In a thrilling contest held in Nashville, Tennessee, the Kentucky Wildcats edged past Oklahoma with a narrow 85-84 victory, thanks to Otega Oweh’s decisive jumper with just 0.5 seconds remaining on the clock. Kentucky, seeded sixth and ranked 15th, appeared to be in control, leading by a 10-point margin with just over a minute to spare. However, a late surge by Oklahoma saw the lead evaporate, setting the stage for Oweh’s game-winning shot.
With this victory, Kentucky, who now boasts a 22-10 record, secured their advancement to the quarterfinals of the Southeastern Conference Tournament where they are set to face off against Alabama, ranked fifth and seeded third, on Friday evening. Oweh shone brightly for Kentucky, piling up 27 points throughout the encounter. He was supported by Koby Brea, who netted 22 points, alongside Andrew Carr, who contributed 11 points.
Oklahoma, the 14th seed with a 20-13 standing, made its SEC Tournament debut auspiciously but found themselves falling short against a familiar face, former Sooner Oweh, twice since the preceding month. Particularly noteworthy for Oklahoma was Jeremiah Fears, who delivered a stellar performance with 28 points, including a crucial basket that briefly pushed Oklahoma into an 84-83 lead with just 5.6 seconds till the buzzer.
The game had its pivotal moments. For Oklahoma, Fears delivered an impressive seven-point streak that culminated in giving the Sooners a fleeting lead—their first since early in the half—after trailing significantly at 77-65 with less than five minutes remaining. However, the Sooners found themselves unable to contain Oweh in the final moments, which proved costly.
Reflecting on Oklahoma’s performance, the Sooners are yet to defeat Kentucky, having now faced them five times. This loss also marked their first defeat on a neutral court within this season’s framework, after six prior successes.
On the other hand, Kentucky, with a storied history of triumphs in this competition, will be looking to rekindle their title-winning form, last achieved in 2018. Notably, they managed this win with little contribution from starting guard Lamont Butler, who, after scoring his only points from a fast-break layup, left the game midway through the first half due to a shoulder injury.
Looking ahead, Oklahoma awaits its fate regarding participation in the NCAA Tournament, pondering their tournament status for the time being. Meanwhile, Kentucky braces for yet another encounter with Alabama, seeking redemption after two losses to them in regular-season clashes.
