NC State had the task of slowing down an Oakland team that was red hot on Saturday.

Oakland downed 3-seeded Kentucky on Thursday partly due to Jack Gohlke’s incredible outing. The tournament has not been kind to the SEC so far, with just 3 wins heading into the 2nd round. Tennessee, Alabama, and Texas A&M were the only 3 SEC teams that won as of Saturday.

NC State did its best to try and contain Gohlke and the Oakland offense with a chance to punch its ticket to the Sweet 16. The Wolfpack did just that and won 79-73.

The game ended up going to overtime as DJ Burns Jr. and Gohlke led their respective teams in scoring in a matchup that didn’t disappoint. Here are some takeaways from another thrilling NCAA Tournament matchup:

DJ Burns keeps rolling through March

DJ Burns has become a fan favorite, and it isn’t hard to see why.

Burns delivered another solid performance at PPG Paints Arena in an attempt to keep NC State’s March Madness run alive. Saturday was his 5th game with 15 points or more since the beginning of the ACC Tournament.

To say that Burns has been an impact player for the Wolfpack would be an understatement. Burns was 2nd on NC State in scoring ahead of Saturday’s matchup, averaging 12.5 ppg. Burns finished with a double-double on 24 points and 11 rebounds while also dishing 4 assists.

Oakland may have had Gohlke, but NC State had Burns.

Wolfpack off to the Sweet 16

It has been a while since NC State last advanced to the Sweet 16. Fans were able to taste that success again after beating Oakland in Pittsburgh.

The 2014-2015 season was the last time NC State reached that round. That season ended with a loss to Louisville as the Wolfpack upset No. 1 seed Villanova on their way to the Sweet 16.

It has been a special season for Kevin Keatts and NC State. It looks like the magic will continue for the Wolfpack. NC State will either play Colorado or Marquette in Dallas next week in the Sweet 16.

RELATED: As NC State keeps dancing through March Madness, be sure to track the latest odds for the NCAA Tournament with Saturday Road’s DraftKings links!

Gohlke stays hot through 2nd Round

After taking down 3-seed Kentucky, Gohlke was back in action again for Oakland on Saturday. The 3-point wonder who took the country by storm lived up to his reputation once again.

Gohlke’s most recent 32-point performance against Kentucky wasn’t a fluke. Gohlke didn’t miss a beat against NC State and knocked down plenty of shots, accounting for 22 points. He didn’t start the game but came off the bench and led the Golden Grizzlies in scoring in the 1st half with 9 points.

The impact from Gohlke was definitely felt by the Wolfpack. He finished the game with 6 made 3-pointers and made things interesting although it didn’t result in an Oakland win.