2.4 seconds. That was the difference between the Santa Clara men’s basketball team punching its ticket to the second round of the NCAA Tournament and heading home. Unfortunately for Santa Clara University fans, the team’s first trip to the big dance in 30 years did not go its way.

When freshman Allen Graves knocked down a three-pointer to give the Broncos a lead with 2.4 seconds left in regulation on March 20, it looked like SCU was moving on. After the basket, Santa Clara Head Coach Herb Sendek chased the referee down the court, desperately trying to call a timeout. But the referee’s back was turned and he didn’t seem to see Sendek amid the chaos.

Instead, Kentucky inbounded the ball to star Otega Oweh, who had been hot the entire game. Oweh gained the half-court line, and heaved the ball into the air, banking it off the backboard and in to beat the buzzer and force the game to overtime.

In overtime, it was all Kentucky. The Wildcats went on to win 89-84. After the game, Coach Sendek was frustrated that the referees missed his timeout call.

“I unequivocally called timeout, but they didn’t grant it,” said Sendek. “I think the video evidence is clear and anybody’s able to pull it up, which is a likely response after Allen hits the three that the coach would be calling a timeout to set the defense, which I tried to do and I was successful in doing other than it wasn’t acknowledged or recognized, and so, that’s what happened.”

Other than frustration over the missed timeout call, Sendek was complimentary of his players and the Santa Clara fan base. As for the players themselves, they seemed to understand that this journey was about more than just one game.

“Obviously, we didn’t get the outcome we wanted, but I wouldn’t change it for the world with these guys,” said Graves. “I’m proud to be a Bronco. I always will be a Bronco. Just happy to be here and to be able to do it with these guys and the genuine people that are here, the culture that we built is amazing, and I feel like we could do it again next year.”

Graves finished the game with 17 points. Early foul trouble kept him on the bench in the first half and prevented him from potentially getting on the scoreboard more. As the Broncos have done all season, the next man up helped fill in.

Senior Elijah Mahi was one of the players who stepped up. The transfer from West Valley played 39 minutes and led the team with 20 points. He also had five rebounds and two assists. While Mahi won’t be with the Broncos next season, he knows there are good things in store for the future.

“I’m just excited to see where their progression is going to go,” said Mahi. “Santa Clara does a great job of helping these guys get player development. We’ve already seen it throughout this year and how they’re able to progress within the season, and so I’m excited to see how they’re going to take it to the spring and into the summer and into next year.”