Jacob Toppin injuring an ankle late in the first half might have raised the specter of yet another loss on the road in Southeastern Conference play Tuesday night. A third time after such losses at LSU and at Auburn surely would hold little charm for Kentucky.
UK’s Mr. Inside and Mr. Outside made sure that did not happen. In different ways, big man Oscar Tshiebwe and point guard Sahvir Wheeler led Kentucky to a 86-76 gut-check victory at South Carolina.
After being an invisible man — by his standards — in the first half, Tshiebwe ruled the basket area in the second half.
Wheeler did not score a basket. But that did not prevent him from making an impact. He finished with 11 assists.
Kentucky improved to 20-4 overall and 9-2 in the SEC.
South Carolina, which was seeking a third straight home victory over Kentucky, fell to 13-10 and 4-7.
The numbers suggested a team victory for Kentucky. Six Wildcats scored in double digits. Tshiebwe finished with 18 points and 14 rebounds.
Other double-figure scorers for UK were TyTy Washington (14), Keion Brooks (15), Kellen Grady (12), Davion Mintz (10) and Toppin (10).
To borrow a well-worn cliché, the first half was a roller-coaster ride. When it ended, a surely dissatisfied Kentucky led 39-34.
UK trailed for only 32 seconds in the first half, took the lead for good at the 17:32 mark and saw its lead reach its zenith at 39-28 on a Toppin put-back with 2:26 left.
As it to punctuate the up-and-down half, Toppin crumpled to the floor 48 seconds left. He appeared to twist his left ankle and walked carefully off the court.
Toppin had scored eight straight points, which were part of his 10-point first half. That propelled Kentucky to its 11-point lead and marked only the fourth time this season Toppin had scored in double digits.
Coincidentally or not, with Toppin gone South Carolina scored the final six points of the half.
Toppin’s departure continued a star-crossed season for Kentucky in terms of players missing games because of injury or illness.
During a quick interview as he left the court at halftime, UK coach John Calipari called for better rebounding in the second half.
South Carolina had outrebounded Kentucky 21-19 before the break.
UK did not grab an offensive rebound — its signature talent this season — until Toppin got one with 9:36 left.
Then again, there were not a lot of offensive rebounds to get. Kentucky had made 10 of 16 shots to that point.
UK’s rebounding was not helped when Tshiebwe picked up his second foul with 6:19 left and went to the bench. That contributed to a quiet six-point, two-rebound half for UK’s leading scorer (15.8 points) and rebounder (15.2).
On the plus side, Kentucky put on a display of passing. UK’s first 10 baskets all were credited with an assist. UK finished the half with 13 assists.
South Carolina struggled to establish any offense. The Gamecocks made only nine of their first 29 shots. But an 11-3 advantage in offensive rebound enabled South Carolina to stay close.
UK announced before the second half that Toppin would not be returning to the game.
South Carolina kept charging early after the break. A put-back by Keyshawn Bryant tied it at 43-43 with 16:05 left.
After a television timeout, Kentucky regained the initiative. Washington contributed to each point in a 5-0 mini-run that put the Cats ahead 48-43. He scored on a fast break created by a South Carolina turnover, then made one of two free throws and then lobbed a pass that Brooks dunked to put UK ahead 48-43 and prompt a South Carolina timeout with 14:45 left.
UK’s mini-run extended to seven straight when Grady cashed in on another South Carolina turnover with a dunk.
When South Carolina closed to within 50-47, Tshiebwe answered. He posted up for a basket.
Then in a memorable sequence, he defended a post shot by South Carolina “big” Wildens Leveque, then beat him down the court to take a pass for a fast-break dunk. That put UK ahead 54-47 with 12:23 left.
Kentucky kept pulling away. A long jumper by Washington reestablished a double-digit lead at 58-47 with 11:36 left.
Wheeler and Tshiebwe collaborated on a lob dunk that made it 62-51.
Kentucky’s lead reached its zenith at 70-56 with eight minutes left.
South Carolina did not yield, closing with 74-67. But UK did not stop competing.
A play late in the game served as another reminder of the past. South Carolina freshman point guard Devin Carter ran blindly in to a screen set by Brooks.
