Devan Downey scored 21 points and South Carolina set a school record with 16 blocked shots as the Gamecocks beat Kentucky 77-59 on Wednesday night.
South Carolina (20-6, 9-4 SEC) never trailed and led by at least 18 points the whole second half to take sole possession of first place in the SEC East with three games to go in the regular season.
The Gamecocks left little doubt they are an NCAA tournament team, winning the biggest game in Columbia since the team's only SEC East title in 1997.
Downey may be South Carolina's SEC player of the year candidate, and he showed his versatility with five steals and five assists. But he received plenty of help. Dominique Archie added 12 points and four blocks and Sam Muldrow had eight points, 10 rebounds and seven blocks.
Patrick Patterson scored 28 points and had 12 rebounds to lead the Wildcats (19-9, 8-5), who find their streak of 17 straight NCAA tournaments in jeopardy.
The Gamecocks pushed Kentucky around all night long.
Leading by 23 with less than 10 minutes to go, the 5-foot-9 Downey swooped between three defenders and hit a high-arching layup to put South Carolina ahead 68-43.
Georgia 61, Vanderbilt 57: Ricky McPhee scored 14 points, including a 3-pointer that put Georgia ahead to stay with just under 2 1/2 minutes remaining, and the Bulldogs held on for their second SEC, over visiting Vanderbilt.
Georgia (11-17, 2-11) led by 10 at halftime and stretched the margin as high as 14 in the second half, only to have Vanderbilt (16-11, 5-8) make a game of it down the stretch.
Auburn 77, Mississippi 64: DeWayne Reed had 19 points and Tay Waller added 18 to lead Auburn over visiting Mississippi.
The Tigers (18-10, 7-6 SEC) started a 26-5 run with Quantez Robertson's 3-pointer as the buzzer sounded to end the first half. Then, Waller hit two 3-pointers and a foul shot in the first 57 seconds of the second half.
The Rebels (15-12, 6-7), who led by as many as nine points in the first half, were just 1-for-17 shooting to open the second half. They missed 13 in a row at one point.
Alabama 88, Arkansas 67: Alonzo Gee scored 23 points to lead Alabama over visiting Arkansas at Tuscaloosa, Ala.
The Crimson Tide (5-8, 15-12) jumped on the Razorbacks early, taking a 49-23 lead into halftime. Arkansas (1-12, 13-13) never got closer than 20 after the break.
Late Tuesday
LSU 81, Florida 75: Marcus Thornton scored 32 points and No. 18 LSU clinched a share of the Southeastern Conference championship with an against Florida.
The Tigers (24-4, 12-1) have won ninth straight overall and 12 in a row in SEC play. Garett Temple scored a career-high 21 points for the Tigers.
Mitchell added 12 points. Walter Hodge paced the Gators (21-7, 8-5) with 16 points.
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Comments » 21
ben_gali#448778 writes:
Hey Brian Herndon, it's your favorite first cousin.
halloffamebowler writes:
Where are you catscratch? Can you sat blocked shots and South Carolina.I will give you credit though,they beat the snot out of my Big Orange.
givehim6 writes:
Good news: love seeing the cats gitting pushed around. Bad news: if SC can push around a team that pushed use around, o no.
johnlg00#206211 writes:
Ouch! Definitely not a case where we want to play the old "who beats who" game! Otherwise, we might as well not show up in Columbia! And just because we have done so well against Florida in the past, it doesn't mean we can take that one for granted either. Eye of the tiger, guys; one game at a time; keep improving; you haven't done a THING yet!
UKblue02 writes:
Congrats on the win tonight, I think the real Scotty Hopson finally showed up, the only thing i saw he did wrong tonight was air ball a free throw at the end, but he did score some points this time.
murrayvol writes:
I was wrong blue. Thought the Cats had arrived and would win the East with a healthy Patterson. Dang! Wow! Ouch!
What happened to the bench that dropped 24 on us at Rupp?
UKblue02 writes:
I think they stayed in Lexington. I am at a loss for words, if you read CatScratch post that about sums it up for me also, it's not over yet wait til we go to Fla. i say another massacre there also, probably get beat by LSU this weekend.
UKblue02 writes:
P.S. i would be willing to trade Billy G to Bruce pearl, and maybe throw in a little boot!
johnlg00#206211 writes:
Well, I think you said it all with the bit about the "up and down" play. That pretty much goes for the whole league, which is why everybody says the SEC is weak this year. Who knows, the UK team that smashed UT might show up against LSU. I saw some clips the other night about that THIRTY-ONE point comeback your guys had against LSU a few years back. Channel that thought and keep hope alive(;-P)!
johnlg00#206211 writes:
Thanks, but no deal(;-D)!
lomas98 writes:
Hopefully SC got that out of their system for when we come in there next week. With the way this season is going I wouldn't be surprised to see SC lose to Vandy on Saturday. I really don't think anyone wants to win the east with the up and down play. SC looked awesome tonight and it wasn't like they were just hot from 3 point land. The post above sums it up, they out everythinged KY.
UKblue02 writes:
And to rub salt in the wound SC's coach, Darren Horn, is a Ky boy, first it was Phil Cox at Vandy always scorching us, then Chris Lofton did it to us, so it only stands to reason Scotty Hopson is the next in line to blitz us LOL
pdhuff#552644 writes:
Good summary. I said a few weeks back that no SEC team makes the Sweet 16.
Still standing by it.
We are cannon fodder.
UKblue02 writes:
I'll go a step further, if Ky Tenn and Fla don't either step up and win at least 2 of their remaining games or go deep into the SEC tourney, a REAL good chance LSU and SC might be the only hope of any SEC teams going to the NCAA tourney.
TrouserCough writes:
welcome to the volunteer fan's world (this year)
huntined#565710 writes:
WE felt the same way when MEEKS was putting a hurting on us..
johnlg00#206211 writes:
You really can't say enough about the job Darren Horn has done at SC. Most people thought SC would be bringing up the rear in the division this year and right now they look as solid as anyone. Be interested to see how they do next year without Downey, but I would be smiling if I were--God forbid!--an SC fan. Horn and Johnson at LSU should be SEC Co-coaches of the Year, IMHO.
johnlg00#206211 writes:
You're probably right. We've just gotta dig it while we can and hope things look up next year.
johnlg00#206211 writes:
Aw, it can't be THAT bad...can it? Say it ain't so! Any way you look at it, the conference hasn't exactly covered itself in glory this year.
UKblue02 writes:
Please, paint me a rosier picture if you can, i could use the cheering up LOL
UKblue02 writes:
I yelled "mercy" about 100 times and that was in the first half alone!
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