Otgea Oweh joined an exclusive club on Friday with his remarkable performance in Kentucky’s 89-84 overtime win over Santa Clara in the First Round of the NCAA Tournament. Oweh became just the fourth player in NCAA Tournament history to have 35 points, eight rebounds, and seven assists in an NCAA Tournament game.
The other three? Some dudes named Oscar Robertson, Bill Bradley, and Larry Bird. Pretty good company, to say the least.
Obviously, Oweh was the biggest star on Friday. But Kentucky does not
win this game without some performances from other players who also stood out.
Let’s highlight all of them in our Stars of the Game.
Stars of the Game
1. Otega Oweh: 35 pts (11-24 FG, 3-8 3-PT FG), 10-12 FT, 8 rebs, 7 ast, 1 blk, 1 stl, 43 mins
I mean, what else can you say about Oweh? He’s a really good player, and that doesn’t even come close to doing him justice. Oweh’s shot at the end of the second half will long live in Kentucky and NCAA Tournament lore. Kentucky goes as he goes, and Oweh has the potential to take them a long way this month of March. On Friday, 28 of his 35 points came after halftime.
2. Brandon Garrison: 10 pts (5-6 FG), 7 rebs, 1 ast, 6 blks, 25 mins
First off, six blocks?! That is ridiculous. Keep in mind that his two blocks in the final minute of overtime came when he had four fouls. That’s incredible guts, resolve, and resilience.
Garrison was never worth giving up on. Is he frustrating at times? Yes. But he’s incredibly important to this team. His heart is always in the right place, and it was for sure that on Friday. If Kentucky goes on a deep run in March, Garrison will play a big role in it.
3. Mouhamed Dioubate: 17 pts (6-8 FG, 1-2 3-PT FG), 4-4 FT, 8 rebs, 3 blk, 1 stl, 32 mins
Dioubate plays bigger than he looks up close. So many times on Friday, he got to his spot, using his body and frame to get to his spot and get shots to fall. He fought so many times for man’s rebounds, so many of them seemingly crucial as the game unfolded.
4. Denzel Aberdeen: 16 pts (6-11 FG, 4-8 3-PT FG), 1 reb., 1 ast., 38 mins
Aberdeen kept the ship afloat and steady all afternoon. When the Cats needed a bucket, Aberdeen was there to deliver it. That’s what you want in a senior leader who’s played on a national championship-winning team prior to coming to Kentucky.
