Heartbreaker - Marin Independent Journal

NCAA MEN’S TOURNAMENT

Heartbreaker

Kentucky star’s miracle shot hands Santa Clara first-round loss in OT

Kentucky’s Otega Oweh, left, hit a 3-point prayer to send Friday’s first-round game of the NCAA Tournament into overtime, helping the Wildcats go on to dole out a crushing 89-84 defeat to Santa Clara in St. Louis. Ali Overstreet — the associated press

Sash Gavalyugov, left, is dejected following Santa Clara’s Midwest Region overtime loss at the hands of Kentucky in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. The Broncos wrap up their season at 26-9. Jamie Squire — Getty Images

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By Jerry McDonald

bay area news group

Santa Clara was celebrating what appeared to be a last-second win over Kentucky in regulation play until Otega Oweh of the Wildcats threw up a prayer.

His unlikely 3-point attempt was answered, sending the Broncos’ Midwest Regional NCAA Tournament game Friday into overtime. The Wildcats went on to finish an 89-84 win in which Santa Clara acquitted itself with honor but left with heartbreak at the Enterprise Center in St. Louis.

Oweh’s 3-pointer banked in just as the horn sounded, tying the game after Allen Graves had put Santa Clara up 73-70 on a 3-pointer with 2.4 seconds remaining. Graves’ shot touched off a celebration on the Santa Clara bench. The Wildcats inbounded as coach Herb Sendek was attempting to call a time out and Oweh’s desperation shot banked in at the buzzer to tie the score.

“I unequivocally called time out,” Sendek calmly said at the postgame press conference. “But they didn’t grant it. I think the video evidence is clear. A likely response after Allen hits the three is that the coach would be calling time out to set up the defense, which I tried to do, and I was successful in doing, other than it wasn’t acknowledged or recognized.”

Graves’ shot came off a pass from Sash Gavalyugov, and it appeared Santa Clara was going to get its first NCAA win since upsetting No. 2 Arizona 64-61 as a No. 15 seed in Utah in 1993.

“I just tried to get myself in the action, give myself a chance to make a play,” Graves said. “He hit me on a pick-and-pop, and I knew as soon as the ball hit my hands God willing, it was going to go in.”

As for the aftermath of the shot, Graves said, “Obviously, hitting a shot like that was exciting and then you kind of lose your man, maybe. I know coach was calling time out. We thought we were going to be granted that, but we didn’t, he came down, threw up a prayer and it went in.”

Santa Clara ends its season with a 26-9 record with Kentucky moving on to the second round at 22-13. The Broncos were back in the NCAA Tournament for the first time in 30 years and looked to have their first win in 33 until Kentucky got two key blocked shots and pulled away in overtime.

Oweh’s 35 points led all scorers, with forward Mouhamed Dioubate adding 17 and guard Denzel Aberdeen 16. Forward Elijah Mahi led the Broncos with 20 points, with Graves adding 17 (after playing just six minutes in the first half with foul trouble), Gavalyugov 16 and guard Jake Ensminger 14.

Oweh made a layup with 9 seconds left in regulation to tie the game, setting up Graves’ 3-pointer from the right wing that preceded Oweh’s 32-foot heave at the buzzer.

“I was just trying to get the ball out quick and get as close as I can to the goal,” Oweh said. “I was looking at the clock the whole time. Obviously, they hit a 3, so we had to hit a 3. I was just trying to get a shot off and not wanting the season to end.”

A pair of 3-pointers by Mahi and Gavalyugov early in overtime gave Santa Clara a 79-77 lead, but the Wildcats went on an 8-0 run to take control, including an emphatic Brandon Garrison dunk in transition with 52 seconds left. Garrison blocked two shots by Gavalyugov in the final minutes of overtime.

Kentucky coach Mark Pope has a connection with Sendek that goes back to when he was recruited by the Wildcats under Rick Pitino with Sendek on staff.

“I’m actually going to probably sound terrible, but I’m happy for Santa Clara, too, just the fact that they got to be a part of such an epic game, such a dramatic game, “Pope said. “It’s what you want out of March. ... I don’t know where else you will get this transformation of emotions from despair to thrill to despair in a matter of four seconds, but we had a bunch of that tonight and it’s pretty great.”

Sendek chose to look at the big picture.

“I think my immediate reaction is one of gratitude, because I have a very clear mind and understanding of who it has taken the collective efforts of countless people to provide this opportunity to make this possible, people that may be on the outside that don’t get recognition,” he said.

Mahi had similar emotions in defeat.

“I’m just proud to be a Bronco, proud of what I did here and we did here and we were able to accomplish this year. It means a lot, honestly,” Mahi said. “This is a great school. I’m thankful. I’m really thankful to have had a career here and to be here for two years.”

The Broncos led 31-29 at halftime when guard Christian Hammond stole the ball before the Wildcats could get a shot off before intermission. A 10-3 spurt in the last 2:23 of the half accounted for the lead.

Mahi led Santa Clara with 10 points on 3-for-5 shooting in the first half, hitting both of his 3-point attempts. The Broncos led despite hitting 35.5% of their shots, forcing seven Kentucky turnovers and scoring seven points off those turnovers.