Oakland sharpshooter makes history in upset of Kentucky

Oakland Golden Grizzlies guard Jack Gohlke. Gregory Fisher-USA TODAY Sports

Watch: Oakland sharpshooter Jack Gohlke makes history in upset of Kentucky

By Mike Santa Barbara | Last updated 3/22/24

Much of the allure of March Madness comes from moments like this. On Thursday, Oakland stunned 3-seed Kentucky, 80-76, in the South Region bracket opening round, largely thanks to a historic night from guard Jack Gohlke.

Gohlke was unconscious from beyond the arc, becoming only the fifth player to connect on 10 three-pointers or more in an NCAA Tournament game. The senior joins Freddie Banks (1987), Roburt Sallie (2009), and Carsen Edwards (2019), who all had 10 three-pointers, and the record-holder with 11, Jeff Fryer (1990).

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JACK GOHLKE. #MarchMadness @OaklandMBB pic.twitter.com/NjZtPX0Yvt
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 22, 2024

Meanwhile, the Horizon League's Sixth Man of the Year shot 50 percent from three (10-of-20), outgunning the nation's best three-point shooting team in Kentucky (9-of-28).

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— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) March 22, 2024

The feat isn't foreign to Gohlke, who went an incredible 10-of-15 from three in a 107-59 win over IUPU on Feb. 17. Meanwhile, he shot 37 percent, shooting an average of 10 threes per game coming into Thursday.

His coach, Greg Kampe, even encouraged his sharpshooter to chuck it.

"We talked all week. Just go shoot it, baby. You're the best," Kampe told CBS Sports.

Gohlke's 32-point performance alone didn't clinch Oakland's upset. Fellow guard DQ Cole was perfect from three (3-of-3), recording 12 points and eight rebounds. Meanwhile, forward Trey Townsend bullied the Wildcats, finishing with 17 points and a team-high 12 rebounds.

"We're going to enjoy about 45 minutes of this then we're going to get ready because we have a chance of a lifetime," Kampe said. "This is not the end of it, we've got more. And the only way we're going to win Saturday is to stay focused and take them one at a time and we're going to do that."

Gohlke echoed his coach's statements by proclaiming Oakland was "not a Cinderella."

Oakland will look to continue its remarkable run in the second round, taking on the winner of Texas Tech and NC State.

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