Alabama St. Starts March Madness with Insane Game Winner Over St. Francis

Courtesy: Alabama State Men's Basketball

Alabama State started the madness in March with a thrilling “Hail Mary” play in the final seconds to steal victory from Saint Francis. Alabama State sealed their first-ever NCAA Tournament win and advanced to face top-seeded Auburn.

With the game on the line, Alabama State’s Micah Simpson, who played quarterback in middle school, launched a full-court inbound pass that was deflected multiple times before landing in the hands of Amarr Knox. Knox quickly put up a clutch layup with just one second remaining, stunning everyone watching.

Saint Francis had one last chance at their own miracle, but Chris Moncrief’s near-full-court heave fell well short.

The game was a lot more than its defining play however. Saint Francis controlled much of the contest, leading by as many as nine points. A glaring disparity at the free-throw line saw the Red Flash attempt 10 more free throws, while Alabama State didn’t shoot a single one until the final five minutes of the second half. Juan Cranford Jr. led Saint Francis with 18 points and eight rebounds, but costly mistakes proved to be their downfall.

Turnovers plagued the Red Flash, as they committed 15 giveaways leading to 26 points for Alabama State, including the game-winning sequence. Knox, the hero of the night, finished with a team-high 16 points.

With momentum on their side, Alabama State now sets its sights on history, aiming to become just the third No. 16 seed ever to topple a No. 1 when they take on Auburn.