March Madness Update: Kentucky Wins in OT

by Elias Meredith

Sportz Nation - 3/21/26

7KENTUCKY VS 10SANTA CLARA

Photo by Jeff Roberson/AP Photo

Friday afternoon, the Enterprise Center in St. Louis, Missouri was the place to be for the best first round game out of the Midwest Region. The Kentucky Wildcats and the Santa Clara Broncos faced off for only the second time in history. The Wildcats would improve their all-time record to 2-0 against the Broncos, defeating them in a thrilling 89-84 overtime victory to advance to the round of 32.

In the first half, Kentucky came out hot, starting the game on an 8-2 scoring run. Santa Clara would respond with a 6-0 run of their own. That would be the first of 12 ties throughout the game.

From there, it would remain a one possession game throughout the first half. Kentucky would hold their narrow lead for nearly the last ten minutes of the half, until Santa Clara closed the half on a 6-0 run to take the lead 31-29 into the locker room.

Senior forward Elijah Mahi would lead the Broncos in the first half with 10 points. Senior guard Denzel Aberdeen led Kentucky with 8 first half points.

The second half was highlighted by the electric performance of senior guard Otega Oweh. The Newark, New Jersey native would explode for 22 second half points, and come up clutch down the stretch to keep Kentucky's tournament hopes alive.

Oweh was not the only one on the floor that was hot, as Santa Clara’s Allen Graves had the hot hand for his club. The freshman forward would score his 15 second half points in the last 10 minutes of the half, including the last 11 points for Santa Clara.

Oweh and Graves traded clutch buckets at the end of the second half. Graves started the action, drilling a go-ahead three that put the Broncos ahead 73-70 with 2.4 left in regulation.

Oweh responded by pushing the ball across half court, and banking in a three to tie the game at 73. Oweh’s three would send the game to overtime.

It would be a one possession game for nearly 4 of the 5 minute overtime period. Kentucky would pull away, closing the game on a 10-4 run.

Oweh would stuff the stat sheet in the victory. He would finish with 35 points, 8 rebounds, and 7 assists.

Key to Victory: Otega Oweh

Kentucky’s leading scorer was not the most efficient, but he made big shots down the stretch. Oweh’s scoring punch put Kentucky in position to win.

Next for the Wildcats: Sunday, March 22 | NCAA Tournament Second Round vs 2 Iowa State Cyclones at 2:45 PM EST

Thank you for reading!

Elias Meredith (@EAM_55)