The Saint Francis Red Flash got stung by the Alabama State Hornets in the closing seconds to open the 2025 NCAA Tournament on Tuesday night.
The Hornets kicked things off in the First Four with some madness in the final 3.4 seconds of the second half, taking a 70-68 win in improbable fashion in Dayton, Ohio.
Alabama State’s Micah Simpson launched a Hail Mary inbound pass from the far end of the court into a group of players from both teams. It got tipped and ended up in the hands of Amarr Knox, who was able to put up the go-ahead layup with 1.0 seconds left on the clock.
ALABAMA STATE TAKES A LEAD IN THE FINAL SECOND 😱#MarchMadnesspic.twitter.com/TktQHBcwo9
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 19, 2025
Knox immediately started jumping up and down in celebration as the Hornets’ bench went crazy and Saint Francis players looked a mix of heartbroken and stunned.
“Well, the thing about it is he’s a First-Team All-SWAC guy. He didn’t have a great [conference tournament] so we knew he had to come out and get it going tonight, and he did,” Hornets head coach Tony Madlock told CBS about Knox after the win.
After the officials reviewed the game clock, the Red Flash had one last chance to tie the game but failed on their desperation heave, allowing the Hornets to advance to the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
They’ll take on No. 1 seed Auburn on Thursday at 2:50 p.m. ET.
The victory was the Hornets’ first-ever NCAA Tournament win in program history.
Amarr Knox of the Alabama State Hornets celebrates with teammates after making the final shot during the second half in the First Four game of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at University of Dayton Arena on March 18, 2025, in Dayton, Ohio. Getty Images
Alabama State Hornets guard TJ Madlock (20) celebrates in the second half against the St. Francis (Pa) Red Flash at UD Arena. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Alabama State players react to a TJ Madlock basket during the second half of a First Four college basketball game against Saint Francis in the NCAA Tournament, Tuesday, March 18, 2025, in Dayton, Ohio. AP
St. Francis (Pa) Red Flash guard Daemar Kelly (5) reacts after being defeated by the Alabama State Hornets at UD Arena. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Valentino Pinedo of the St. Francis Red Flash reacts at the end of the second half against the Alabama State Hornets in the First Four game of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at University of Dayton Arena on March 18, 2025 in Dayton, Ohio. Getty Images
Alabama State’s Jasteven Walker (25) celebrates with teammates following the team’s 70-68 win over Saint Francis during a First Four college basketball game in the NCAA Tournament, Tuesday, March 18, 2025, in Dayton, Ohio. APKnox finished the game with a team-high 16 points on 8 of 15 shooting from the floor.
“We put our tallest athletic person to go get the ball,” Knox said after the game, per the Associated Press. “And fortunately everybody tipped the ball, and it landed to me, and I got the rebound and made the layup.”
TJ Madlock added 11 points for the Hornets.
“We’ve been in that moment, that situation, a few times this year, and we knew we just had to come out and play ball,” Knox added. “We stayed positive. We knew as soon as the next half started that we would come out, fly around, play aggressive and just do whatever it takes to win the game.”
