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March Madness Fans Loved Alabama State's Home-Run Pass for the Win vs. Saint Francis
March Madness always brings college basketball's most memorable moments. But nobody thought this year's NCAA tournament would bring fireworks this soon. I mean, it's only Tuesday. And the first matchup of the First Four play-in games, for that matter.
A pair of No. 16 seeds, the Alabama State Hornets and Saint Francis Red Flash battled for the right to play No. 1 overall seed Auburn. The game looked headed for overtime, all tied up at 68 apiece with 3.4 seconds remaining, with Alabama State inbounding and having to go the length of the floor.
Hornets guard Micah Simpson threw the ball to the opposite free-throw line, which bounced around and into the hands of Amarr Knox for a layup with 0.7 seconds on the clock. Alabama State went up 70-68 and advanced. Chaos.
ALABAMA STATE TAKES A LEAD IN THE FINAL SECOND 😱#MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/TktQHBcwo9
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 19, 2025
And basketball fans around the internet took it as a sign that March was officially here:
The perfect 16-seed First Four game. 10/10, no notes
— Kevin Sweeney (@CBB_Central) March 19, 2025
What a start to March Madness omg 🤣🤣🤣 pic.twitter.com/ijErKvde5r
— Kevin O'Connor (@KevinOConnorNBA) March 19, 2025
This is just insanity. Total jubilation for Alabama State. The agony of a loss and the end of your season for Saint Francis. Wild conclusion in Dayton, and the big dance is underway:pic.twitter.com/If42CjsJqW
— John Fanta (@John_Fanta) March 19, 2025
THIS IS MARCH!!!
— Mid-Major Madness (@mid_madness) March 19, 2025
ALABAMA! ALABAMA! HAIL! HAIL! HAIL! HAIL! COLLEGE SO DEAR!
FOOTBALL PASS LEADS TO AN ALL-ALABAMA ROUND OF 64 GAME AGAINST AUBURN!
SHOUTOUT @hhlseward3. YOU DESERVE THIS!pic.twitter.com/WkOv7MnX5C
EVERY MONTH SHOULD BE MARCH pic.twitter.com/BVaxKhB83K
— The Field of 68 (@TheFieldOf68) March 19, 2025
I LOVE MARCH MADNESS
— Cole Adams (@coleadamss) March 19, 2025
pic.twitter.com/mfSIFPj4jv
THIS IS MARCH 🍿
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) March 19, 2025
ALABAMA STATE WITH THE FULL-COURT PASS FOR THE WIN WITH SECONDS REMAINING 😱 pic.twitter.com/TyfysyjXrA
This is what Alabama State just did to St Francis pic.twitter.com/CtvoI4i3eT
— Andy (@andyroche16) March 19, 2025
Can someone explain why my husband said the tournament starts Thursday but this is happening on Tuesday. pic.twitter.com/ktflr9mzSL
— Taylor Barnes (@tayybut) March 19, 2025
What a play. Alabama State moves on to play No. 1 seed Auburn in an in-state first-round matchup. That game tips off Thursday at 2:50 p.m. ET on CBS.
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Blake Silverman is a contributor to the Breaking and Trending News team at Sports Illustrated. Before joining SI in November 2024, he covered the WNBA, NBA, G League and college basketball for numerous sites, including Winsidr, SB Nation's Detroit Bad Boys and A10Talk. He graduated from Michigan State University before receiving a master's in sports journalism from St. Bonaventure University. Outside of work, he's probably binging the latest Netflix documentary, at a yoga studio or enjoying everything Detroit sports. A lifelong Michigander, he lives in suburban Detroit with his wife, young son and their personal petting zoo of two cats and a dog.