COLUMBIA, S.C. -- Sophomore guard Tyler Ulis set a career high with 27 points and 12 assists to power No. 22 Kentucky past South Carolina 89-62 on Saturday, but it was the early fireworks that had everyone talking.

Only 2:26 into the battle for first place in the Southeastern Conference, Kentucky coach John Calipari was ejected.

On Carolina's first trip down the court, senior forward Michael Carrera scored on an offensive putback after flying in over the top of Kentucky players for a rebound.

On the Gamecocks' second trip, senior forward Mindaugas Kachinas was called for an offensive rebound foul.

Calipari, knowing that the Gamecocks are physical and the best offensive rebounding team in the league, screamed at official Doug Sirmons about the play, making sure the referees would be watching.

Sirmons immediately hit Calipari with a technical foul even though the foul call had gone in Kentucky's favor.

The Hall of Fame coach went ballistic, storming to midcourt with Kentucky guards Jamal Murray and Isaiah Briscoe forcefully trying to restrain their coach.

Sirmons then hit Calipari with a second technical, resulting in his ejection from the game.

Calipari was not available post-game, but assistant Kenny Payne, who coached the team in his absence, said he did not know what set off his coach, but admitted with a smile, "it took a lot of effort" to restrain his boss.

"We talked to Cal during halftime," Payne said. "He said he felt like he didn't need to talk to the team, but I told him he did. He told them, 'We're doing a great job and keep doing what you're doing.' He also apologized to the players and said he wished it hadn't happened."

South Carolina coach Frank Martin said Calipari is typically at ease when they meet at midcourt before games, but was quite tense on Saturday.

"I'm not going to sit here and tell you that Cal did that on purpose," Martin said. "But there was no doubt that Cal was on edge. They came in here to make a point that they continue to be the best team in this conference."

Payne said he didn't know specifics, but clearly Kentucky arrived in Columbia fearful that South Carolina's rough and tumble strategy might go unchecked.

"South Carolina is the most physical team in this conference," Payne said. "They win because they beat you up with physical play. This game is about fight. That team wanted to physically intimidate us, to show us that we are soft. So for us to play the way we did is a statement about who we are."

Kentucky (19-6, 9-3 in the SEC) led 5-2 at the time of the technical foul, but instead of folding the Wildcats went on a strong run against Carolina, building a 42-27 lead.

It was the biggest first half deficit for South Carolina (21-4, 8-4) all season.

Leading 19-16 with 8:09 left in the first half, Kentucky went on a 22-8 run to blow out to a 41-24 lead with 59 seconds left. Ulis led the run with eight points, including the last six. Freshman guard Jamal Murray had six points and junior forward Marcus Lee added four.

Ulis topped Kentucky in the first half with 14 points. Murray added 11 and Lee had six points and seven rebounds as Kentucky hit 47.1 percent from the field.

Most surprising, Kentucky outrebounded South Carolina 21-18. Kentucky also limited the Gamecocks to 34.6 percent field goal shooting.

In the second half, Kentucky continued the surprising onslaught without having its coach on the bench as the Wildcats opened with a 16-2 run with six different players scoring to open a 58-31 lead.

Kentucky's largest lead was 34 points, 77-43, with 7:03 remaining following a thunderous dunk by Murray.

"We got pulverized today," Martin said. "Their length didn't hurt us. Their resolve and will is what hurt us. It was a lot stronger than ours. So now, we will walk proudly with two big black eyes around school tomorrow."

Ulis' 27 points and 12 rebounds were not only a career best, but marked the first time in school history that player had at least 20 points and 10 assists twice in a career.

Murray followed with 26 points and junior forward Marcus Lee had 11 points and 13 rebounds.

Kentucky shot 48.4 percent, including 44 percent from 3-point range on 11 of 25.

Carrera topped South Carolina with 25 points. Freshman guard Chris Silva and junior guard Duane Notice added 10 points each for the Gamecocks, who were limited to 32.7 percent shooting, including 28.6 from 3-point range.

NOTES: Saturday's game marked only the second sellout of 18,000-seat Colonial Life Arena this season. ... South Carolina leads the nation with 746 free-throw attempts. ... South Carolina has topped 20 wins in a season for only the 16th time in 108 seasons. ... Kentucky played the game without senior F Alex Poythress, who is expected to be out 10 days to two weeks because of a knee injury. ... Kentucky holds opponents to 27 percent 3-point shooting in wins, but gives up 46 percent in games they lose.