Alabama State channeled Christian Laettner to stun St. Francis in March Madness opener

The 2025 males’s NCAA match bought underway on Tuesday evening with a First 4 matchup between a pair of No. 16 seeds: SWAC champion Alabama State and NEC champion Saint Francis. The sport was an absolute banger, with two hungry groups buying and selling the lead forwards and backwards all recreation. This recreation was at all times meant to return right down to the ultimate possession, and we bought our first magic second of March when it occurred.

A March Insanity star was born in Alabama State guard Amarr Knox. Knox scored a game-high 16 factors, and his last bucket delivered the Hornets the win.

With the sport tied at 68, Alabama State inbounded the ball underneath its personal basket with lower than three seconds left. The baseball cross bought tipped within the air and located its manner into Knox’s arms, who put within the game-winning basket simply earlier than the buzzer.

Alabama State beat Saint Francis, 70-68. Watch the game-winner right here:

What a manner for March Insanity to begin. The Hornets now face the No. 1 total seed staff within the match of their subsequent recreation: the Auburn Tigers.

The top of this recreation was wild: Alabama State missed the front-end of a 1-and-1 with an opportunity to take the lead with 12 seconds left. Saint Francis dribbled the ball down the ground underneath duress, however bought stripped, and the ball went off Crimson Flash final.

Alabama State guard Micah Simpson threw an ideal baseball cross to arrange the sport winner. Shades Christian Laettner! The 2025 males’s NCAA match is off to a tremendous begin.