Dioubate Played Big Role in Kentucky’s Win

Mo Dioubate, right, with teammates Brandon Garrison, left, and Otega Oweh after UK's overtime win over Santa Clara. (Vicky Graff Photo)

Kentucky obviously does not beat Santa Clara 89-84 in overtime if Otega Oweh does not hit that game-tying, half-court 3-point shot at the buzzer to force overtime or score 28 points in the game’s last 25 minutes. However, don’t overlook what junior Mo Dioubate also did in the win in his own kind of way.

He finished with 17 points on 6-for-8 shooting and also had eight rebounds, three blocked shots and one assist in his 32 minutes. But what the numbers do not show are the hustle plays he made or the toughness factor he had on defense.

Still, he understood his season was over if Oweh’s just with less than a second to play did not bank in to tie the game 73-73 and give UK a chance to get to overtime.

“I was just praying for it to go in. I was about to cry if he missed that shot. I was just hoping the shot went in. I didn’t want the season to end already,” Dioubate said. “We love being around each other. I was just thinking this can’t be the moment where … once he made it we were so happy.”

Kentucky had chances to build leads against Santa Clara in the first round NCAA Tournament game but also chances to wilt late in the game but did not in part because it was used to having to face adversity and play from behind.

“A lot of adversity we went through with the losses and comebacks. I feel like that just helped us right there, because we’ve been in that predicament before. It’s almost like déjà vu,” the junior said. “Once we got to overtime, we were like this is it right here.

“There’s no more second chances. We’re not going to let them breathe at all. We’re going to give it our all. This is our chance right here. That second chance doesn’t come around in March too often. So we gotta take advantage of it, and that’s what we did.”

Dioubate scored six of UK’s 16 points in overtime. He hit two free throws to cap an 8-0 run that put UK on top 8-79.

“He brings so much intensity and physicality and brings so much to our team,” coach Mark Pope said. “In a lot of ways he has been the defensive emotional heart and soul of our group. When he’s great, we are great almost without fail. He bears a big burden on our team. Lucky he is with us.”