Feb. 25, 2009

Recap | Final Stats | Quotes | AP Photo Gallery

–The Gamecocks’ 18-point margin of victory was the largest for South Carolina in the 50-game series with Kentucky. The previous biggest Carolina win over the Wildcats came in the 2002 SEC Tournament in Atlanta, Ga., when South Carolina notched a 70-57 victory.

–Tonight’s win gives South Carolina sole possession of first place in the SEC East at 9-4 and guarantees a winning league record for the first time since 1998 and only the third time overall since joining the SEC in 1992.

–South Carolina sweeps Kentucky in the regular season for only the second time ever. The previous season sweep of the Wildcats came in the 1997 season when Carolina went 15-1 in league play and won the SEC regular-season title.

–South Carolina’s 46-28 lead at the half was the largest for the Gamecocks in an SEC game this season. Previously, the Gamecocks led by 16 against Georgia on Feb. 7. Similarly, it was the largest halftime deficit for Kentucky in league play; their previous biggest deficit was 13 points against Mississippi State on Feb. 3.

–The Gamecocks set a school record with 16 blocks in the game; in fact, Carolina had eight in the first half alone which matched the existing season high. The previous record was 15 against Alaska-Anchorage in the Great Alaska Shootout on Nov. 24, 2005.

–South Carolina forced Kentucky into 20 turnovers on the night. The Gamecocks are 13-2 this season when forcing an opponent into 20 or more giveaways (losses vs. Tennessee and Clemson). Carolina scored 17 points off Wildcat turnovers in the game; Kentucky had only three points off 12 Gamecock giveaways.

–Sam Muldrow had a career-high seven blocks in the game; only seven other times in school history has a Gamecock recorded more. Danny Traylor recorded eight on three occasions, and had nine twice. Jeff Roulston had nine against Tennessee in 1989, and Brandon Wallace had eight against College of Charleston in 2006. Muldrow also had eight points and 10 rebounds in the contest.

–Devan Downey continued his mastery of Kentucky with a 21-point, five-steal, five-assist effort in tonight’s win. In the earlier meeting in Lexington, Downey had 23 points, four assists and four steals. Downey has scored 77 total points (19.3 average) in four career meeting with the Wildcats.

–Dominique Archie set a season high and equaled a career-best with four blocks in the contest. Archie also added 12 points and four rebounds.