Kentucky star Otega Oweh’s epic buzzer beater marks latest chapter in redemption story
Otega Oweh etched his name into Kentucky and NCAA tournament lore Friday with one of the most memorable clutch shots in March Madness history. Moments after Santa Clara’s Allen Graves hit a go-ahead 3-pointer with 2.4 seconds left, Oweh stood briefly in disbelief — as did everyone else watching. Then he collected himself, completed three dribbles and launched a 50-foot heave at the buzzer to force overtime.
“No, I didn’t call the bank,” Oweh admitted with a smile after the match. “I just got it back. It’s March. I feel like that’s exactly what’s happening. It’s crazy.”
“I was just trying to get the ball out quick and get as close to the goal as possible. I was watching the clock the whole time. Obviously they hit a 3, so we had to hit a 3. So I was really trying to shoot and I just didn’t want the season to end. I was just locking in, trying to make the shot.”
No. 7 seed Kentucky beat No. 10 seed Santa Clara 89-84 in overtime, advancing to Sunday’s second round, where it will face No. 2 seed Iowa State with a trip to the Sweet 16 on the line.
Oweh took over late, scoring 10 straight points between the end of regulation and the start of overtime. After a season filled with setbacks and unmet expectations, it was a defining moment of redemption. Injuries, bad losses and a slow start no longer mattered.
This is the power of March. It creates lasting moments and unlikely heroes. Oweh didn’t just deliver a highlight: he saved Kentucky from a stunning early exit.
“There was no break, put your hands up,” coach Mark Pope said. “Sorry about our guys’ reaction. They rushed over, got the ball and Otega ran down the floor and stopped right in front of me and as he was getting up he said, ‘It’s a bucket,’ and then he threw it over the glass.”
Oweh became only the fourth player in NCAA Tournament history to record at least 35 points, eight rebounds and seven assists in a game, joining Oscar Robertson (1959), Bill Bradley (1965) and Larry Bird (1979).
A slow start
Even three months ago, such a performance from Oweh – or Kentucky – seemed unlikely. After bypassing the 2025 NBA Draft and earning SEC Preseason Player of the Year honors, many expected him to lead the Wildcats to the Final Four.
However, Oweh struggled to live up to high expectations early in the season. He didn’t record a 20-point game until December 9, when he scored 21 against North Carolina Central. He broke 20 points once again in non-conference play.
Oweh and the Wildcats have received little help on the injury front. Star guard Jaland Lowe played in just nine games before being ruled out for the season after shoulder surgery, which followed a three-minute outing against Mississippi State in January. Former five-star Jayden Quaintance logged just 66 total minutes after showing flashes of top-five potential in the NBA draft.
WATCH: Kentucky’s Otega Oweh hits 50-foot 3-pointer in March Madness win over Santa Clara
Cody Nagel
A solid finale
But as the games grew, so did Oweh’s play. He scored at least 20 points in 14 conference games and exceeded that mark in both of Kentucky’s SEC Tournament contests. He’s looked like a different player since the calendar turned to 2026, helping the Wildcats to a 10-8 record in SEC play and a No. 7 seed in the NCAA Tournament.
“This guy, man, he shows up every game in a unique way at Otega Oweh,” Pope said Friday. “It’s just great.”
After taking the Wildcats on his back in their first-round victory, it appears Oweh has upped his game even further – just when it matters most. Sunday’s second-round game against Iowa State will offer Oweh a chance to write another chapter in his redemption story, this time against a No. 2 seed with a return trip to the Sweet 16 on the line.
Does he have another chapter in him?
