College Basketball

Watch: Alabama State Kicks Off March Madness With Last-Second Shot To Win In First Four

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By
Dan Girolamo
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Dan Girolamo Sports Editor

Dan is a multifaceted content creator who specializes in sports, pop culture, and entertainment. His entertainment work has been featured on Digital Trends, where he has interviewed Brendan Fraser, Jamie Lee Curtis, Alison Brie, Adam DeVine, Sadie Sink, Chris O'Dowd, Machine Gun Kelly, and Frank Grillo. Dan's entertainment work has also been featured on Coming Soon, Hidden Remote, and WatchMojo. Dan's other passion in life revolves around sports, graduating from Marist College with a degree in Sports Communication and Journalism. From columns about the latest in New York sports to gambling predictions, Dan continues to find success in written and broadcast journalism. Previous written work can be found at Unafraid Show, while broadcast clips can be seen on WAVE.tv and CBS Sports.

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Published18 Mar 2025

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Alabama State guard flexes.

Three words: This is March. The first game of March Madness 2025 ends with a last-second shot to propel Alabama State to victory over Saint Francis.

Watch: Alabama State Wins In Final Seconds

The First Four starts with a drama-filled finish.

Alabama State’s Amarr Knox made a layup with one second left to give the Hornets a 70-68 lead over Saint Francis.

Knox caught the pass from Micah Simpson, who threw the ball nearly the length of the court. Two Alabama State and Saint Francis players went up for the pass and tipped it into the air.

Knox caught the ball and completed the layup with minimal time left on the clock.

The final heave by Saint Francis (16-18) was short, giving Alabama State (20-15) the 70-68 victory in the First Four.

Alabama State erased a nine-point deficit to pick up their first win in the NCAA Tournament.

Knox led the way for the Hornets with 16 points. TJ Madlock had 11 points, while CJ Hines chipped in 10.

Saint Francis’ Juan Cranford Jr. scored a game-high 18 points, while Valentino Pinedo added 17. 

No. 16 Alabama State moves on to the First Round to face No. 1 Auburn on Thursday at 2:50 p.m. ET.

What Are The Remaining First Four Games?

If the three remaining games in the First Four resemble anything close to Saint Francis vs. Alabama St., then fans are in for an exciting two days.

The second game of the night pits No. 11 San Diego State vs. No. 11 North Carolina at 9:21 p.m. ET. Many pundits believed North Carolina should not have made the tournament over West Virginia and Indiana.

Now, the Tar Heels can silence the critics with a win.

The winner plays No. 6 Ole Miss on Friday at 4:05 p.m. ET.

Wednesday night features the remaining two games in the First Four.

No. 16 American University plays No. 16 Mount St. Mary’s at 6:40 p.m. ET, with the winner advancing to play No. 1 Duke on Friday at 2:50 p.m. ET.

Wednesday’s final game features No. 11 Texas taking on No. 11 Xavier at 9:10 p.m. ET. The winner will play No. 6 Illinois on Friday at 9:45 p.m. ET.

Every First Four game will air on truTV.