Gamecocks Face Kentucky Tuesday at Colonial Life Arena

COLUMBIA, S.C. – South Carolina (12-15, 3-11 SEC) remains home and welcomes Kentucky (17-10, 8-6 SEC) to Colonial Life Arena on Tuesday night. Tip is set for 7 p.m. (ET) with doors opening 1 hour prior.

Kevin Fitzgerald (pxp) and former Gamecock assistant Perry Clark (analyst) are on the call for the SEC Network broadcast.

The first 1,200 students in The Cockpit will receive a special edition black, long sleeve t-shirt. There will also be free pizza or the first 250 students. For more information on claiming student tickets, click here.

The Gamecocks were impressive with a balanced offensive effort last time out in a 97-89 victory over Mississippi State last Saturday. Meechie Johnson and Mike Sharavjamts each scored a game-high 21 points (career high for Sharavjamts). Kobe Knox (17), Elijah Strong (16) and Eli Ellis (13) were also in double-figures for the home team. Carolina shot 55.4% from the floor, 50% from 3 and 85.2% from the free throw line. The Gamecocks assisted on 20 of the team’s 31 made field goals with just six turnovers. Johnson had a career-high nine assists as he, Sharavjamts (5) and Ellis (3) combined for 17 assists total to just three turnovers. The 97 points scored by Carolina were the most in the Lamont Paris era over the last four seasons and were the fourth-most for the team all-time in an SEC game (have scored 90 or more 18 times now since joining the league in 1991-92).

Johnson now has 10, 20-point games this season. Eight of those have come in SEC action, which is T-3^rd most in the conference behind only Darius Acuff Jr. (Arkansas) and Otega Oweh (Kentucky). The Cleveland, Ohio native and three-year starter for Carolina also had 10, 20-point games in the 2023-24 NCAA Tournament season en route to earning Second Team All-SEC honors. He’s had double-figures in 13-straight games with three consecutive 20-point performances dating back to a road game at Alabama on Feb. 14.

In 14 SEC contests this season, Johnson is averaging 19.9 points, 4.9 assists, 3.0 rebounds and 1.5 steals per game. He is one of just four players in the SEC to rank in the top-10 in scoring and top-five in assists per game in SEC play.  He is also one of just four players in the SEC this season averaging at least 17.0 points, 4.0 assists, 3.0 rebounds and 1.0 steals per game.

Thru 27 games, Carolina remains the SEC leader (No. 6 nationally) at the free throw line, shooting 79.0% (463-of-586) as a team. Mike Sharavjamts’ career-best 88.9% clip leads the team. The Gamecocks also rank in the top-five in the SEC (No. 35 nationally) in turnovers per game (9.8) and 3-point defense (31.7%).

The Wildcats have lost their last three games (two on the road) after winning three-straight from Jan. 31 to Feb. 7, a stretch that included a 85-77 road win at then No. 15/16 Arkansas and a home win over then No. 25/RV Tennessee. Kentucky is No. 3 in the league in scoring defense (72.8 ppg). They average 81.2 points per game and rebound it well, averaging 38.1 boards per contest. Amongst the SEC, the Wildcats are No. 3 in fastbreak points (16.3), No. 4 in field goal percentage defense (41.8%) and No. 5 in bench points per game (27.1). They are 3-5 in true road games this season with wins over the Razorbacks, Vols and at LSU back on Jan. 14.

Preseason SEC Player of the Year Otega Oweh is the team’s leading scorer, averaging 17.8 points per game. That scoring average has ticked up to 21.2 points per game in league action where Oweh has 11, 20-point games in 14 outings so far. Florida transfer Denzel Aberdeen (12.7) and Collin Chandler (10.0) also average double-figures for UK. Chandler makes 2.1 3s per game and is one of the best shooters in the conference with a 42.9% (57-of-133) clip from behind the arc. Freshman Malachi Moreno leads the team in rebounds (6.5) and blocks (1.7) per game. His 45 total blocks on the year are No. 3 in the SEC. Oweh averages 1.7 steals per contest (No. 6 in the SEC).

In the last meeting between the two schools at Colonial Life Arena, Carolina defeated the No. 6/6 Wildcats 79-62 behind 20 points from All-SEC guard Ta’Lon Cooper. Per Eilas, it was the Gamecocks’ largest margin of victory ever over a top-10 team.

GAME INFORMATION
TIME: 7 p.m. (ET)
VENUE: Colonial Life Arena
TV: SEC Network
    PLAY-BY-PLAY: Kevin Fitzgerald
    ANALYST: Perry Clark
RADIO: Gamecock Radio Network 
IN COLUMBIA: 107.5 The Game
   PLAY-BY-PLAY: Derek Scott
 ANALYST: Casey Manning
SIRIUSXM: 106 or 190 | SXM APP: 960
WATCH: espn.com/watch/
LIVE STATS: StatBroadcast
SERIES: Wildcats lead, 55-15
IN COLUMBIA: Wildcats lead, 21-10
SERIES TREND: Teams have split the eight matchups, with the Gamecocks winning three at Colonial Life Arena.
LAST MEETING: 80-57 Wildcat victory at Rupp Arena last season on Feb. 8, 2025. Otega Oweh led all scorers with 17 points.

NUMBERS OF NOTE
2 – Per the ESPN Basketball Power Index for the 2025-26 season, South Carolina’s remaining strength of schedule is No. 2 in the nation. 12 of the 16 SEC teams make up the top-20 in the country with four Big Ten schools, two programs from the Big 12, Duke from the ACC and Seton Hall from the Big East also in the top-20
16-2 – The Gamecocks have a 16-2 record under Lamont Paris when shooting 50.0% or higher. One of the losses came at Mizzou in Lamont Paris’ first season in 2023 and the other was Tuesday at Texas.
21-2 – The Gamecocks are 21-2 record under Paris when scoring 80 or more points. Both losses came in OT at home this season to Virginia Tech (Dec. 2) and LSU (Jan. 31).
47-10 – The Gamecocks are 47-10 in 4 seasons under Paris when holding teams below 70 points (.825 win %).
29-3 – Carolina is 29-3 under Paris last season when holding its opponents below 40% shooting from the floor. The team was 7-0 last season and is 5-0 this season when accomplishing the defensive feat.
8-0  – The Gamecocks are 8-0 all-time under Paris when the team shoots 50.0% or higher from behind the arc. Carolina shot 57.1% (12-of-21) from 3 in a road win at LSU (Jan. 6). It was the highest 3-pt % for the team in the Paris era.
8-0 – The team is also 8-0 all-time under Paris when dishing out 20 or more assists.  Five of those seven games came in the historic 2023-24 season with a high of 25 helpers in the win at Georgia on Feb. 3, 2024. Carolina dished out 24 assists on 31 made field goals in the 91-72, season-opening win against NC A&T (Nov. 4).
12-0 – The Gamecocks are 12-0 (4-0 this season) under Paris when the team makes 30 or more FGs. Carolina made 34 field goals (team high in the Paris era), shooting 57.6% in an 87-58 victory over Radford on Nov. 18.
4-0 – The Gamecocks are 4-0 this season when the bench scores 40 or more points.
18-3 – Carolina is 18-3 over the last three seasons when Myles Stute scores 10 or more points (only losses at No. 16/16 Indiana last season, vs. No. 11/11 Vanderbilt on Jan. 3 and at Texas A&M on Jan. 24).
11-3 – The Gamecocks are 11-3 over the last three seasons when Stute makes three or more 3s (only losses at No. 16/16 Indiana last season, vs. No. 11/11 Vanderbilt on Jan. 3 and at Texas A&M on Jan. 24).
499 – Meechie Johnson (231) and Stute (268) have combined to make 497 3s in their college careers. Stute’s 268 career 3s are 22nd amongst active career leaders in Division I. Johnson’s 231 3s rank 47th. The Gamecocks are one of 11 teams in NCAA Division I to have multiple players with 200+ career made 3s (Alabama, Gonzaga, Indiana, Louisville, Oklahoma, Purdue, San Diego, Texas A&M, Vermont & West Virginia the others).
549 – Stute (156), Johnson (143), transfers Mike Sharavjamts (126) and Kobe Knox (124) have combined to play 549 games at the NCAA Division I level bringing a wealth of experience to the Gamecocks’ backcourt. Stute (6th) and Johnson (T-22nd) both rank inside the top-25 on the active games played list in Division I.
1,000 – Stute scored his 1,000th career point with a 3-pointer early in the game vs. Radford (Nov. 18).
1,000 – Knox scored his 1,000th career point with a pair of free throws late in the game vs. LSU (Jan. 31).
21 – Knox matched his career-high with 21 points at Alabama (Feb. 14). He last scored 21 as a redshirt freshman at Grand Canyon vs. Sam Houston State in the WAC Tournament on March 10, 2023.
48 – Johnson scored his 1,000th career point at South Carolina with his final bucket in a victory over The Citadel (Dec. 13) earlier this season. He became the 48th  Gamecock to join the 1,000-career point club (first since former All-SEC guard AJ Lawson from 2018-21).
25 – Johnson became the 25th different player for South Carolina since the 2004-05 season to record a 30-point game when he had a career-high 33 points vs. Southern Miss on Nov. 9. Johnson, Brenton Williams (2014) and Devan Downey (2009) are the only Gamecocks to have a 30-point game with seven or more made 3s.
58 – Johnson is the 58th player (12th this season) in the SEC to hit seven or more 3s in a game over the last five seasons with his seven made 3s against Southern Miss. Stute is also on that list, making seven 3s twice while at Vanderbilt in games at Temple (11/15/22) and at Texas A&M (1/28/23).
85% – Johnson made a career-high 13 free throws on a career-high 15 attempts in a win over OU (Jan. 20). He became the first Gamecock since Sindarius Thornwell (14-of-15 at UK on 1/21/17) to shoot 85% or better at the line in an SEC game on at least 15 attempts.
100% – Johnson was 10-for-10 (100%) at the line at Texas A&M (Jan. 24). He became the fifth Gamecock since 2004-05 (first since Gregory “GG” Jackson II went 11-for-11 at Miss. St. on 2/28/23) to make 10 or more free throws without a miss in an SEC game.
2017 – Johnson had a career-high 35 points at Texas on Feb. 3. He was an efficient 12-of-21 (57.1%) from the floor. Johnson became the first Gamecock since Sindarius Thornwell in 2017 to have multiple 30-point games in the same season. It’s the 27th time (22nd in SEC action) a Gamecock has had a 30-point game since 2004-25.
10 – Johnson has 10, 20-point games this season. He’s scored 20 or more 24 times in college, all at South Carolina. He had a career-best 10, 20-point games in 2023-24.
30 – Elijah Strong became the 26th different player (21st in SEC action) for SC since 2004-05 to have a 30-burger when he scored 30 points (18 in the first half) in just 25 minutes in a road win at LSU on Jan. 6. Strong was 10-for-15 (66.7%) from the floor and a perfect 4-of-4 from 3 and 6-of-6 at the free throw line.
9 & 5 – Strong became just the 9th player in D1 this season to have a 30-point game in 25 minutes or less (5 of those 8 previous 30-burgers were against non-D1 opponents). He also became just the 5th player since 2004-05 to do it in an SEC game. Alabama’s Brandon Miller was the last player to do it when he had 31 pts in 24 min vs. LSU on Jan. 14, 2023.
201 – Carolina has hit 201 3s (7.7 3FG per game) in 26 games this season with a combined 122 different players hitting a shot from behind the arc in the 25 ball games (average of 4.7 different players hitting a 3FG per game).
12 – South Carolina shared the sugar opening night with 24 assists in a win over NC A&T. All 12 players who played in the game recorded a helper. Per Stathead (database dates back to 2004-05 season), the Gamecocks are the 37th team in Division I to have a game where 12 or more players had an assist.
80 – South Carolina scored 80 or more points in its first four games of the season for the first time since 1970-71, a team led by Hall of Fame head coach Frank McGuire.
95+ – The Gamecocks scored 95+ points in consecutive games to end non-con for the first time since the 1970-71 season when Carolina beat Duke, 98-78, on 12/12/70 and Maryland, 96-70, on 12/16/70.
97 – South Carolina scored 97 points in a win vs. Mississippi Sate on Feb. 21. It was the most points in the Paris era over the last four seasons and the fourth-most ever for the program in an SEC game (have scored 90+ 18 times since joining SEC in 1991-92).
30 – The Gamecocks’ 31-point win over Stetson (Dec. 6) was the team’s first victory by 30 or more points since defeating Florida A&M, 94-62, on Dec. 30, 2023 in the non-conference finale.
10 – Paris has been a part of 10 NCAA Tournament teams as a Division I assistant/head coach with his first appearance at South Carolina coming last season.
18 – He has been a part of 18, 20-win seasons as a college head and assistant coach.
.696 – In his 17 seasons as a collegiate assistant coach, teams associated with Paris were 497-217 (.696) with five conference titles and 12 NCAA Tournament appearances, reaching two Final Fours.
274 – The Gamecocks made 274 3s during the 2023-24 campaign, a new single-season program record.
344 – The team had just 344 turnovers in the 2023-24 season, the third-fewest all-time for a single season at Carolina.
8-3 – The Gamecocks were 8-3 in true road games during the 2023-24 season. The team won seven SEC games on the road, tying the 1996-97 SEC Champion squad for the most league road wins in program history since joining the SEC in 1991-92.
25 – Carolina held 25 opponents to less than 70 points in 2023-24, which T-4th nationally and led the SEC.
8-0 – The Gamecocks were 8-0 in 2023-24 when shooting 50.0% or better from the floor.
1998 – The team finished the 2023-24 season ranked No. 25 in the final AP Poll, marking the first time the Gamecocks were ranked in the final top-25 poll since being slotted No. 14 in the final AP Poll of 1998.
1997 – The Gamecocks picked up the program’s first top-five road win since 1997 on Jan. 30, 2024 with a 63-59 victory over No. 5/5 Tennessee. The previous top-five road win was a 72-66 win at No. 3 Kentucky on March 2, 1997. The 59 points scored by Tennessee were a season-low for the Vols. It was also the first home loss of the season for UT, snapping a 13-game home winning streak by the Vols at Thompson-Boling Arena.

UP NEXT
South Carolina is back on the road with a trip to Athens on deck to face Georgia (19-8, 7-7 SEC) for the second time this season. Tip is set for 3:30 p.m. (ET) on Saturday with Mike Morgan (pxp) and Pat Bradley (analyst) on the call for SEC Network.

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