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St. Louis — Big Blue Nation showed up right on time.
Despite an early tip, Kentucky fans filled the arena in St. Louis, creating an atmosphere that felt anything but quiet for the Wildcats’ opening-round matchup. Awaiting them was a confident No. 10 seed Santa Clara squad, one of the top teams out of the West Coast Conference and led by former Kentucky assistant Herb Sendek, who served under Rick Pitino from 1989 to 1993.
What followed was a battle.
First Half
The opening half was a grind, with both teams struggling to find offensive rhythm. Kentucky jumped out early, building an 8-2 lead, but Santa Clara responded and eventually took control late.
Otega Oweh and Denzel Aberdeen carried much of the offensive load early, combining for 15 of Kentucky’s 29 first-half points. Still, the Wildcats trailed 31-29 at the break.
Neither team found much success from beyond the arc, each shooting 4-for-15 from three-point range. Kentucky did receive a lift from Brandon “BG” Garrison, who provided valuable minutes and scored six points on 3-of-4 shooting.
One key absence in the scoring column was Collin Chandler, who went 0-for-5 from three in the first half and the Cats went to the locker room trailing by a single point.
Second Half and Overtime
Kentucky came out of the locker room with renewed energy.
A thunderous dunk from Garrison gave the Wildcats momentum and a four-point lead, while Oweh and Aberdeen continued to deliver from the perimeter, combining to hit four three-pointers in the second half.
Mo Dioubate also made a major impact, finishing with 17 points and eight rebounds while establishing a strong presence in the paint. He even stepped out to knock down a three, adding another dimension to Kentucky’s offense.
But the game’s defining moment came in the final seconds of regulation.
With just two seconds remaining, Santa Clara’s Allen Graves knocked down a three-pointer to give the Broncos a three-point lead. Kentucky appeared out of time — until Oweh delivered a moment that will be forever remembered.
From long range, Oweh launched a contested three that banked in as time expired, sending the game to overtime and igniting the Kentucky faithful.
In the extra period, the Wildcats took control. Garrison anchored the defense with two critical blocks, preventing Santa Clara from regaining momentum. Kentucky pulled away late to secure an 89-84 victory and advance to the second round.
Oweh finished with a historic performance, recording 35 points, eight rebounds, and seven assists on 11-of-24 shooting. He became just the fourth player in NCAA Tournament history to reach those marks, joining legends Larry Bird, Oscar Robertson, and Bill Bradley.
Looking Ahead
With the win, Kentucky advances to face Iowa State in the second round on Sunday. Game time and additional details are to be announced.
