March Madness begins with a bang as Alabama State pulls off an exciting win and North Carolina showcases a powerful performance.

Alabama State kicked off the 2025 edition of March Madness in dramatic fashion with a thrilling 70-68 victory over Saint Francis (PA) in the First Four of the men’s basketball tournament Tuesday night in Dayton, Ohio.

With the score tied at 68 and just 3.4 seconds left in regulation, junior guard Micah Simpson launched a full-court inbound pass from beneath Saint Francis’ basket. The ball found its way to sophomore guard Amarr Knox, who sank the go-ahead layup with just 0.7 seconds remaining at UD Arena.

The win marked the Hornets’ first-ever tournament victory.

“We wanted to throw the ball long, and we put our tallest, most athletic player out there to go get it. Luckily, everyone tipped the ball, it bounced to me, and I grabbed the rebound and made the layup,” Amarr Knox told reporters. “I couldn’t have done it without my whole team. It was a play we practice every day, part of our game plan—and it worked perfectly.”

Senior guard TJ Madlock added, “At the end of the day, it comes down to who wants it more, and he clearly showed he wanted it just a little bit more tonight.”
The No. 16-seeded Hornets will now prepare to take on the tournament’s No. 1 overall seed, the University of Auburn Tigers, in the Round of 64 on Thursday in Lexington, Kentucky.

Alabama State head coach Tony Madlock admitted he’s unsure how long the team will be able to savor their historic win before shifting focus to the formidable challenge ahead. Still, he emphasized that the Hornets would fully enjoy Tuesday night’s victory.

“We’ve got this bus ride—probably a couple hours—to head down the road and play in Lexington at Rupp Arena. How can you beat that?” Madlock said. “For a school in the SWAC with such great tradition, getting the chance to play at Rupp Arena is special. There’s nothing like it. We can’t wait.”
North Carolina Makes a Statement with Dominant Win

The North Carolina Tar Heels silenced doubters—at least for one night—with a commanding 95-68 victory over San Diego State in Dayton, Ohio, proving they belong in the tournament despite a questioned resume.

The No. 11 seed Tar Heels will now face the No. 6 seed Ole Miss Rebels on Friday in Milwaukee in the Round of 64.

Senior guard RJ Davis led the charge for UNC, scoring 26 points on an efficient 8-of-12 shooting, including a perfect 6-for-6 from beyond the arc. The Tar Heels shot 52.6% from the field, 58.3% from three-point range, and 87.5% from the free-throw line, leading by as many as 40 points during the game.

When asked if the blowout win sent a clear message to critics, junior guard Seth Trimble responded, “We know we deserve to be here. We’re not trying to prove anything to anyone else—we’re just focused on being the best version of ourselves, and I think we showed that tonight. We’ll do the same when we get to Milwaukee. People talk, but we don’t let that affect us. We’re locked in on us.”

Davis echoed that sentiment, saying, “Yes, we hear the noise, but we don’t pay attention to it. We stay focused on our preparation and what we need to do.”

The win marked North Carolina’s first-ever victory in a First Four game. The program now holds an all-time NCAA Tournament record of 134-50.