Santa Clara's Buzzer-Beater Thriller Ends in Heartbreak Against Kentucky

Otega Oweh's last-second shot forces overtime, but Wildcats prevail 89-84 in NCAA Tournament opener

Mar. 21, 2026 at 12:23am

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In a thrilling NCAA Tournament first-round matchup, the 10th-seeded Santa Clara Broncos took the 7th-seeded Kentucky Wildcats to overtime after Allen Graves hit a 3-pointer to put Santa Clara up 73-70 with 2.4 seconds left. But Kentucky's Otega Oweh responded with a buzzer-beating 3-pointer from just inside half court to tie the game and force overtime, where the Wildcats ultimately prevailed 89-84.

Why it matters

The loss was a crushing defeat for Santa Clara, which was making its first NCAA Tournament appearance since the days of Steve Nash over 30 years ago. The game highlighted the unpredictability and drama of March Madness, where a last-second shot can change the entire outcome of a game.

The details

In the final seconds of regulation, Santa Clara's Allen Graves hit a 3-pointer to put the Broncos up 73-70. But Kentucky's Otega Oweh answered with a buzzer-beating 3-pointer from just inside half court to tie the game and force overtime. In the extra period, Oweh hit the go-ahead free throws to lead Kentucky to an 89-84 victory.

  • With 2.4 seconds left in regulation, Allen Graves hit a 3-pointer to put Santa Clara up 73-70.
  • At the buzzer of regulation, Otega Oweh hit a 3-pointer to tie the game and force overtime.

The players

Otega Oweh

A Kentucky basketball player who hit the game-tying 3-pointer at the buzzer to force overtime and then made the go-ahead free throws in the extra period to lead the Wildcats to victory.

Allen Graves

A Santa Clara basketball player who hit a 3-pointer with 2.4 seconds left in regulation to give the Broncos a 73-70 lead before Kentucky's last-second heroics.

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What they’re saying

“It was a tough one to swallow, but our guys played their hearts out. We'll learn from this experience and come back stronger next season.”

— Herb Sendek, Santa Clara Head Coach

What’s next

Kentucky will face No. 2 seed Iowa State in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.

The takeaway

This thrilling first-round matchup between Santa Clara and Kentucky showcased the unpredictability and drama of March Madness, where a last-second shot can completely change the outcome of a game. While it was a heartbreaking loss for the Broncos, their gutsy performance and near-upset of the Wildcats will be remembered as one of the highlights of the opening round.