Kentucky won.

Quick Scoop: Who won, Santa Clara or Kentucky?

In the NCAA men’s basketball tournament matchup between Santa Clara and Kentucky, the Kentucky Wildcats pulled out a dramatic overtime win, 89–84. The game was a classic March Madness thriller, with huge shots in the final seconds of regulation and a momentum swing in OT.

Final result

  • Winner: Kentucky Wildcats.
  • Loser: Santa Clara Broncos.
  • Final score: Kentucky 89 – Santa Clara 84 (after overtime).
  • Round: First round of the NCAA Tournament (Midwest Region).
  • Date: March 20, 2026.

How the ending played out

  • Santa Clara hit a clutch three with about 2.4 seconds left in regulation to go up 73–70, seemingly sealing the upset.
  • Kentucky’s Otega Oweh then banked in a wild buzzer-beater from just inside half court to tie the game and force overtime.
  • In OT, Kentucky took control, with Oweh hitting key free throws and closing it out 89–84.

Key notes fans are talking about

  • It’s being called an “instant March Madness classic” because of the insane exchange of clutch shots at the end of regulation and the dramatic OT.
  • Santa Clara still had a strong season (26–9) but remains winless all-time against Kentucky after this matchup.
  • Kentucky (now 22–13 after the game) advances to the next round, keeping their tournament run alive.

In forum and social chatter, when people ask “who won Santa Clara or Kentucky,” they’re referring to this 2026 March Madness game — and the answer is Kentucky, in overtime, in one of the wildest finishes of the tournament.

TL;DR: If you’re just here to know who won Santa Clara or Kentucky — it was Kentucky, 89–84 in OT, in the 2026 NCAA Tournament first round.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.