March Madness features a series of thrilling first-round games that upset teams across the country and split brackets.
The Santa Clara men’s basketball team put Kentucky in a difficult situation on Friday afternoon, and it would have taken a miracle just to force overtime.
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After Santa Clara broke a tie late in the second half, Kentucky had just seconds to respond. Otega Oweh had the shot of the year in the first round, 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 believed officials missed. When the Broncos took the lead, head coach Herb Sendek immediately called for a timeout — but the referee never granted it.
Sendek confirmed the sequence at the postgame press conference after the team’s overtime loss.
“I clearly called a timeout,” he told reporters, pausing and then adding, “but they didn’t agree to it.”
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He also pointed to video evidence circulating on social media.
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Kentucky may have benefited from the current chaos, avoiding a crucial stoppage that could have changed the outcome. Regardless, Ovie’s shooting under pressure is still phenomenal.
While he may have another chance to make an impact on the reset, giving a timeout could allow Sendek’s team to regroup and close out the game.
So the question remains: Did the referees do the right thing by letting the game continue, or did Santa Clara blow a crucial opportunity in the decisive moment of the game?
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