Oakland Stuns College Basketball World, Upsets Kentucky 80-76

PITTSBURGH – Programming note: you’re bracket’s probably busted. College basketball world, meet Jack Gohlke.

Oakland’s Jack Gohlke entered the NCAA Tournament averaging 12 points per game. His season high was 31 against IUPUI. A 38% three-point shooter, Gohlke put the entire Golden Grizzlies program on his back with a swagger and confidence of a 10-time All-Star with 32 points and a performance to last a lifetime. 

Anything can happen in March. 

On Thursday night in Pittsburgh, Oakland (Horizon League) shocked the world, defeating Kentucky (SEC) 80-76 in the first round of the 2024 NCAA Tournament. 

Oakland came out of the gates firing and never played intimidated by the eight-time national champs. Kentucky owned the height advantage with Aaron Bradshaw (7-foot-1) and Elizabeth Forward native Tre Mitchell (6-9) the tallest players on the floor with Chris Conway (6-9). 

Instead, it was Oakland who controlled the tempo and found success on the glass, especially on the offensive boards. 

Three offensive rebounds in a row led to a Rocket Watts pull-up basket in the first five minutes of play. Oakland outrebounded Kentucky 10-6 on the offensive boards to start the night. 

Amongst everything, Gholke was the story of the first half. Back-to-back triples gave Oakland an 11-9 lead early in the contest but foreshadowed what was to come for the first 20 minutes.

Kentucky cut the deficit to 23-20 as Oakland embarked on a three-minute scoreless streak. It wouldn’t last much longer. The Golden Grizzlies continued to ride Gohlke. He totaled 18 points with three and a half minutes left in the first half, with Oakland leading 31-28. Everyone else on the team had 13 combined. Greg Kampe’s team was 8-19 from three and playing terrific basketball at the stoppage of play.

The Wildcats struggled to grab defensive rebounds and played a significant role in allowing Oakland to capitalize on open looks. Oakland led 36-35 with a minute remaining in the first half. Watts cashed in on an open look, the Grizzlies got a stop defensively, but Watts picked up his third foul due to a push-off offensively. 

Oakland took a 38-35 advantage to the locker room. Kentucky entered the break scoreless over the last two minutes and 45 seconds of play as the Wildcats offense stalled. Gohlke scored 21 points in 16 minutes on 7-13 attempts from the floor. All threes. The rest of the team scored 17 combined in the first half as the Golden Grizzlies shot 37% overall but better (45%) from three. 

Kentucky turned the ball over seven times and was outscored off the bench 25-13. 14 points from Antonio Reeves led Kentucky in the first half, but the team recorded a 27% line overall.

You could start to feel the energy inside PPG Paints Arena shifting Kentucky’s way as the Wildcats took a 45-43 lead, and Oakland failed to score for over two minutes. The Golden Grizzlies missed six of seven shots early in the second half, but the drought ended soon. Why? Jack Gohlke.

The Golden Grizzlies lead 49-45 with 13:43 left in the second half as Jack Gohlke cashed in another three.

Kentucky did a solid job in its offensive sets and putting together runs, but Oakland kept answering. Gohlke scored… again. He had 27 points on 9-16 from three with 12 minutes left and attempting to carry the Golden Grizzlies to the finish line with Oakland leading 53-49. Reeves had a solid day for himself as well with 18, while Mitchell scored 10 at the stoppage of play.

Horizon League Player of the Year Trey Townsend significantly made his impact known in the matchup. He totaled a double-double halfway through the second half and pushed the envelope against Kentucky on both ends.

Mitchell did well keeping Kentucky close, but Oakland built a five-point lead (61-56) thanks to making three-straight shots.

It was a game you just had to see to believe. A game defining what March Madness is all about. Gohlke missed a three with less than five minutes left, but an offensive rebound by the Golden Grizzlies and an outlet pass to him at the left wing delivered another three. Gohlke streaked down the floor with his hands nearly touching the court as he turned to his home fans to celebrate.

Fighting to stave off elimination, Reeves answered with a huge corner triple to come within two. Oakland led 67-65. 

The final minutes were hectic, energetic, intense, and everything you could ask for in college basketball

DQ Cole nailed two free throws to make it 75-71 Oakland. Rob Dillingham answered with a thee, 75-74 Oakland. Cole did it again with a corner three to give Oakland a 78-74 advantage. 

In the game of his life, Jack Gohlke scored 32 points on 10-20 shooting from behind the arc. Townsend scored 16 points and added 12 rebounds. He played the entire game. Oakland shot 15-31 (48%) from three and pulled off the upset despite a 12-21 (57%) mark at the free-throw line. Reeves finished the game with a team-high 27 points on 11-17 shooting. Mitchell totaled 14 points and 13 rebounds, but fouled out for Big Blue before the final possessions.  

Oakland moves on to play the winner of No. 6 Texas Tech and No. 11 NC State on Saturday in Pittsburgh.