Kentucky's Garrison Shines in OT Thriller

0:00On March 20, Kentucky survived a wild first-round NCAA tournament matchup, beating Santa Clara 89-85 in overtime on Friday. Junior Center Brandon Garrison stepped up big with 10 points, 7 rebounds, and 6 blocks, including clutch stops that sealed the deal late. Otega always stole the show with a career high 35 points, 8 rebounds, and 7 assists over 43 minutes. His buzzer beater at the end of regulation tied the game and forced overtime, putting Kentucky in the driver's seat. Coach Mark Pope called Garrison the best switching big man in the country, praising his energy on defense. Teammates agreed, noting how his high motor lifted the whole team during crunch time. Garrison had faced tough times all season, battling low confidence from media pressure and fan doubt. His teammates always believed in him, and this game proved why they stuck by his side through the struggles. Kentucky advances to the round of 32, carrying momentum from those key contributions as they gear up for the next challenge.