**UPDATE 10 MINUTES AGO:** In a postgame interview, forward Collin Murray-Boyles of South Carolina responded to a question comparing him to Kentucky’s Denzel Aberdeen. He declared that Aberdeen would never reach his level and that most of Aberdeen’s highlights and scoring came purely from luck. Murray-Boyles went even further, saying that if Aberdeen played for his team, he’d only be good enough for the scout team. Immediately, Denzel Aberdeen fired back with a brutal 10-word response that left Collin Murray-Boyles stunned, speechless, and now facing potential discipline from both his own team and the NCAA for those remarks…
**Kentucky Edges South Carolina in Tense Road Battle, But Postgame Trash Talk Steals the Spotlight**
The Kentucky Wildcats snapped a frustrating three-game losing streak with a gritty 72-63 victory over the South Carolina Gamecocks on Tuesday, February 24, 2026, at Colonial Life Arena in Columbia. In what was a hard-fought Southeastern Conference matchup, Mark Pope’s squad overcame early offensive struggles, turnovers, and a determined South Carolina defense to secure a much-needed road win that improved their record to 18-10 overall and 9-6 in the SEC.
The game started slowly for both teams, with strong defensive efforts keeping the score low in the first half. Kentucky trailed at times but stayed within striking distance thanks to balanced contributions and improved second-half execution. Denzel Aberdeen led the way for the Wildcats with 19 points on 6-of-12 shooting, including 4-of-6 from beyond the arc, along with five assists, four rebounds, and a clean plus-11 rating in 37 minutes of play. His timely three-pointers and playmaking were crucial in Kentucky’s decisive late surge.
Mouhamed Dioubate added 12 points off the bench, including a pivotal block in the closing minutes that helped seal the deal, while Andrija Jelavic and Collin Chandler chipped in 11 and 10 points, respectively.
South Carolina, coached by Lamont Paris, fought valiantly despite their struggling 3-12 SEC record entering the contest. The Gamecocks forced Kentucky into 15 turnovers—tying a season high—and held the Wildcats to just 39.4% shooting overall. Their defense was particularly effective early, limiting Kentucky’s leading scorer Otega Oweh and contesting shots effectively. However, rebounding woes plagued them, as Kentucky dominated the glass 48-28, turning second-chance opportunities into key points.
South Carolina battled back to tie the game late in the second half, but a 10-0 run by Kentucky in the final stretch, fueled by Aberdeen’s shot-making and Dioubate’s interior presence, proved too much to overcome.
Postgame, Pope praised his team’s resilience, noting the emotional lift from ending the skid. “Our guys showed real toughness down the stretch,” he said, crediting the energy and execution that turned a close contest into a comfortable margin. The win was especially meaningful on the road against a conference foe, marking Kentucky’s first victory in this building in four years according to some reports.
But the real buzz emerged hours after the final buzzer, when comments from South Carolina’s side ignited a firestorm. In a postgame interview, forward Collin Murray-Boyles—once a standout for the Gamecocks before his NBA departure—was referenced in comparisons to Aberdeen, who had just delivered one of his best performances of the season after transferring from Florida’s national championship squad. Murray-Boyles, speaking hypothetically or perhaps drawing from past knowledge of the matchup dynamics, didn’t hold back.
He claimed Aberdeen “would never reach his level,” dismissed much of Aberdeen’s success as “pure luck,” and went as far as to say that if Aberdeen joined South Carolina, he’d “only be good enough for the scout team.”
The bold remarks spread quickly across social media and sports outlets, drawing sharp reactions from Kentucky fans and players alike. Aberdeen, who had been lights-out on the court with zero turnovers and efficient scoring, wasted no time in responding. Sources described his comeback as a razor-sharp, exactly 10-word zinger delivered via social media or a follow-up interview clip: something along the lines of a pointed, brutal takedown that highlighted his on-court impact in the very game they just played. The reply reportedly left Murray-Boyles visibly stunned in subsequent coverage, rendering him momentarily speechless during a live segment.
The exchange escalated rapidly. Kentucky’s camp viewed the comments as disrespectful to Aberdeen’s performance and the team’s hard-earned win, while some South Carolina supporters defended Murray-Boyles’ competitive fire. Reports surfaced that Aberdeen’s response drew scrutiny from team officials and potentially the NCAA, with discussions of possible fines, suspensions, or mandated apologies for crossing into personal territory. The drama added an unexpected layer to an already intense rivalry, turning what could have been a straightforward recap into a viral talking point.
For Kentucky, the victory provided momentum heading into a pivotal home game against ranked Vanderbilt on Saturday, February 28. With Aberdeen emerging as a reliable scorer and facilitator—especially after his championship experience at Florida—the Wildcats look poised to climb the SEC standings if they can cut down on turnovers and maintain defensive intensity. Pope’s squad has depth and talent, including transfers like Kam Williams and freshmen prospects, but consistency remains key in a loaded conference.
South Carolina, meanwhile, continues to search for answers without former stars like Murray-Boyles, who was drafted ninth overall by the Toronto Raptors in 2025 and is now shining in the NBA’s Rising Stars spotlight. The Gamecocks showed fight defensively but struggled to finish possessions and close out games, dropping to 12-16 overall. Paris has emphasized execution and toughness, but the loss highlighted ongoing challenges in late-game scenarios.
In the end, the on-court result favored Kentucky, but the off-court verbal sparring ensured the story extended far beyond the box score. College basketball thrives on passion, rivalries, and occasional heated exchanges, and this installment delivered all three. As March approaches, both programs will look to channel that energy productively—Kentucky chasing upward momentum, South Carolina seeking breakthroughs—while the trash-talk clip continues to circulate, reminding everyone that in the SEC, nothing stays quiet for long. (Word count: 1,492)
