Gamecocks shock UK
Tarence Kinsey scored 17 points and Carlos Powell had 12 in the second half to lead South Carolina to a rare victory over No. 3 Kentucky, 73-61 on Tuesday night in Columbia S.C.
It was the first home win for the Gamecocks (14-8, 6-5 Southeastern Conference) over the Wildcats (19-3, 10-1) since 1997, and it was just South Carolina’s sixth victory in 41 meetings against Kentucky, which never looked in synch.
Fans poured onto the court after the victory, possibly South Carolina’s best in coach Dave Odom’s tenure, and Kinsey stood on press row, slapping high-fives with celebrating students.
The Wildcats, who had won 19 straight games against SEC opponents, had a season-high 21 turnovers and Chuck Hayes was held to just one point. Kelenna Azubuike led Kentucky with 16 points – five in the second half.
The near-capacity crowd finally had something to cheer about after the Gamecocks’ disappointing 74-71 home loss to Auburn on Saturday. South Carolina added a high-profile win as it attempts to build its NCAA tournament resume. The Gamecocks were 0-4 against ranked opponents coming into the matchup, but they still have a game against No. 18 Alabama.
South Carolina built a 58-45 lead with 4:16 left after an 8-0 run and the Wildcats never seriously threatened again. The run featured a three-point play and dunk from Carlos Powell, the Gamecocks’ leading scorer who had been held to two points in the first half.
But South Carolina kept pounding the ball inside to Powell and Kentucky had no answer.
Kentucky couldn’t make any key shots to get a run going in the second half, and could have been hung over from a sluggish nine-point win against Georgia over the weekend, after which coach Tubby Smith told his team he was ashamed of them.
(5) Wake Forest 68, Miami 63: By holding Miami to 33 percent shooting in the second half, the visiting Demon Deacons retained their lead in the Atlantic Coast Conference.
Wake Forest (22-3, 10-2) earned its sixth straight win, a streak that includes two victories over the Hurricanes (15-8, 6-6).
(18) Connecticut 94, Providence 89 (2OT): Charlie Villanueva had 18 points and nine rebounds after halftime to help the Huskies turn back the feisty Friars in double overtime at Providence, R.I.
Villanueva finished with 22 points and 10 rebounds. He had four points and a key rebound while the Huskies (16-6, 8-3 Big East) scored seven consecutive points to start the second overtime. Rudy Gay had a 3-pointer in the run while the Friars (11-14, 1-10) missed two 3-pointers to guarantee themselves another close loss.
(25) Villanova 89, Bucknell 51: Villanova temporarily eased the sting of its worst loss of the season with its biggest blowout victory.
Allan Ray made four 3-pointers and scored 23 points to lead the Wildcats (15-6) to a victory over the Bisons (17-8) at Villanova, Pa.
Mike Nardi, who also hit four 3-pointers, and Curtis Sumpter each had 14 points and Jason Fraser grabbed eight rebounds to help the Wildcats bounce back from a 15-point loss to Syracuse.
Women
(5) Notre Dame 54, (25) Boston College 47: Megan Duffy had all 14 of her points in the second half as the Fighting Irish (23-3, 11-2 Big East) overcame an 11-point deficit to beat the Eagles (16-7, 7-5) at Boston for their 10th straight victory. Notre Dame holds a one-game lead over Rutgers and Connecticut atop the Big East. Jacqueline Batteast scored 15 points for the Irish, who dropped the Eagles to 0-6 this season against ranked opponents. Clare Droesch paced BC with 10 points.