Kentucky basketball pulled off a tense 89-84 overtime win against Santa Clara Friday at the Enterprise Center in St. Louis, advancing to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Otega Oweh was the star, hitting a buzzer-beating three-pointer to send the game into overtime and finishing with a career-high 35 points, along with eight rebounds and seven assists, both team highs.

Reserve big men Mouhamed Dioubate and Brandon Garrison also played crucial roles. Dioubate contributed 17 points, seven rebounds, and three blocks, while Garrison added 10 points and six blocks, including two key stops in overtime, one leading to a fast-break dunk. Senior guard Denzel Aberdeen provided steady leadership with 16 points, helping Kentucky counter Santa Clara’s late surge.

Kentucky fell behind briefly at halftime, trailing 31-29 after turnovers and a scoring drought, but regrouped in the second half. Oweh scored nine of the Wildcats’ first 17 points of the half to spark a 6-0 run, keeping Kentucky in control as the Broncos repeatedly answered. In the final seconds, Santa Clara hit a go-ahead three, but Oweh’s buzzer-beater forced overtime. Kentucky sealed the victory with an 8-0 run in extra time.

The Wildcats will face the winner of Iowa State and Tennessee State in the second round, hoping to continue their March Madness journey with the momentum from Friday’s dramatic win.