University of Kentucky defeated Santa Clara University 89-84 in overtime during a first-round game of the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament on March 20, 2026, at Enterprise Center in St. Louis, Missouri.
The Enterprise Center, a multi-purpose arena with a basketball capacity of approximately 18,096, has previously hosted NCAA tournament first- and second-round games, including in 2022.[1]
With nine seconds remaining in regulation, Kentucky guard Otega Oweh scored a layup to tie the score at 70-70. Santa Clara guard Allen Graves responded with a 3-pointer two seconds later, giving the Broncos a 73-70 lead.
Without timeouts remaining, Kentucky inbounded the ball to Oweh, who banked in a 32-foot 3-pointer off the backboard at the buzzer, forcing overtime at 73-73. Oweh, a senior guard who transferred to Kentucky from Oklahoma ahead of the 2024-25 season, finished with 35 points, eight rebounds and seven assists.[2]
He is the younger brother of Odafe Oweh, a defensive end for the NFL's Washington Commanders.[3] Oweh told CBS after the game that he was aiming to get as close to the basket as possible on the inbound play.
Other Kentucky players in double figures included forward Mouhamed Dioubate with 17 points, guard Denzel Aberdeen with 16 points and forward Brandon Garrison with 10 points. Santa Clara was led by Elijah Mahi with 20 points.
Kentucky advances to the second round to face the winner of the game between No. 2 seed Iowa State and No. 15 seed Tennessee State.
Sources
- Encyclopædia Britannica / Wikipedia, "Enterprise Center", accessed October 2024, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enterprise_Center
- University of Kentucky Athletics, "Otega Oweh - Men's Basketball", accessed October 2024, https://ukathletics.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/otega-oweh/25165
- Wikipedia, "Odafe Oweh", accessed October 2024, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Odafe_Oweh
