The Kentucky Wildcats pulled off an all-time March Madness moment when they defeated the Santa Clara Broncos 89-84 in overtime on Friday afternoon.
Kentucky’s Otega Oweh hit a miracle 3-pointer at the buzzer to tie the game at 73 and send it to overtime. Santa Clara head coach Herb Sendek seemed to call a timeout after the Broncos’ go-ahead basket, but it wasn’t granted. Kentucky then hit the miracle shot and won in the extra period.
Herb Sendek Frustrated After Kentucky’s Thrilling Win Over Santa Clara
Oweh tied the game at 70 with a layup with 9.9 seconds left. Santa Clara’s Allen Graves then hit a 3-pointer with 2.4 seconds remaining. Sendek appeared to call a timeout, but it wasn’t granted. Oweh took the inbounds pass, dribbled upcourt, and hit a shot from just inside the midcourt logo at the buzzer to tie it.
Kentucky went on to control the overtime period for the win. Oweh finished with 35 points, eight rebounds, and seven assists. After the game, Sendek was clearly upset. “I unequivocally called timeout but they didn’t grant it,” Sendek said. “I mean, I think the video evidence is clear.”
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“And anybody’s able to pull it up,” Sendek told reporters. “Which is a likely response after Allen hits the three that the coach would be calling timeout to set the defense, which I tried to do and was successful in doing other than that it wasn’t acknowledged or recognized.”
The footage helps explain Sendek’s frustration, and most of the sports world seems to agree. ESPN NFL analyst Dan Orlovsky pointed out the mistake.
“Watch the Santa Clara coach right as they make the 3 to take the lead…he goes to call the timeout immediately but doesn’t get it granted…” Orlovsky said. “Ref has to be aware of this no?!?!?”
Watch the Santa Clara coach right as they make the 3 to take the lead…he goes to call the timeout immediately but doesn’t get it granted….
Ref has to be aware of this no?!?!? https://t.co/wRAtMNclzr
— Dan Orlovsky (@danorlovsky7) March 20, 2026
Awful Announcing agreed with Orlovsky and believes Sendek should have been granted a timeout.
“Santa Clara head coach Herb Sendek was trying to call a timeout before Kentucky nailed a three at the buzzer. #NCAATournament #MarchMadness”
Santa Clara head coach Herb Sendek was trying to call a timeout before Kentucky nailed a three at the buzzer. #NCAATournament #MarchMadness https://t.co/JuUQfHyYms pic.twitter.com/lGbQvrfOsJ
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) March 20, 2026
Veteran writer Chris Vannini has plenty of complaints about the officiating, believing Kentucky got several calls down the stretch.
“Between the Kentucky timeout, the missed Santa Clara timeout and now that missed Kentucky travel, the officiating in this final stretch has been questionable!”
Between the Kentucky timeout, the missed Santa Clara timeout and now that missed Kentucky travel, the officiating in this final stretch has been questionable!
— Chris Vannini (@ChrisVannini) March 20, 2026
Kevin Sweeney of Sports Illustrated and the Scout Team Pod gave the Wildcats credit, but felt for the gut punch that the Broncos received in the process.
“Gutsy win for Kentucky. But such a heartbreaking one for Santa Clara, which had it won in regulation. Otega Oweh the hero, though Herb Sendek has every right to be upset about not getting that timeout granted ahead of time.”
Gutsy win for Kentucky. But such a heartbreaking one for Santa Clara, which had it won in regulation. Otega Oweh the hero, though Herb Sendek has every right to be upset about not getting that timeout granted ahead of time.
— Kevin Sweeney (@CBB_Central) March 20, 2026
The Herd Bros didn’t pull any punches. The college football account that covers the Group of Five and smaller schools, such as Santa Clara, believes the Broncos were “hosed” on more than one occasion.
“SANTA CLARA JUST GOT ABSOLUTELY HOSED BY THE REFS ON BACK TO BACK PLAYS,” they posted on X. “Ref from behind the play grants a timeout to UK, then Santa Clara spamming timeout after the made 3 with 2 seconds left and they don’t grant it. UK ties. Unreal”
MattBeGreat agreed. “Clock didn’t start on time and Santa Clara’s Coach was BEGGING for a timeout and the refs didn’t give it to him. Kentucky got BAILED BIG TIME.”
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Seth Davis of Hoops HQ tried to explain what happened and argued that coaches should not be able to call a timeout in the first place.
Building on this point, he went on to explain that Santa Clara probably should have fouled, which the team may have if Sendek had received the timeout, and that the scramble Kentucky had is very difficult to pull off.
While Santa Clara fans and college basketball fans in general are upset about the timeout not being granted, the ending was defined by Oweh’s shot. As a result, he certainly makes himself a March Madness legend and leaves a talented Kentucky team to fight another day.
