Big Blue Nation is still buzzing after the Kentucky Wildcats snatched an 83-82 nail-biter from the Oklahoma Sooners. In a game that ended with Brandon Garrison turning Jeremiah Fears into a human highlight reel and nearly sparking a full-on cage match, the Cats held on. The No. 17 team in the country (19-9, 8-7 SEC) saw Otega Oweh drop a wild, over-the-shoulder layup with 6 seconds left to take an 83-82 lead, but it was Garrison’s rim-rattling rejection of Fears’ last-second shot that sealed the deal—cue the chaos! WBN dives into the madness that had Kentucky basketball fans roaring and Oklahoma fans chucking bottles.
The Block Heard ‘Round Norman
Picture this: 6 seconds on the clock, score tied at 82, and Oklahoma’s freshman phenom Jeremiah Fears—18 points on 7-of-18 shooting—bolts coast-to-coast with the game on the line. Enter Brandon Garrison, Kentucky’s 6-foot-10 sophomore big man, who’d already stuffed the stat sheet with 12 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 steals (TeamRankings.com). As Fears soared for the layup, Garrison met him mid-air, swatting the ball away with one of his 3 game-changing blocks—time expired, Cats win, crowd erupts. But Garrison wasn’t done—he charged up to Fears, chest puffed, jawing like a heavyweight champ after a knockout, letting the Norman faithful know who owned the night.
That’s when the powder keg blew. Garrison’s celebration—gesturing and shouting at the stunned Sooner crowd—lit a fuse. Oklahoma players, already salty from their 17-11 (4-11 SEC) collapse, swarmed in, and Kentucky’s crew didn’t back down. Shoves flew, tempers flared, and coaches Mark Pope and Porter Moser dove into the scrum like referees at a wrestling match, barely keeping it from turning into a full-on brawl (The Oklahoman). The handshake line? Canceled—replaced by a shouting match across the court as the teams traded barbs.
Beer Can Ruckus
As Kentucky strutted off, Garrison kept the party going—talking smack to the stands, arms waving like he was conducting a wild orchestra. One Oklahoma fan had enough, hurling a bottle that whizzed past Garrison’s head, missing by inches.
Someone threw a beer can at Kentucky players as they left the court. Nearly hit Brandon Garrison in the head. pic.twitter.com/OH14N5wPDk
— Adam Stratton (@AdamStrattonKSR) February 27, 2025
Garrison, unfazed, grinned it off—his 5-of-8 night and game sealing block.
Why Kentucky Won—and What’s Next
Oweh’s layup and Garrison’s block—Kentucky’s twin daggers—won it, but free-throw grit (+6 points) and defensive hustle (10 steals) sealed the deal. Oklahoma’s paint edge (40-36) couldn’t overcome their 15 turnovers—UK cashed in 16 points off them. If these teams tangle again in the SEC Tournament or March Madness, brace for fireworks—Garrison’s taunts and that bottle toss have BBN and Sooner Nation circling the rematch.
Next up, Kentucky hosts No. 1 Auburn on March 1—a seismic showdown at Rupp Arena. Auburn’s 25-2 (13-1 SEC) juggernaut rolls in to Lexington. Can the Cats channel that firepower to topple the Tigers and lock a top NCAA seed?