NCAA Tournament Upset: Alabama State's Stunning Victory
Okay, you guys, are you *kidding* me? The 2025 NCAA Tournament started with a WHAMMY. Alabama State, a 16-seed? Taking down *another* 16-seed, Saint Francis (PA)? I honestly didn't see that coming. It was a First Four matchup for the ages, culminating in a buzzer-beater that sent shockwaves through the entire bracket. Amarr Knox's layup at the buzzer? 70-68 final score? Pure insanity.
A Back-and-Forth Battle
The game itself was a rollercoaster. It was back and forth, back and forth – you know how sometimes things just spiral? Saint Francis, led by Juan Cranford Jr.'s impressive 18 points and Valentino Pinedo's 17, were actually ahead for most of it. They looked really strong! But Alabama State, fueled by Knox's 16 points and some seriously impressive rebounding (they crushed it, 35-33 advantage!), just kept clawing their way back. It was tense, you could feel the energy through the screen. With seconds ticking away and the score tied, they ran a perfect inbound play. The ball found Knox, and… well, history was made.
Hornets Take Flight, Red Flash Grounded
This win? Massive for Alabama State. It's their first-ever NCAA Tournament victory. Their comeback was nothing short of incredible. Knox’s clutch performance? Seriously legendary. You could feel the resilience and determination from their whole team. It was inspiring to watch. Meanwhile, Saint Francis? Their hearts must have been broken. They had an amazing season, winning the Northeast Conference championship, but their tournament run ended in such a heartbreaking way. Their offense was on fire, Cranford Jr. and Pinedo were incredible, but they just couldn’t quite hold on against Alabama State's final push. It's a tough pill to swallow.
What Lies Ahead?
Alabama State now faces the top-seeded Auburn Tigers. Yikes! That's a tough matchup, but honestly, after that win, anything's possible, right? It’s going to be a huge challenge, but also an amazing opportunity for these Hornets to show the world what they're capable of. As for Saint Francis? It's time to reflect on a great season, learn from this experience, and start building for the future. Their run was impressive, and it laid a fantastic foundation for their program's continued growth.
