Kentucky buzzer beater video: Otega Oweh hits game-tying shot to force OT before Wildcats escape Santa Clara

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Kentucky buzzer beater video: Otega Oweh hits game-tying shot to force OT before Wildcats escape Santa Clara originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The NCAA Tournament is one of the most exciting playoff formats in all of sports because every game is single-elimination. This makes every shot matter and brings an intensity to the end of games, especially when a better team is trailing.

No. 7 Kentucky got matched up with No. 10 Santa Clara in the first round of the 2026 NCAA Tournament. The Wildcats are a blue-blood program that has won national championships throughout its history, so many overlooked Santa Clara. The Broncos hung with the Wildcats throughout the first half, even holding a lead as the game came down to the wire.

Santa Clara looked primed for an upset with a three-point lead as time ticked down, but Kentucky's Otega Oweh launched a shot that just beat the buzzer to tie the game and force overtime.

Here is more on Oweh's buzzer-beater against Santa Clara.

MARCH MADNESS HQ:Live NCAA bracket | TV schedule | Latest news and more

Kentucky buzzer-beater vs. Santa Clara​

Santa Clara had possession with less than 10 seconds left. Guard Allen Graves made a 24-foot three-pointer to put Santa Clara up three points. While the fans were erupting in excitement, Kentucky inbounded the ball. Oweh dribbled up the court, took a few steps past halfcourt and launched a prayer of a three-pointer halfway between the halfcourt line and three-point line. Oweh nailed the shot, and it was confirmed he got it off in time, sending the game into overtime.

Absolute cinema from Santa Clara and Kentucky.

Otega Oweh with a buzzer-beater to send the game to overtime.

(via @MarchMadnessMBB)pic.twitter.com/FRa5pf5nqP

— The Sporting News (@sportingnews) March 20, 2026

Kentucky used the momentum from the buzzer-beating shot to go on a tear in overtime. The Wildcats scored 16 points compared to only 11 for the Broncos, and clinched the 89-84 win. If Oweh had missed the shot to end regulation, Kentucky would have been eliminated. Now, after the overtime win, the Wildcats will move on to the second round and will face the winner of No. 2 Iowa State and No. 15 Tennessee State.

Oweh was asked what was going through his head with his last shot in regulation. He said, "I was trying to get as close as possible, to make the shot, and, I don't know, it just went in. It's March Madness — that's the type of vibe it is, I ain't gonna lie."

"I don't know, it just went in. It's March Madness — that's the type of vibe it is, I ain't gonna lie."

- Otega Oweh to @jonrothstein after his EPIC buzzer-beater pic.twitter.com/W0ssaiRwCO

— CBS Sports College Basketball (@CBSSportsCBB) March 20, 2026

HISTORY OF UPSETS BY SEED:
16 vs. 1 | 15 vs. 2 | 14 vs. 3 | 13 vs. 4 | 12 vs. 5

Otega Oweh stats​

• 35 points
• 8 rebounds
• 7 assists
• 1 steal
• 1 block
• 2 turnovers
• 2 fouls
• 11-24 FG
• 3-8 3FG
• 10-12 FT
• 43 minutes

Oweh was the most productive player in the game, regardless of team. He scored six of Kentucky's 16 overtime points, but the biggest shot of the game will be the three that he heaved from just past halfcourt to save the game and force overtime.

Per CBS research, Oweh is the first player to record 35 points, eight rebounds and seven assists in an NCAA Tournament game since Larry Bird did it in 1979.

SN AWARDS: All-America team | Player of the Year | Coach of the Year

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