecocks

Published on Feb. 25, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Denzel Aberdeen scored a game-high 19 points as visiting Kentucky pulled away late to defeat struggling South Carolina 72-63 in a Southeastern Conference matchup. The Wildcats, who snapped a 3-game losing streak, also got double-digit scoring from Mouhamed Dioubate and Andrija Jelavic. South Carolina, which has lost 8 of its last 9 games, was led by Meechie Johnson's 18 points.

Why it matters

This was a critical victory for Kentucky as they look to improve their postseason positioning in the SEC. South Carolina, meanwhile, continues to struggle in conference play and faces an uphill battle to turn around their season.

The details

Kentucky dominated the offensive glass, grabbing 18 rebounds on that end and outscoring South Carolina 14-4 on second-chance points. The Wildcats' overall rebounding edge was 48-28. South Carolina tied the game on several occasions in the second half, but Kentucky pulled away late with a 9-2 run to take a 57-50 lead with under 5 minutes to play.

  • The game was played on February 25, 2026 in Columbia, South Carolina.

The players

Denzel Aberdeen

A Kentucky player who scored a game-high 19 points in the victory.

Mouhamed Dioubate

A Kentucky player who scored 10 of his 12 points in the second half.

Meechie Johnson

A South Carolina player who led the Gamecocks with 18 points and 6 assists.

Malachi Moreno

A 7-foot Kentucky player who had 8 points and a game-high 11 rebounds.

Otega Oweh

A Kentucky player whose streak of 30 consecutive games in double figures was snapped as he scored 8 points.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident (San Francisco Chronicle)

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee (Instagram)

The takeaway

This game highlighted Kentucky's ability to bounce back from a losing streak and grind out a tough road win against a struggling South Carolina team. The Wildcats' dominance on the boards and timely scoring runs proved to be the difference in this SEC clash.