Referees seemingly missed a critical timeout that Santa Clara attempted to call before Friday’s game against Kentucky went to overtime.
After the Broncos’ Allen Graves hit what looked like a dagger three-pointer with just over two seconds left in the game, the Wildcats inbounded the ball and quickly advanced it up the length of the court, before Otega Oweh connected on a wild buzzer-beating bankshot three from near the midcourt logo to force overtime.
With the game back and forth in the extra session, Kentucky hit free throws down the stretch, ultimately claiming an 89-84 victory over Santa Clara to advance to the second round. They’ll now play the No. 2 seed Iowa State Cyclones in the Midwest Region.
Following his team’s loss, head coach Herb Sendek spoke about the refs not granting him a timeout before Kentucky inbounded the ball in the final seconds of regulation.
Read more: UNC Legend ‘Not Stunned’ by Upset Loss to VCU in March Madness
While Sendek didn’t seem overly mad about the missed call, it became a talking point during his press conference after the game.
“I unequivocally called timeout, but they didn’t grant it,” he told reporters postgame.
“I mean I think the video evidence is clear and anybody’s able to pull it up, 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 I was successful in doing other than it wasn’t acknowledged or recognized, and so, that’s what happened,” Sendek said.
“It was a really euphoric high, followed by a tough one to swallow,” Sendek said of the emotions in the “up and down aspect” of being on the verge of winning, to losing in overtime.
Kentucky’s Oweh finished 35 points, eight rebounds, and seven assists in the win, while the No. 10 seed Santa Clara received 20 points, including four three-pointers from Elijah Mahi.
Allen Graves and Mahi joined Sendek for the postgame press conference, with Graves backing his coach up on the uncalled timeout before Kentucky’s game-tying three.
“I’d say it was a lot of emotions involved in that play. Obviously, hitting a [three] like that it was exciting, and then, you kinda lose your man, maybe. I know coach was calling a timeout, so we thought we were gonna be granted that, but we didn’t, and then it came down, he threw up a prayer, and it went in,” Allen said.
For Santa Clara, it was their first NCAA Tournament appearance since Steve Nash, a retired NBA legend, made his name as a senior with the school during March Madness.
“It hurts how it all ended, but I’m just thankful, man,” Mahi said, adding, “God bless, I’m just thankful.”
Read more: Shannon Sharpe Rips UNC’s Hubert Davis After VCU March Madness Win
For more about the NCAA Tournament, visit Newsweek Sports.
