February 4, 2002

LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) – Gerald Fitch tied his career-high with 17 points and Tayshaun Prince added 16 as Kentucky beat South Carolina 91-74 Saturday.

Fitch also had a game-high nine rebounds, and Cliff Hawkins added 15 points for the Wildcats (15-5, 5-3 Southeastern Conference), who have won two straight and six of seven.

Chuck Eidson was 6-of-10 from 3-point range and finished with 25 points to lead South Carolina (13-8, 3-5), which lost its 12th straight to Kentucky.

Eidson also had seven assists and five rebounds, and Jamel Bradley added 14 points for the Gamecocks, who lost for the fifth time in eight games.

Down 15 points at halftime, Carlos Powell scored six points and Eidson and Bradley each added 3-pointers to pull South Carolina within 52-45 with 14:32 remaining.

But an 11-1 run, keyed by a tap-in and a driving layup by Fitch, pushed the lead back to 63-46 with 11:35 to play.

Keith Bogans’ long 3-pointer gave Kentucky a 68-48 lead at the nine-minute mark. Rashaad Carruth’s 3-pointer with 7:25 to play put Kentucky up 73-51, and the Gamecocks never got back within 20 until the game’s closing moments.

Kentucky was 11-of-22 on 3s and shot 58 percent overall to South Carolina’s 44 percent. The Wildcats also outrebounded the Gamecocks 38-27 and forced 18 turnovers.

Prince’s second 3-pointer gave Kentucky an 8-4 lead with 17:35 remaining. Eidson’s 3, the Gamecocks’ third, tied the game at 12 at the 15-minute mark.

Consecutive 3-pointers by Fitch put Kentucky up 26-19 with 9:20 to play. Hawkins hit two more from beyond the arc to spark an 11-0 run and extend the Wildcats’ lead to 40-23 at the three-minute mark.

Jules Camara hit two jumpers in the paint in the final 90 seconds to give Kentucky a 46-31 halftime lead. The Wildcats made 63 percent of their shots in the half, including 7-of-11 on 3-pointers.