Jan. 22, 2011

Recap | Final Stats | Quotes

SOUTH CAROLINA VS KENTUCKY POST GAME NOTES (1/22/11)

TEAM NOTES

• Kentucky has won its second straight against South Carolina after going winless in the three meetings prior.
• Darrin Horn is now 3-2 against the Wildcats as head coach of the Gamecocks. He is 2-1 against Kentucky at the Colonial Life Arena.
• The five blocks were the fewest of the SEC season for South Carolina, who was averaging 9.0 blocks per game in conference play.
• Both teams struggled from a distance, going a combined 6-for-31 from beyond the arc. The Gamecocks shot 3-for-18 (.167) and Kentucky went 3-for-13 (.231).
• South Carolina’s Sam Muldrow was the only player to finish with double-digits in rebounding, pulling down 13 boards.
• Trailing 53-35 with 11:15 remaining in the game, South Carolina closed out strong with a 21-8 run over the next 10:00 to pull within five (61-56) before Kentucky iced the game with free throws.
• Kentucky was the fourth ranked opponent of the season for South Carolina, who previously played No. 2 Michigan State, No. 2 Ohio State and No. 22 Vanderbilt.
• Both teams hold identical 3-2 records in the SEC and are tied for second in the SEC East.
• In a match between the top two rebounding teams in the SEC, South Carolina won the rebounding margin 37-34. The Wildcats only registered eight offensive boards to Carolina’s 21 defensive boards.

INDIVIDUAL NOTES

#23 Bruce Ellington
• Only played 24 minutes after getting into early foul trouble – his fewest minutes played in SEC competition this season.

#44 Sam Muldrow
• Collected three blocks and is now just 16 blocks away from surpassing Brandon Wallace (249) for first place in the Gamecock history books. Muldrow currently has 234 blocks for his career.
• Had his fifth double-double of the season and sixth of his career. It also marked his third career double-double against SEC opposition (Georgia – January 30, 2010; Vanderbilt – January 8, 2011).
• Tied his career high with 23 points. He previously scored 23 points against Arkansas (Feb. 17, 2010). His previous high this season was 20 points, also against the Razorbacks, in Carolina’s last game on Jan. 19, 2011.
• Was the only player in the game to hit double-digits in rebounding, finishing with 13 boards.
• Hit double figures in the both half, scoring 12 points on 4-for-7 shooting (1-for-1 from 3; 3-for-4 from FT) in the first and 11 points on 3-for-5 shooting (5-for-6 FT) in the second.
• Went to the free throw line a career high 10 times, in the process converting a career-high of eight (8-for-10; .800).

#2 Brian Richardson
• Tied his career high with two steals in the contest.
• Also tied his career high with one block.

#33 R.J. Slawson
• Registered his third block of the season after receiving extended playing time in the first half.

#5 Eric Smith
• Played a career high 20 minutes, scoring five points and going a perfect 3-for-3 from the charity stripe.

UP NEXT

• South Carolina hosts Auburn next Saturday at 1:30 p.m. That game will air on the SEC Network from Colonial Life Arena.