Oakland basketball is looking to provide a shock to the majority of March Madness brackets in the first round of the NCAA tournament.
The Golden Grizzlies are dancing for the first time since 2011 and face off against Kentucky in the first round of the NCAA tournament. Oakland (23-11) won both the regular season and conference tournament titles in the Horizon League this season to make the tournament field for the fourth time under head coach Greg Kampe, who is the longest-tenured active college basketball coach in his 40th season.
For their efforts, Oakland drew a 14-seed in the NCAA tournament facing 3-seed Kentucky. Kentucky (23-9) boasts one of the best offenses in the country, averaging 89.4 points per game, featuring NBA-level talent such as Reed Sheppard and Rob Dillingham, making this a true David vs. Goliath matchup.
But, it’s March; The little guy always has a shot.
Oakland vs. Kentucky live score updates in NCAA first round
Final: Oakland beats Kentucky 80-76
Oakland is the 2024 hero of March. The 14-seed Golden Grizzlies held on to knock off 3-seed Kentucky in the first round, off the back of a career game from Jack Gohlke, who finished with 32 points including 10 3s. Trey Townsend, who finished with a 17-point, 12-rebound double-double iced the game with a final free throw with four seconds left to put Oakland up four.
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9:31 p.m.: Oakland leads 79-76 with 3.9 seconds left. Trey Townsend split a pair of free throws, followed by a missed three from Kentucky’s Justin Edwards, but the ball went out of bounds off Oakland. Kentucky got a quick bucket off the inbounds, leaving Oakland to call a timeout to set up their final play.
DQ Cole 3 puts Oakland up 78-74, 28 seconds left
9:27 p.m.: DQ Cole drained a corner 3 against a late closeout to give Oakland a 78-74 lead with just under 30 seconds left. Cole delivered the biggest shot of his life after draining a pair of free throws on the last possession. Cole has 12 points. Rob Dillingham hit a 3 the last possession to briefly make it a one-point game.
Oakland leads 75-71 with 1:17 minutes left
9:25 p.m.: Trey Townsend made a tough turnaround bucket on the baseline to put Oakland up 73-68, but Antonio Reeves answered with a 3 to cut it to a two-point game with 1:45 left. After picking up a stop, DQ Cole hit two free throws to make it 75-71.
9:21 p.m.: Jack Gohlke’s first non 3-point points came at a big time for Oakland to give them a 71-65 lead with 3:33 left. Reed Sheppard fouled Gohlke on a 3, and the senior made two of three from the charity stripe to put Oakland up six late.
9:13 p.m.: Oakland leads 67-65 with just over four minutes left, thanks to the 10th 3 from Jack Gohlke to briefly go up by 5, but Antonio Reeves answered with a deep shot of his own. Gohlke has 30 points on 10 made 3s, becoming just the fifth player all-time to hit double-digit 3s in an NCAA tournament game.
Oakland leads Kentucky 61-56 with 7:33 left
9:07 p.m.: It’s looking food for Oakland, who leads by five in the third media timeout of the second half. Kentucky responded to Watts’s free throws with two layups from Tre Mitchell, which was split by a jumper by Chris Conway on the other end. Oakland is shooting 39.2% from the field (22-of-56), but is shooting 46.2% from 3 (12-of-26).
9:03 p.m.: A pair of buckets from Trey Townsend and Rockett Watts and a pair of free throws from Watts pushed Oakland’s lead to 59-52 with 8:55 left. Townsend is up to a double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds, while Watts has eight points off the bench.
8:56 p.m.: Oakland leads Kentucky 53-49 at the second media timeout of the second half with 11:55 left, with Kentucky going to the free throw line after the break. Gohlke hit another 3, pushing him within two of the NCAA tournament record for a single game.
8:48 p.m.: Oakland leads Kentucky 49-45 at the first media timeout of the second half with 13:43 left. Oakland pulled ahead on a pair of 3s from Trey Townsend and Jack Gohlke, who is up to 24 points on eight 3s.
8:44 p.m.: Kentucky has clawed back to tie the game at 43 with 16:20 left. Trey Townsend has three early points this half, while Kentucky has converted two and-ones at the rim.
Oakland leads Kentucky 38-35 at halftime
8:17 p.m.: Are you starting to believe yet? Oakland holds a three-point lead over 3-seed Kentucky at halftime. Jack Gohlke was the first half hero with 21 points on seven made 3s, and Oakland had 27 of their 38 points come from deep. Kentucky has found offensive success getting to the free throw line, led by Antonio Reeves’ 14 points, but had no early answers on the perimeter defensively. Gohlke is five second half 3s away from setting the NCAA tournament record, which was set at 11 in 1990 by Loyola Marymount’s Jack Fryer.
8:11 p.m.: Gohlke did it again. This time at the end of the shot clock, he banked in a 3 as Oakland regained a 36-35 lead with 90 seconds left in the first half. Gohlke is up to 21 points on 7-of-13 shooting from deep.
Oakland leads Kentucky 31-28 late in first half
8:04 p.m.: The 3 has been kind to Oakland, who is holding on to a three-point lead with 3:32 left in the first half. Jack Gohlke hit another moonshot, this time a stepback, and Blake Lampman buried one from deep to offset a pair of Antonio Reeves’ 3s to stay up by three points.
7:59 p.m.: The first review of the game is underway. Kentucky tossed the ball back to the referee after a Trey Townsend free throw, thinking it was the first of two free throws, but it was just a single attempt. Townsend was trying to convert an and-one after making a hook shot through contact to put Oakland up 25-22 with 5:35 left in the first half.
Jack Gohlke’s 3 parade gives Oakland first half lead
7:52 p.m.: Oakland leads Kentucky 23-17 with 7:23 left in the first half at the media timeout. The Golden Grizzlies are on a 12-4 run over the last four minutes, largely powered by Jack Gohlke’s deep bombs. Gohlke has 15 of Oakland’s 23 points, all coming on five made 3s. The Hillsdale transfer is pulling at will and finding his stroke, giving an early upset scare to Kentucky.
7:46 p.m.: Jack Gohlke is becoming the most feared man in Kentucky right now. The senior buried another pair of 3s on back-to-back possessions to give Oakland a 19-13 lead just before the 10-minute mark in the first half.
7:40 p.m.: Kentucky leads Oakland 13-11 with 11:38 on the clock at the second media timeout of the first half. The Wildcats re-took the lead on a pair of layups from Antonio Reeves and Zvonimir Ivisic. Oakland is 4-of-19 (21.1%) from the field. Kentucky is 6-of-12 from the field with 10 points in the paint.
7:37 p.m.: Oakland is getting plenty of opportunities and maintains a slight advantage despite struggling to convert. Jack Gohlke’s first 3 put OU up 8-7 with 14 minutes left in the first half. Oakland is 3-of-17 from the floor, with plenty of the second opportunities coming thanks to seven offensive rebounds. Kentucky answered with a bucket but Gohlke hit another 3 to put Oakland up 11-9.
7:28 p.m.: DQ Cole gives Oakland a brief 3-2 lead on a corner 3. It was the Golden Grizzlies’ first basket after starting 0-7 from the floor. Kentucky immediately answered with a layup to re-take a 4-3 lead. The Wildcats lead by 1 at the under-16 media timeout.
7:27 p.m.: Kentucky’s Tre Mitchell scores the first basket of the game on a midrange turnaround jumper. Oakland’s starting five is DQ Cole, Trey Townsend, Chris Conway, Blake Lampman and Isaiah Jones. Kentucky’s starters are Mitchell, Ugonna Onyenso, Justin Edwards, D.J. Wagner and Antonio Reeves.
What channel is Oakland vs. Kentucky today? How to watch, stream live
Oakland will tip off vs. Kentucky on CBS. Streaming options include the NCAA March Madness Live app and Fubo TV, which provides a free trial to select users. Andrew Catalon (play-by-play), Steve Lappas (analyst) and Evan Washburn (sideline reporter) will have the call on CBS.
Oakland vs. Kentucky start time, TV info, location
- Start time: 7:10 p.m. ET
- OTV info: CBS, NCAA March Madness Live app, Fubo (free trial)
- Location: PPG Paints Arena; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Oakland vs Kentucky preview
Oakland: Oakland won 17 of 20 games to close the season to storm into the NCAA tournament, led by college basketball’s most experienced coach in Kampe. On the court, the team is led by Horizon League Player of the Year Trey Townsend, who averaged 16.9 points per game, as well as Blake Lampman and Jack Gohlke.
Kentucky: Kentucky has the second-best offense in the country, scoring 89.4 points per game, as coach John Calipari reloaded his roster once again with future NBA players. Sheppard and Dillingham are the two young stars, but the team is led by senior guard Antonio Reeves (20 points per game) and can go 10-deep on the bench in terms of contributors.
Oakland vs Kentucky odds, betting line, spread
Odds according to BetMGM
- Spread: Kentucky (-12.5)
- Over/under: 161.5
- Moneyline: Oakland +675 | Kentucky -1100
Oakland vs Kentucky prediction, game picks
Kentucky 87, Oakland 70
It’s easy to root for Oakland with a team full of veteran talent and an icon of the game in the coach’s seat in Kampe, but Kentucky is just too good. The Wildcats’ offense presents plenty of pressing issues for Oakland on the defensive end, and they don’t have the same type of talent to keep up.
Oakland vs Kentucky injury updates
Oakland: Oakland is healthy.
Kentucky: Kentucky is healthy.
Oakland vs Kentucky stats
Oakland
- PPG: 76.4
- PPG allowed: 72.9
- FG%: 45%
- 3PT%: 35.1%
- KenPom ranking: 137
Kentucky
- PPG: 89.4
- PPG allowed: 79.7
- FG% 49.7%
- 3PT%: 41.2%
- KenPom ranking: 21
Oakland vs Kentucky championship odds
Odds according to BetMGM:
Oakland: +100,000
Kentucky: +2500
Oakland basketball schedule 2023-24
Here are Oakland’s last five results. For Oakland’s full schedule this season, click here.
| Date | Opponent |
| Saturday, Feb. 25 | Wright State 96, Oakland 75 |
| Saturday, March 2 | Oakland 75, Detroit Mercy 70 |
| Thursday, March 7 | Oakland 75, Purdue-Fort Wayne 65 (Horizon League Tournament) |
| Monday, March 11 | Oakland 74, Cleveland State 71 (Horizon League Tournament) |
| Tuesday, March 12 | Oakland 82, Milwaukee 76 (Horizon League Tournament) |
| Thursday, March 21 | vs. Kentucky (NCAA Tournament) |
Kentucky basketball schedule 2023-24
Here are Kentucky’s last five results. For Kentucky’s full schedule this season, click here.
| Date | Opponent |
| Thursday, Feb. 27 | Kentucky 91, Mississippi State 89 |
| Saturday, March 2 | Kentucky 111, Arkansas 102 |
| Wednesday, March 6 | Kentucky 93, Vanderbilt 77 |
| Saturday, March 9 | Kentucky 85, Tennessee 81 |
| Friday, March 15 | Texas A&M 97, Kentucky 87 (SEC Tournament) |
| Thursday, March 21 | vs. Oakland (NCAA Tournament) |
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