On Friday, Kentucky made headlines in the college basketball scene thanks to Otega Oweh’s incredible buzzer-beater.
However, the ending didn’t unfold as expected.
With only seconds left in the second half, Oweh raced down the court following a three-pointer from Santa Clara’s Allen Graves, who scored with just two seconds to go.
Just as Oweh was about to shoot, it appeared that Santa Clara head coach Herb Sendek signaled for a timeout.
The officials didn’t catch this, and so the game continued, allowing Oweh to make a three-pointer that surprisingly tied the game.
Following the buzzer-beater, Kentucky defeated Santa Clara in overtime, with a final score of 89-84 after outscoring them 16-11. It was a tense matchup, highlighted by some pivotal blocks late in the game.
Sendek later confirmed his side of the story, stating, “I clearly asked for a timeout, but they didn’t grant it. I think the video evidence is clear.”
He added, “You would expect a coach to call a timeout after that three-pointer, but I didn’t get the chance.”
Oweh’s deep three, coming from the left side of the court, tied the score at 73, pushing the game into overtime. He ended the game with a whopping 35 points, alongside eight rebounds and seven assists, playing a crucial role in Kentucky’s victory. Other players from the Wildcats also contributed effectively.
After the game, the Kentucky players found it challenging to express their feelings about what had just occurred. Junior forward Brandon Garrison mentioned, “We wanted to do more. It felt intense; we really fought hard out there.”
“We didn’t want the season to end just yet. There will be ups and downs, which we can’t always control, but we’ve learned to adapt,” Oweh reflected.
Looking ahead, Kentucky is set to clash with either No. 2 seed Iowa State or No. 15 seed Tennessee State in the Round of 32. Meanwhile, Santa Clara, participating in the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1996, finished their season strong with a record of 26 wins and 8 losses.
Sendek expressed mixed feelings after the game, saying, “I was elated, but it’s tough to digest how it ended.”
Reflecting on the game, it’s clear that if the officials had allowed Sendek’s timeout, the outcome could have been quite different.
