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Kentucky snatched victory from the jaws of defeat in its 89-84 overtime victory against Santa Clara on Friday at the Enterprise Center.
Kentucky guard Otega Oweh made a layup to tie the game at 70-70 with nine seconds left in the second half. Santa Clara quickly rushed down the court and Allen Graves hit a three-pointer with just two seconds left to give them a 73-70 lead.
Kentucky had no timeouts left, so they passed the ball to Oweh, who ran down the court and hit a three-point shot from 32 feet away to try to tie the game and save the Wildcats’ season. Fortunately for Oweh, the bench was open, as his shot hit the backboard and through the net, tying the game 73-73 and giving new life to Kentucky as the buzzer sounded.
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Kentucky’s Otega Oweh (00) is congratulated by his teammates after making a basket at the end of regulation to force overtime in the first round of the NCAA college basketball tournament against Santa Clara in St. Louis, Missouri, on March 20, 2026. (Jeff Roberson/AP Photo)
Oweh told the CBS broadcast after the game that on the snap he was trying to get as close to the basket as possible when he shot it.
In overtime, Kentucky took advantage of its new life and moved on.
Oweh, brother of Washington Commanders defensive end Odafe Oweh, was phenomenal in the victory, scoring 35 points, grabbing eight rebounds and dishing out seven assists.
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Kentucky’s Otega Oweh (00) celebrates after making a basket as teammate Kam Williams (3) and Santa Clara’s Elijah Mahi (8) look on during the second half of the first round of the NCAA college basketball tournament in St. Louis, Missouri, on March 20, 2026. (Ali Overstreet/AP Photo)
After the match, Oweh said it was the best match he had ever been in.
Kentucky guard Denzel Aberdeen (16 points), forward Mouhamed Dioubate (17 points) and forward Brandon Garrison (10 points) scored in double figures in the victory.
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Kentucky’s Brandon Garrison (10) celebrates after dunking the ball as Santa Clara’s Christian Hammond (1) is seen in the background during overtime in the first round of the NCAA college basketball tournament in St. Louis, Missouri, on March 20, 2026. (Ali Overstreet/AP Photo)
Elijah Mahi led Santa Clara with 20 points in the loss.
Kentucky will play the winner of No. 2 seed Iowa State and No. 15 seed Tennessee State in the round of 32.
