DJ Burns Jr. leads NC State to Sweet 16 with OT win over Oakland

North Carolina State has secured a spot in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament following a 79-73 overtime victory against 14th-seeded Oakland. DJ Burns Jr. led the Wolfpack's effort with a notable 24 points, including a critical putback that ignited a decisive 9-0 run during the additional period. N.C. State's Michael O'Connell and DJ Horne each contributed 12 points to the victory.

Despite leading for the majority of the game, North Carolina State faced a formidable challenge from the Golden Grizzlies. Oakland's Jack Gohlke added 22 points to his team's tally, while Trey Townsend, the Horizon League Player of the Year, impressed with a 30-point, 13-rebound performance. Oakland, which had made headlines earlier by upsetting third-seeded Kentucky, came close to being the first 14 seed to reach the Sweet 16 since 1997 but ultimately fell short.

The Wolfpack, who had punched their tournament ticket by clinching the Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament title, will next play either Marquette or Colorado in the South Region semifinals. The win marked a significant achievement for North Carolina State, which has reached the Sweet 16 for the first time in nine years.