No. 1 Kentucky toppled by South Carolina

Kentucky’s return to No. 1 might not last very long.

Devan Downey scored 30 points and South Carolina sent No. 1-ranked Kentucky to its first loss of the season with a 68-62 victory on Tuesday night.

The Wildcats (19-1, 4-1 Southeastern Conference) moved atop the rankings this week for the first time since 2003.

But Kentucky may not have counted on Downey, the SEC’s leading scorer, to break the 30-point mark for the fourth time in six conference games for South Carolina (12-8, 3-3).

“Let’s be honest,” Downey said. “No one gave us a chance.”

DeMarcus Cousins scored 27 points to lead Kentucky, which had been the nation’s last unbeaten team.

“This is what happens when you have young guys who think we’re are going to win at the last minutes of the game,” said Kentucky Coach John Calipari.

The Gamecocks would not be stopped -- even after the Wildcats’ fabulous freshmen, John Wall and Cousins, combined for 13 points during a 14-3 run midway through the second half that put the Wildcats up, 47-42. That’s when Downey took over..

-- associated press