Former Cowboy Helps Kentucky Advance in March Madness

Brandon Garrison makes key plays in overtime to seal Wildcats' victory over Santa Clara

Mar. 21, 2026 at 12:05am

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In the first round of the NCAA Tournament, former Oklahoma State player Brandon Garrison came off the bench for Kentucky and made several crucial plays in overtime to help the Wildcats defeat Santa Clara. Garrison finished with 10 points, 7 rebounds, and 6 blocks, including two key blocks in the final minute of overtime that sealed the victory for Kentucky.

Why it matters

Garrison's performance highlights what Oklahoma State missed out on when he left the program after Mike Boynton's firing. As a freshman, Garrison showed signs of being an elite defensive player, and his ability to make winning plays in high-pressure moments for a blue-blood program like Kentucky demonstrates the talent the Cowboys lost.

The details

With Kentucky trailing by 2 points in overtime, Garrison blocked a 3-point attempt to keep the Wildcats within striking distance. On the next possession, Garrison ran the floor for an emphatic dunk to give Kentucky a 4-point lead. Then, with the game still in the balance, Garrison came up with another crucial block on a Santa Clara 3-point try to effectively seal the victory for Kentucky.

  • The game went to overtime after Kentucky's Otega Oweh hit a game-tying 3-pointer at the buzzer to force the extra period.
  • Garrison made his key plays in the final minute of overtime to help Kentucky pull away.

The players

Brandon Garrison

A former freshman standout at Oklahoma State who transferred to Kentucky after Mike Boynton's firing, Garrison came up with several clutch plays off the bench to help the Wildcats advance in the NCAA Tournament.

Otega Oweh

The Kentucky guard who hit the game-tying 3-pointer at the end of regulation to force overtime, setting the stage for Garrison's heroics.

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What they’re saying

“Brandon Garrison really stepped up when we needed him most. His defense and hustle plays were huge in helping us pull out the win.”

— John Calipari, Kentucky Head Coach

What’s next

Kentucky will face the winner of the Gonzaga-TCU matchup in the second round as they look to continue their NCAA Tournament run.

The takeaway

Garrison's performance is a reminder of the talent Oklahoma State lost when he departed the program, and it highlights the challenges the Cowboys have faced in rebuilding their roster since Boynton's firing. While it's unclear if Garrison would have stayed had Boynton remained the coach, his impact for Kentucky shows the type of difference-maker the Cowboys are missing.