Santa Clara coach feels robbed by refs after wild Kentucky buzzer beater

March Madness delivered a thrilling slate of matchups in the opening rounds, putting teams on upset alert and shattering brackets across the country.

Santa Clara men’s basketball had Kentucky on the ropes during their Friday afternoon battle, and it took a miracle just to force overtime.

After Santa Clara broke a late second-half tie, Kentucky had only seconds to respond.

Otega Oweh delivered the opening round’s shot of the year, drilling a buzzer-beater to send the game into overtime.

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However, the play may have come after a moment that Santa Clara believes officials missed.

As the Broncos took the lead, head coach Herb Sendek immediately called for a timeout—one the officials never granted.

Sendek confirmed that sequence during the postgame press conference following his team’s overtime loss.

“I unequivocally called timeout,” he told reporters, pausing briefly before adding, “but they didn’t grant it.”
He also pointed to video evidence that has since circulated on social media.

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Kentucky may have benefited from the chaos of the moment, escaping a critical stoppage that could have changed the outcome.

Regardless, Oweh’s shot remains an extraordinary play under pressure.

Mar 20, 2026; St.

Louis, MO, USA; Santa Clara Broncos head coach Herb Sendek reacts against the Kentucky Wildcats during the second half of a first round game of the men’s 2026 NCAA Tournament at Enterprise Center.

Mandatory Credit: Jeff Le-Imagn Images

While he might have had another chance to deliver in a reset situation, a granted timeout likely would have allowed Sendek’s squad to regroup and close out the upset.

So the question remains: did officials get it right by letting play continue, or did Santa Clara lose a crucial opportunity in the game’s defining moment?

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