Kentucky vs South Carolina score today: UK basketball updates, highlights from SEC game

Posted by author February 8, 2025 Basketball

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LEXINGTON — Don’t let South Carolina‘s struggles this season fool you, Kentucky basketball coach Mark Pope said. The Wildcats host the Gamecocks today at Rupp Arena, with the visitors owning a sub-.500 record on the season (10-12) and without a win in SEC play in nine tries.

But when Pope looks at the Gamecocks, he sees a team with “great size” that is “really disciplined in what they do.” So while No. 14 UK is favored, Pope expects to receive South Carolina’s best.

“They have superstar talent,” Pope said. “They’re really well coached. … They’ve had every good team in this league on the ropes. They had Auburn on the ropes, they had Florida on the ropes.”

They also have Collin Murray-Boyles. A 6-foot-8, 245-pound forward, he ranks among the top 10 in the SEC in numerous statistical categories, including rebounds, blocks, double-doubles and free-throw attempts.

“He’s awesome,” Pope said of Murray-Boyles, who leads the conference in field goal percentage at 59.7 (132 of 221). “Like, he’s really, really skilled. He’s got unbelievable hands. He uses his body really well. He’s got great touch around the rim, but I think his hands and his feet are really special. You see him kind of play with the ball, and it’s pretty fun. Him passing out of the post is actually really fun.”

Can the Wildcats stop their losing streak at two? Or will USC earn its third straight win in the series — and pick up its first conference victory of the season?

Follow along below with live updates from Rupp Arena:

The contest between the Wildcats and Gamecocks will air on ESPN2. John Schriffen (play-by-play) and Daymeon Fishback (analyst) will have the call.

Authenticated subscribers can access ESPN2 via TV-connected devices or by going to WatchESPN.com, the WatchESPN app or ESPN+.

You also can stream ESPN2 on Fubo, which offers a free trial.

Tom Leach (play-by-play) and Jack Givens (analyst) will have the UK radio network call on 840 AM in Louisville and both 630 AM and 98.1 FM in Lexington.

You can also listen online via UKAthletics.com.

Betting odds: Kentucky is an 11½-point home favorite (-110) on DraftKings, which set the over/under at 151.5 points (-110). The money line odds are Kentucky -700, South Carolina +500.

Oct. 23: exhibition vs. Kentucky Wesleyan ∣ SCORE: Kentucky 123, Kentucky Wesleyan 52
Oct. 29: exhibition vs. Minnesota State Mankato ∣ SCORE: Kentucky 98, Minnesota State Mankato 67
Nov. 4: vs. Wright State (Rupp Arena) ∣ SCORE: Kentucky 103, Wright State 62
Nov. 9: vs. Bucknell (Rupp Arena) ∣ SCORE: Kentucky 100, Bucknell 72
Nov. 12: vs. Duke (Champions Classic; State Farm Arena, Atlanta) ∣ SCORE: Kentucky 77, Duke 72
Nov. 19: vs. Lipscomb, (Rupp Arena) ∣ SCORE: Kentucky 97, Lipscomb 68
Nov. 22: vs. Jackson State (Rupp Arena) ∣ SCORE: Kentucky 108, Jackson State 59
Nov. 26: vs. Western Kentucky (Rupp Arena) ∣ SCORE: Kentucky 87, Western Kentucky 68
Nov. 29: vs. Georgia State (Rupp Arena) ∣ SCORE: Kentucky 105, Georgia State 76
Dec. 3: at Clemson (ACC/SEC Challenge) ∣ SCORE: Clemson 70, Kentucky 66
Dec. 7: vs. Gonzaga (Climate Pledge Arena; Seattle) ∣ SCORE: Kentucky 90, Gonzaga 89 (OT)
Dec. 11: vs. Colgate (Rupp Arena) ∣ SCORE: Kentucky 78, Colgate 67
Dec. 14: vs. Louisville (Rupp Arena) ∣ SCORE: Kentucky 93, Louisville 85
Dec. 21: vs. Ohio State (CBS Sports Classic; Madison Square Garden, New York) | SCORE: Ohio State 85, Kentucky 65
Dec. 31: vs. Brown (Rupp Arena) | SCORE: Kentucky 88, Brown 54
Jan. 4: vs. Florida (Rupp Arena) | SCORE: Kentucky 106, Florida 100
Jan. 7: at Georgia | SCORE: Georgia 82, Kentucky 69
Jan. 11: at Mississippi State | SCORE: Kentucky 95, Mississippi State 90
Jan. 14: vs. Texas A&M (Rupp Arena) | SCORE: Kentucky 81, Texas A&M 69
Jan. 18: vs. Alabama (Rupp Arena) | SCORE: Alabama 102, Kentucky 97
Jan. 25: at Vanderbilt | SCORE: Vanderbilt 74, Kentucky 69
Jan. 28: at Tennessee | SCORE: Kentucky 78, Tennessee 73
Feb. 1: vs. Arkansas | SCORE: Arkansas 89, Kentucky 79
Feb. 4: at Ole Miss | SCORE: Ole Miss 98, Kentucky 84
Feb. 8: vs. South Carolina (Rupp Arena), noon, ESPN2
Feb. 11: vs. Tennessee (Rupp Arena), 7 p.m., ESPN
Feb. 15: at Texas, 8 p.m., ESPN
Feb. 19: vs. Vanderbilt (Rupp Arena), 7 p.m., SEC Network
Feb. 22: at Alabama, 6 p.m., ESPN
Feb. 26: at Oklahoma, 9 p.m., SEC Network
March 1: vs. Auburn (Rupp Arena), 1/4 p.m., ABC/ESPN
March 4: vs. LSU (Rupp Arena), 7/9 p.m., ESPN/ESPN2/ESPNU
March 8: at Missouri, noon, ESPN/SEC Network

Record: 15-7 (4-5 SEC)

Ansley Almonor (forward, senior)
Koby Brea (guard, graduate)
Lamont Butler (guard, graduate)
Andrew Carr (forward, graduate)
Collin Chandler (guard, freshman)
Grant Darbyshire (guard, junior)
Brandon Garrison (forward, sophomore)
Walker Horn (guard, junior)
Kerr Kriisa (guard, senior)
Trent Noah (forward, freshman)
Otega Oweh (guard, junior)
Travis Perry (guard, freshman)
Jaxson Robinson (guard, graduate)
Amari Williams (center, graduate)

The Gamecocks are 10-12 this season. With an 0-9 mark in conference games, they are the only winless team in SEC play.

Kentucky leads the all-time series with South Carolina, 54-15. But entering today’s tilt, the Gamecocks have won two in a row over the Wildcats.

Click here to see the Gamecocks’ full 2024-25 schedule.

Want to learn the Gamecocks’ roster?

Click here for player bios and more.

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Reach Kentucky men’s basketball and football reporter Ryan Black at rblack@gannett.com and follow him on X at @RyanABlack.