OWEH'S PRAYER ANSWERED, KENTUCKY SURVIVES OVERTIME THRILLER
A March moment for the ages unfolded Friday as Kentucky senior guard Otega Oweh banked in a prayer from just inside half-court at the regulation buzzer to force overtime against Santa Clara. The Wildcats, staring down another NCAA Tournament heartbreak, rode the momentum of the miracle shot to an 89-84 first-round victory. The win snaps a painful streak for the Kentucky program, marking their first overtime victory in the NCAA Tournament since 2000 and ending a run of devastating extra-session losses in recent years.
Santa Clara looked to have the game won after Allen Graves hit a three-pointer with just 2.4 seconds remaining to take a 73-70 lead. But Oweh took the inbounds pass, raced up the floor and launched the desperate heave that sent the game to an extra period. He was masterful throughout, pouring in a career-high 35 points to go along with eight rebounds and seven assists, a stat line not seen in a tournament game since 1979. In overtime, forward Brandon Garrison made his presence felt with two crucial blocked shots on three-point attempts, sparking the run that ultimately secured the win for the Wildcats.
The victory was a massive sigh of relief for a program and a fanbase scarred by recent tournament overtime failures. This dramatic win not only keeps Kentucky's season alive but also exorcises demons of past exits, providing a signature moment in what will be remembered as one of the best games of the 2026 tournament.
QUICK HITS
- Alabama Overcomes Slow Start, Rolls Hofstra: After falling behind by 10 points in the first half, the Alabama Crimson Tide found their rhythm and stormed past No. 13 seed Hofstra for a 90-70 first-round victory. The Tide closed the first half on a 19-7 run to take a slim lead, then dominated the second half. Freshman guard Labaron Philon delivered a stellar performance, stuffing the stat sheet with 29 points, eight rebounds, and seven assists. Forward Aiden Sherrell was a force on the glass, grabbing 15 rebounds to go with his 15 points. Alabama advances to face No. 5 seed Texas Tech in the second round.
- Texas A&M Preps for Second-Round Showdown with Houston: The No. 10 seed Texas A&M Aggies are set for a tough test on Saturday against the No. 2 seed Houston Cougars in the second round. The game, scheduled for a 5:10 p.m. CT tip-off on TNT, pits two physical, defensive-minded teams against one another. The Aggies advanced with a dominant 63-50 win over Saint Mary's, while Houston rolled past Idaho. This matchup is a rematch of a 2024 NCAA Tournament second-round game where Houston prevailed in overtime.
- Vanderbilt Baseball Faces Tough Road Test in Starkville: The Vanderbilt Commodores opened a crucial three-game SEC series against the No. 6 Mississippi State Bulldogs on Friday night. The matchup at Dudy Noble Field features two of the conference's most potent offenses. Vanderbilt entered the series ranked second nationally with 52 home runs, facing a Mississippi State team looking to bounce back from a tough series loss at Arkansas. Friday’s opener featured a pitching duel between Vanderbilt's Connor Fennell and Mississippi State's Ryan McPherson.
- Strong Showings for Bama Golf, Texas Tennis: The No. 16 Alabama men's golf team is in a three-way tie for third place after the first round of the Linger Longer Invitational in Georgia. The Crimson Tide shot a collective 10-under par 278. Meanwhile, the No. 7 Texas women’s tennis team secured its seventh consecutive victory, defeating No. 71 Kentucky 4-2 on the road in Lexington.
PORTAL WATCH
There has been no new transfer portal activity reported across the SEC in the last 12 hours.
RECRUITING BUZZ
There have been no new recruiting commitments announced for SEC programs in the last 12 hours.
GAMES TO WATCH
- Men's Basketball: No. 10 Texas A&M vs. No. 2 Houston - Saturday, 5:10 p.m. CT (TNT)
- Gymnastics: SEC Championship in Tulsa, Okla. - Saturday, 2 p.m. CT (SEC Network)
- Baseball: Vanderbilt at No. 6 Mississippi State - Saturday, 6 p.m. CT (SECN+)
- Baseball: Vanderbilt at No. 6 Mississippi State - Sunday, 1 p.m. CT (SECN+)