In a thrilling NCAA Tournament matchup, North Carolina State forward DJ Burns Jr. led his team to a hard-fought victory against Oakland with an impressive 24 points. The Wolfpack’s resilient performance has propelled them to the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2015.
Despite Oaklands’ Trey Townsend, the Horizon League Player of the Year, scoring a remarkable 30 points and 13 rebounds, N.C. State showed determination and grit to come out on top in a close-fought game. The team will now face either Marquette or Colorado in the next round, with their sights set on reaching the Elite Eight for the first time since 1986.
N.C. State, despite being underdogs, has experienced a remarkable turnaround in the tournament, winning seven games in a row, including five in the ACC Tournament, to secure a spot in the NCAA Tournament. Head coach Kevin Keatts commended his team’s collective effort and resilience, singling out the contributions of all five starters in the hard-fought win.
Gohlke, the 3-point specialist for Oakland, put on a memorable performance, but ultimately fell short as N.C. State prevailed in overtime with a 9-0 run. Oakland’s coach, Kampe, took responsibility for the team’s loss, admitting to mistakes in late-game situations.
Despite facing doubters, N.C. State remains focused and determined to continue their impressive tournament run. The team is welcoming back supporters who may have initially doubted them, showing that they are a force to be reckoned with in this year’s NCAA Tournament.
