Oakland basketball’s spellbinding run met its conclusion this past Saturday. In a thrilling matchup at PPG Paints Arena, the 14-seed Golden Grizzlies faced off against the 11-seed N.C. State Wolfpack. The game unfolded with heart-stopping intensity, and after regulation time, the score stood at a tense 73-73 tie. Overtime beckoned, and both teams battled fiercely for supremacy.
Just two days prior, Oakland had captured the hearts of fans by stunningly defeating the 3-seed Kentucky Wildcats. But the Wolfpack, undeterred, fought tooth and nail. In the end, N.C. State emerged victorious, securing a hard-fought 79-73 win in overtime.
“A stark contrast from just a few nights ago,” shared OU coach Greg Kampe. “The finality of it all weighs heavily.”
Trey Townsend and Jack Gohlke commanded the spotlight during the latter half of the game. Townsend, the Horizon League Player of the Year, delivered an impressive performance with 30 points and 13 rebounds.
Meanwhile, Gohlke showcased his long-range prowess by sinking 6 out of 17 three-pointers, contributing a total of 22 points and eight rebounds.
However, the 6-foot-10, 275-pound powerhouse, DJ Burns, proved insurmountable. His remarkable performance included 24 points, 10 rebounds, and four assists. Not to be outdone, his quartet of teammates also made significant contributions, all scoring in double figures: Michael O’Connell with 12 points, and Mohamed Diarra, DJ Horne, and Casey Morsell, each finishing with 11 points apiece.
“Trey Townsend,” his voice tinged with both exhaustion and admiration, “that guy was a colossal force in the paint.” Townsend’s gaze lingered on the court, replaying the moments when they battled against the formidable DJ Burns. “We left it all out there,” he continued, “but fate, it seems, had other plans.”
The ball, like a fickle companion, had chosen a different path—a path that led to heartache and the end of their remarkable journey.
As the game remained deadlocked at 66 during the transition to overtime, Trey Townsend stepped up, splitting a pair of free throws. Yet, on the opposing end, the formidable DJ Burns executed a graceful finger-roll layup. The tension escalated further when Townsend’s subsequent free throws nudged Oakland ahead, 69-68.
But fate had other plans. Burns, relentless and unyielding, secured an offensive rebound after a missed 3-pointer from the short corner. His putback propelled N.C. State into a lead they would fiercely guard until the final buzzer.
“I don’t think that ball even got 10-feet-2 in the air,” Kampe said. “It hits right in front of the rim, comes right down to the big guy and he lays it in. We were fronting the big guy, the only rebound he’d get is if it hit the rim and came straight down. “Those are the bounces of the game.”
Following a turnover resulting from a pass between DQ Cole and Townsend, DJ Horne executed a precise mid-range jumper, securing a three-point lead with just 1 minute and 33 seconds remaining. Blake Lampman swiftly retaliated with a successful free throw, narrowing the gap to a mere two points.
However, Jayden Taylor delivered a decisive blow by sinking a dagger 3-pointer from the right corner, propelling the team to a five-point advantage with only 1 minute and 13 seconds left on the clock.
In the closing moments of the game, Burns demonstrated remarkable composure by sinking four consecutive free throws, pushing their lead to 79-70 with a mere 17 seconds remaining. Oakland, however, refused to back down. Cole’s clutch 3-pointer brought them within striking distance, narrowing the deficit to just six points with only 13 seconds left on the clock.
The Grizzlies, fueled by determination, forced a critical turnover. Yet, as the seconds ticked away, Gohlke’s third consecutive 3-point attempt fell short, and the clock signaled the end of Oakland’s valiant effort.
“We’ve done a tremendous job this entire season executing in late-game situations,” Gohlke acknowledged. “However, today, our execution fell short. Credit to N.C. State—they showcased exceptional defensive prowess, disrupting some of our intended plays. Notably, their defensive pressure was palpable during the critical last possession in overtime.”
“It comes down to those slim margins in the final minutes of the game. They went our way in the Kentucky game because we executed well; today, we gave it all our effort, but N.C. State made the plays at the right times.”
“The ball was getting to Townsend facing the basket at the left elbow,” Kampe said. “He was supposed to rip and drive and he’d either be the hero, go to the free throw line or they wouldn’t call it; one of those three things was going to happen.
“We took too long to get in (our set). They came and denied the entry pass. … It’s my fault because we had 17 seconds. We didn’t want to go until 10 or 12, if we’d gone at 17, we could’ve handled that. That was the mistake.”
In the closing seconds of the game, Oakland committed a crucial turnover with just 1.7 seconds remaining on the clock. The tension was palpable as the Wolfpack attempted a desperate half-court shot, but alas, it fell short.
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