Otega Oweh’s Revenge: Ex-Sooner Silences Boos with Career-High 28 in Kentucky’s Thrilling 83-82 Win
The Oklahoma Sooners’ faithful had one mission on Wednesday night—make Otega Oweh regret ever leaving Norman. But the former Sooner, now a Wildcat, had a mission of his own: remind his old team exactly what they lost. And he did just that.
Oweh erupted for a career-high 28 points, delivering an ice-cold, off-balance floater with six seconds left to lift No. 17 Kentucky to a heart-stopping 83-82 victory over Oklahoma. It was a storybook ending for the ex-Sooner, who walked into his old stomping grounds to a chorus of boos and relentless jeers, only to walk out as the ultimate game-changer.
Oweh vs. Oklahoma: A Battle Written in the Stars
From the moment his name was announced in the starting lineup, the Lloyd Noble Center crowd let Oweh know exactly how they felt. Boos rained down, student sections belted out chants of “He’s a traitor,” and every touch of the ball was met with deafening hostility. But Oweh? He thrived in the chaos.
With 18 of Kentucky’s final points coming from his hands, Oweh embraced the villain role with a smirk, punishing the Sooners on possession after possession. As the final buzzer sounded, those same fans who booed him all night had no choice but to watch him celebrate. It was poetic justice at its finest, a performance that will be talked about for years to come.
“I just tried to impose my will, whatever way that was,” Oweh said after the game, still breathing in the electric energy of the night.
From Sooner to Showstopper
Last season, Oweh was Oklahoma’s second-leading scorer, averaging 11.4 points per game. But after transferring to Kentucky, he found a new level to his game, leading the Wildcats with 15.7 points per game heading into this emotionally charged showdown. It was clear that Oklahoma fans hadn’t forgotten about him. The Sooners might have been ready for a battle, but they weren’t ready for this version of Oweh.
Oklahoma head coach Porter Moser, who once relied on Oweh’s talents, could only watch as his former player tore through his defense in the second half. Oweh torched the Sooners for 23 points on a blistering 10-for-14 shooting after halftime, delivering dagger after dagger when it mattered most. The game was a chess match, and Oweh played it masterfully, outmaneuvering Oklahoma at every turn.
“You’ve got to tip your hats off,” Moser admitted. “I thought Kentucky, and then I thought Otega, made some just absolutely huge plays down the stretch.”
Brotherhood Over Business
Not all Sooners took Oweh’s return personally. Jalon Moore, who led Oklahoma with 20 points, showed nothing but respect for his former teammate.
“It was cool playing with Otega,” Moore said postgame. “That’s my brother. I wish him nothing but success. It’s good just coming in there to compete, and that’s it.”
But the fans? That was another story.
Even after Oweh’s game-winner sealed the Wildcats’ victory, Oklahoma’s crowd continued their chorus of boos as he walked across the court for his postgame interview. If they thought that would rattle him, they were sorely mistaken. The only thing rattling was the scoreboard, flashing an 83-82 Kentucky victory. It was an exclamation mark on a night filled with drama, intensity, and redemption.
A Moment That Defines a Season
For Kentucky, this wasn’t just another win—it was a defining moment. The Wildcats had struggled on the road all season, securing only their third away victory with this thriller. But head coach Mark Pope believes this test will serve as a battle scar they can lean on when the stakes are even higher.
“I do think our guys captured or had an experience tonight that they will call back on when we get in a very similar game,” Pope said. “And so I love that. I love that we have it in our pocket.”
And in their pocket, they have a closer—an ex-Sooner turned Kentucky hero—who can step up when it matters most. Oweh’s performance proved that no stage is too big, no moment too daunting for him to rise to the occasion.
What’s Next?
With March Madness around the corner, Kentucky fans have every reason to be excited. If Oweh can channel this level of intensity and execution in the tournament, the Wildcats could be primed for a deep run.
Oklahoma fans may have wanted revenge, but in the end, it was Oweh who got the last laugh. And as he left the court, head held high, he wasn’t just a player who returned home—he was a legend who rewrote his own narrative, one clutch bucket at a time.
