COLUMBIA, S.C. (Interstat) — A suffocating first-half defensive performance by Kentucky set the tone, and a balanced scoring attack led by Denzel Aberdeen and Mouhamed Dioubate’s second-half surge carried the Wildcats to a 72-63 victory over South Carolina in a Southeastern Conference men’s basketball game Tuesday night at Colonial Life Arena.

Facing a desperate South Carolina team on its home floor, Kentucky established control from the opening tip, holding the Gamecocks to just 21 points in the first half on a dismal shooting performance. The Wildcats led 28-21 at halftime, a margin that felt larger given the home team’s offensive struggles.

The most important part of the game was Kentucky’s immediate response to South Carolina’s inevitable second-half push. The Gamecocks, led by Meechie Johnson’s game-high 18 points, found their rhythm after the break, cutting the deficit to just four points on multiple occasions. Each time South Carolina threatened, however, Kentucky had an answer, often from an unexpected source.

With leading scorer Aberdeen momentarily contained, it was Dioubate who provided the critical spark off the bench. The forward from Queens, New York, scored 10 of his 12 points in the second half, including a crucial driving layup and a dunk in the final minutes that helped extinguish South Carolina’s last rally. His energy and finishing around the rim complemented Aberdeen’s steady hand, as the Orlando, Florida, guard finished with 19 points and five assists.

Collin Chandler added 10 points for Kentucky, including a pivotal three-pointer with just over a minute to play that pushed the lead back to nine points and effectively sealed the outcome. Andrija Jelavic provided a first-half boost with 11 points, helping the Wildcats build their initial lead.

South Carolina’ Johnson, a Cleveland, Ohio, native, fought to keep his team in the game, adding six assists to his 18 points. Mike Sharavjamts of Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, contributed 12 points, but the Gamecocks could not overcome their frigid start. They shot below 30% from the floor in the opening period and finished the game well under 40%, unable to consistently solve Kentucky’s defensive pressure.

The Wildcats also dominated the glass, outrebounding South Carolina and converting 12 offensive rebounds into 15 second-chance points. Kentucky’s depth was on full display as nine different players scored, and the bench outscored South Carolina’s reserves.

The win improves Kentucky’s record to 18-10 overall and provides a measure of stability after a recent stretch of inconsistent results. The Wildcats had lost three of their last four games entering Tuesday night, including a narrow one-point defeat at Auburn last Saturday.

South Carolina, which was coming off a high-scoring home win over Mississippi State, falls to 12-16. The Gamecocks have now lost four of their last five conference games.

A crowd of 11,318 watched as Kentucky methodically closed out the game at the free-throw line in the final minute. The Wildcats’ ability to maintain their composure and execute in a hostile road environment after blowing a late lead in their previous game marked a significant step forward.

Kentucky next hosts Vanderbilt on Saturday, while South Carolina travels to face Georgia.