Kentucky Wildcats head coach Mark Pope finally gave fans exactly what they’ve been asking for. On Tuesday night, Feb. 24, 2026, UK battled through a tense road matchup and came away with a 72-63 win over South Carolina at Colonial Life Arena, snapping a three-game losing streak and giving the program a much-needed confidence boost.
The “one thing” fans had been pleading for? Grit. After consecutive close losses, Kentucky displayed the toughness and composure needed to close out a game on the road—something that had been missing. The Wildcats didn’t have their smoothest offensive night, but they found ways to win when it mattered most.
Denzel Aberdeen led the way with 19 points, including four 3-pointers that kept UK in control when South Carolina tried to mount a comeback. Mo Dioubate added 12 points, with 10 coming in the second half to push the Wildcats ahead. Freshman Malachi Moreno dominated the boards with 11 rebounds while contributing eight points, and Collin Chandler hit a dagger 3-pointer with 1:51 left to put Kentucky comfortably in front.
Kentucky’s superstar Otega Oweh struggled more than usual, finishing with eight points on 3-of-13 shooting, but the team collectively stepped up to cover for their star. That resilience—winning despite turnovers and a slowed offense—is exactly what fans have been begging Pope to instill: toughness, focus, and a willingness to grind out wins.
The victory also gave Kentucky a morale boost by breaking the so-called “Columbia curse.” The Wildcats had lost six of their previous 11 games in Columbia, including three of the last four, making road wins in South Carolina rare.
With this win, Kentucky avoids a four-game losing streak for the first time in the Mark Pope era, setting the stage for a strong finish to SEC play as the Wildcats prepare to face Vanderbilt next.
It wasn’t flashy, and it wasn’t easy—but it was exactly what Kentucky needed. Fans finally have a reason to feel that Pope is steering the ship in the right direction.
