#6 Kentucky leaves Columbia black & blue after 79-62 loss to #Gamecocks (AUDIO)

**Meechie Johnson rides the shoulders of Gamecock fans who stormed the court after the win over Kentucky (Ryan Bethea)**

Big Blue Nation rolled into the Colonial Life Arena Tuesday night expecting to sing the same old song against a team they have dominated over the years. Instead, the Kentucky faithful in the sold-out house filed out of the packed CLA singing the blues after a 79-62 loss to the underdog Gamecocks.

Gamecock fans stormed the court in the aftermath of the program’s second straight win over the Wildcats, and their first over a top twenty-five team in their 51st game coached by Lamont Paris.

Kentucky coach John Calipari, after the game, called the Gamecocks the best defensive team in the SEC. They proved that by holding his team 30 points under their per game scoring average. The Wildcats shot 40% for the game, their lowest mark in an SEC game this season. They were just 4-13 from distance, their fewest number of threes in a game this season.

The Gamecocks, feeding off the energy of the crowd and the success on the defensive side, made 11 three-point field goals. They shot 48% for the game, but 55% in the second half when they refused to let the Wildcats mount a deep run. The ball moved on offense as the Gamecocks finished with 20 assists on their 29 field goals. It was their second straight game with 20 assists.

A top of the key three by Zachary Davis at the first-half buzzer put USC up 33-25 at the break. Five minutes into the second half, the Wildcats closed to within two at 40-38. The Gamecocks then went on a 22-6 run for a 62-44 lead with 7:49 left. They made nine of 13 shots during the run.

Ta’lon Cooper scored eight of career high tying 20 points during that stretch, and the Gamecocks also got triples from BJ Mack, Meechie Johnson and Jacobi Wright who had four threes on the night on his way to season high 14 points. Cooper added six rebounds and five assists with no turnovers. Johnson also finished with 14 points, ten coming in the second half.

The Gamecocks improved to 16-3 overall and 4-2 in the SEC. They will host Missouri Saturday afternoon. Kentucky falls to 14-4 and 4-2 and will play at Arkansas Saturday.