Kentucky Wildcats forward Eloy Vargas (30) tries to take the ball away from South Carolina Gamecocks forward Malik Cooke (15) during the second half. The Kentucky Wildcats defeated the South Carolina Gamecocks 86-52 at Colonial Life Arena. (Jeremy Brevard-US PRESSWIRE)
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) -- Anthony Davis had 22 points, eight rebounds and eight blocks as No. 1 Kentucky wiped away the memories of the last time the top-ranked Wildcats came to South Carolina with an 86-52 victory Saturday night.
Kentucky (23-1) has won 15 straight and moved to 9-0 in the Southeastern Conference for the first time in seven years. And they'll stay atop the rankings, unlike in 2010 when the No. 1 Wildcats were stunned 68-62 by the Gamecocks.
This time, Davis and Terrence Jones made sure there wouldn't be a similar flop. The two combined for 34 points in the first half as Kentucky took a 52-25 lead at the break and eventually increased the margin to 41 points.
Damien Leonard scored a career-high 19 points for South Carolina (9-13, 1-7).