Chris Silva leads Gamecocks to win over No. 18 Kentucky Wildcats

COLUMBIA — Rakym Felder picked up a loose ball around the right wing and casually tossed it through the hoop before exiting the floor to a round of cheers. Just 20 minutes earlier, Brian Bowen was giving the early arriving crowd at Colonial Life Arena something to applaud by making a series of mid-range jumpers.

Bowen and Felder weren’t available for South Carolina when the Gamecocks tipped off with No. 18 Kentucky on Tuesday night. The two, one a transfer and the other a January re-enrollee, sat on stools beyond the USC bench, watching Frank Martin sub in player after player.

Martin’s patience and depth was tested over and over again in a game that featured over 50 fouls. When it was all over, Felder and Bowen were finally sent to the floor – to celebrate a monster victory.

South Carolina 76, Kentucky 68.

USC improved to 12-6 and 3-3 in the SEC. The Wildcats dropped to 14-4 and 4-2.

Carolina broke a four-game losing streak to UK with a furious second half comeback. Down by 14 with 11:34 left, the Gamecocks, relying on Chris Silva, Frank Booker and Wes Myers, caught fire.

A 22-8 run tied the game at 4:02 left. Myers gave USC its first advantage of the second half with a jumper at the 3:25 mark. Carolina never trailed again.

Fittingly, Booker, who finished with 18 points, helped seal things with a couple free throws with 49.5 seconds remaining. The Gamecocks took over 35 FTs for a second straight game.

Silva, demonstrating Carolina’s physical edge, finished with 27 points and eight rebounds.

The game featured over 50 fouls, including 31 in a first half that put the USC faithful through a wave of emotions.

Feeding off CLA’s electricity, the Gamecocks made 7 of their first 9 shots – teasing a change in offensive performance from the worst shooting performance of the year at Georgia – before missing their next 15.

Kentucky led 37-34 at the break. It pushed its advantage to as many as 14 in the second half before the Gamecocks roared back.

Felipe Haase fouled out for USC. Wenyen Garbiel and Nick Richards fouled out for Kentucky.

Carolina is back in action at 6 p.m. Saturday when it hosts Tennessee.

SOUTH CAROLINA 76, No. 18 KENTUCKY 68

KENTUCKY (14-4): Washington 2-3 6-10 10, Richards 5-7 2-2 12, Knox 6-16 8-10 21, Diallo 1-5 3-6 5, Gilgeous-Alexander 3-9 0-0 6, Killeya-Jones 2-2 1-3 5, Gabriel 1-1 1-1 3, Vanderbilt 2-5 2-4 6, Calipari 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 22-49 23-36 68.

SOUTH CAROLINA (12-6): Kotsar 3-4 6-9 12, Minaya 1-8 1-2 4, Silva 9-17 9-13 27, Myers 3-9 2-3 9, Hinson 1-2 0-0 3, Haase 1-3 0-0 2, Cudd 0-1 0-0 0, Doumbia 0-0 1-2 1, Gueye 0-0 0-2 0, Booker 5-12 6-7 18, Gravett 0-2 0-0 0, Beatty 0-3 0-0 0. Totals 23-61 25-38 76.

Halftime—Kentucky 37-34. 3-Point Goals—Kentucky 1-11 (Knox 1-8, Washington 0-1, Gilgeous-Alexander 0-1, Calipari 0-1), South Carolina 5-23 (Booker 2-9, Hinson 1-2, Myers 1-4, Minaya 1-4, Haase 0-1, Gravett 0-1, Beatty 0-2). Fouled Out—Haase, Gabriel, Diallo, Richards. Rebounds—Kentucky 34 (Knox 8), South Carolina 32 (Silva 8). Assists—Kentucky 7 (Vanderbilt 3), South Carolina 11 (Gravett 5). Total Fouls—Kentucky 32, South Carolina 27. A—16,210 (18,000).