Kentucky survives Santa Clara in overtime thriller after Otega Oweh's miracle buzzer-beater

Kentucky snagged triumph from the jaws of decision successful their 89-84 overtime triumph against Santa Clara connected Friday astatine the Enterprise Center.

Kentucky defender Otega Oweh made a layup to necktie the crippled astatine 70-70 with 9 seconds near successful the 2nd half. Santa Clara rapidly hustled down the floor, and Allen Graves drained a 3-pointer with conscionable 2 seconds near to springiness them a 73-70 lead.

Kentucky had nary timeouts left, truthful they inbounded the shot to Oweh, who sprinted down the level and launched a 3-point changeable from 32 feet distant to effort to necktie the crippled and prevention the Wildcats' season. Thankfully for Oweh, the slope was open, arsenic his changeable deed the backboard and went done the net, tying the crippled astatine 73-73 and giving Kentucky caller beingness arsenic the buzzer sounded.

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Kentucky's Otega Oweh (00) is congratulated by teammates aft sinking a handbasket astatine the extremity of regularisation to unit overtime successful the archetypal circular of the NCAA assemblage hoops tourney against Santa Clara successful St. Louis, Missouri, connected March 20, 2026. (Jeff Roberson/AP Photo)

Oweh told the CBS broadcast aft the crippled that connected the inbound helium was trying to get arsenic adjacent arsenic imaginable to the handbasket erstwhile helium changeable it.

In overtime, Kentucky took vantage of their caller beingness and moved on.

Oweh, the member of Washington Commanders antiaircraft extremity Odafe Oweh, was phenomenal successful the win, scoring 35 points portion reeling successful 8 rebounds and dishing 7 assists.

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Kentucky's Otega Oweh (00) celebrates aft making a handbasket arsenic teammate Kam Williams (3) and Santa Clara's Elijah Mahi (8) ticker during the 2nd fractional successful the archetypal circular of the NCAA assemblage hoops tourney successful St. Louis, Missouri, connected March 20, 2026. (Ali Overstreet/AP Photo)

After the game, Oweh said it was the champion crippled helium had ever been a portion of.

Kentucky defender Denzel Aberdeen (16 points), guardant Mouhamed Dioubate (17 points) and guardant Brandon Garrison (10 points) each scored successful treble figures successful the win.

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Kentucky's Brandon Garrison (10) celebrates aft dunking the shot arsenic Santa Clara's Christian Hammond (1) is seen successful the inheritance during overtime successful the archetypal circular of the NCAA assemblage hoops tourney successful St. Louis, Missouri, connected March 20, 2026. (Ali Overstreet/AP Photo)

Elijah Mahi led Santa Clara with 20 points successful the loss.

Kentucky volition play the victor of No. 2 effect Iowa State and No. 15 effect Tennessee State successful the circular of 32.

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