Someone’s Cinderella run needed to finish early.
On Saturday, it was Oakland’s. The 14th-seeded Golden Grizzlies put up a struggle, however NC State got here out on high, 79-73, in a second-round additional time thriller on the NCAA event. With the win, the Eleventh-seeded Wolfpack turn into the primary double-digit seed this yr to advance to the Candy 16.
The Grizzlies bought an enormous sport from Horizon League Participant of the 12 months Taylor Townsend and extra clutch taking pictures from first-round hero Jack Gohlke. However the Wolfpack, anchored by senior middle DJ Burns Jr., prevailed in a back-and-forth battle that could not be settled in regulation.
Oakland battles again, however NCSU prevails
Oakland trailed for practically the complete sport till Townsend secured the primary Golden Grizzlies lead with an and-1 layup with 2:49 remaining in regulation. The 2 groups then traded blows till the sport went to additional time tied at 66. There, the Wolfpack took over.
NC State did not permit a subject purpose till 14 seconds remained within the additional session. It took a 75-70 lead on a Jayden Taylor 3-pointer with 1:20 remaining within the midst of a 9-0 run. When NC State prolonged its result in 77-70 on a pair of Burns free throws, the sport was all however over.
The win was the seventh in 12 days for NC State, which wanted a five-game sweep to the ACC event championship final week simply to qualify for the NCAA subject. Now, it is one of many final 16 groups standing.
DJ Burns does all of it
Burns, as he is finished all through this outstanding Wolfpack run, powered NC State. He owned the put up on a 9-of-12 effort from the sphere whereas tallying 24 factors, 11 rebounds and 4 assists. He repeatedly leveraged his 6-foot-9, 275-pound body and mushy contact in opposition to a Golden Grizzlies entrance line that had no solutions. When he met double groups down low, he discovered open shooters on the perimeter.
His largest help of the sport arrived on the Taylor dagger in additional time. Burns was met with a triple-team within the excessive put up on an entry cross. As an alternative of combating by it, he seemed to Taylor, who was extensive open within the nook. Taylor took the cross and hit the rhythm 3-pointer give the Wolfpack a two-possession lead.
Burns wasn’t NC State’s solely hero of the day. In complete, six Wolfpack gamers scored in double digits. Taylor tallied 22 off the bench alongside three rebounds and two assists.
Townsend, Gohlke heroics not sufficient for Oakland
NC State wanted each little bit of these heroics to return away with the win. Townsend lived as much as his Participant of the 12 months standing, whereas Gohlke set a brand new NCAA event document.
Townsend completed with a game-high 30 factors and 13 rebounds whereas repeatedly retaining the Grizzlies shut. The Wolfpack hit a number of massive pictures down the stretch of the second half, solely to see Townsend reply on the opposite finish.
When it wasn’t Townsend, it was Gohlke. The sixth-man sharpshooter had one other massive day from lengthy distance, hitting 6 of 17 makes an attempt whereas tallying 22 factors and eight rebounds. This was on high of his 10 3-pointers in opposition to Kentucky on Thursday that shocked the third-seeded Wildcats and despatched them to a different early NCAA event exit. Gohlke’s mixed 16 3-pointers set a brand new document for probably the most by a participant in his first two NCAA event video games.
However in the long run, their heroics weren’t sufficient. It was NC State’s day. And now the Wolfpack proceed to bop into their first Candy 16 since 2015. There, they will face the winner of No. 10 Colorado and No. 2 Marquette.