How the miracle of March Madness shined its light on Alabama State basketball with last second win

In a tournament where madness is the norm, Alabama State basketball made some of its own Tuesday in Dayton, Ohio.

The Hornets needed some of that March magic in a tied game with three seconds left. The Hornets found it as Micah Simpson heaved a full-court pass that got bounced around before falling in the hands of Amarr Knox.

Knox made a layup to give the Hornets their first ever NCAA Tournament win in program history, 70-68 over Saint Francis.

The full-court pass wasn't even intended to go to Knox, a guard. But in March, where anything can happen, Knox was the one who ended up being the hero.

While the victory was a milestone for the ASU program, it was big for this season's team as it marked Alabama State's 20th win. The historical markers weren't loss on coach Tony Madlock after the game.

It will be something that Madlock and his players will remember for a long time, and he will always have his son, senior guard TJ Madlock, to share it with.

"Man, we're going to have stories forever, aren't we, for everything that happened with Alabama State – first time winning a tournament game, got to 20 wins this year. You know how hard that is for an HBCU school? It's so hard because you have to play those money games early," Tony Madlock said. "But for us to just fight and fight and fight and find a way to get to 20 wins, it just means so much, again, to our program, to the city of Montgomery, to Alabama State University.

"Again, we just want to make that city proud."

Top-seeded Auburn is up next for the Hornets. Even if it goes as expected with the top-seeded Tigers, it won't spoil what happened Tuesday in Dayton. The Hornets and the Tigers will tip at 1:50 p.m. CT on Thursday on CBS at historic Rupp Arena in Lexington, Kentucky.

For these history-making Hornets, it will just be another mark of history and tradition that they have made this year.

"How can you beat that? How can you beat that for a school in the SWAC that has a lot of great tradition for us to go play at Rupp Arena? Nothing like it. We can't wait," the coach said.

This article originally appeared on Montgomery Advertiser: Alabama State basketball found its own March Madness miracle vs. Saint Francis

Topics

Watch: Alabama State basketball advances in March Madness with miracle Hail Mary

The Alabama State Hornets men's basketball team has won its first NCAA Tournament game, thanks to a Hail Mary.
Yahoo Sports - 8h
Alabama State basketball roars back to stun Saint Francis in March Madness: On to Round of 64

Amarr Knox hit a last-second shot as Alabama State basketball stunned Saint Francis in the First Four of March Madness. Up next: Auburn.
Yahoo Sports - 8h
WATCH: First game of March Madness ends in mayhem as Alabama State downs Saint Francis with last-second shot

March Madness kicked off with a mad finish in the first game of the First Four on Tuesday
CBS Sports - 3h
March Madness 2025: Alabama State wins NCAA tournament's first game with Hail Mary basket by Amarr Knox

Alabama State's first March Madness win was a wild one.
Yahoo Sports - 8h
How Clemson basketball's win vs SMU in ACC tournament impacts March Madness predictions

Here's a look at how Clemson basketball's win vs SMU in the ACC tournament could affect its March Madness bracket predictions.
Yahoo Sports - 5d
Knox's last-second layup lifts Alabama State over Saint Francis (PA) in First Four

Amarr Knox’s layup with a second left lifted Alabama State to its first NCAA Tournament win Tuesday night, 70-68 over Saint Francis (PA) in a matchup of No. 16 seeds in the First Four. Knox scored ...
Yahoo Sports - 5h
Alabama State started March Madness 2025 with a chaotic game-winning shot

March Madness 2025 started with a bang.
Yahoo Sports - 8h
March Madness starts with a bang: Alabama State earns thrilling win and North Carolina has dominant performance

Alabama State kicked off the 2025 edition of March Madness with a thrilling 70-68 win over Saint Francis (PA) and North Carolina dominates San Diego State 95-68 in First Four games.
Yahoo Sports - 4h
How Tennessee basketball bracketology changed with win vs Auburn in SEC tournament

Tennessee basketball didn't hop to a No. 1 seed with its win against Auburn, but it improved its projections for March Madness.
Yahoo Sports - 3d
How Mississippi State basketball's loss to Missouri impacts March Madness bracket predictions

Mississippi State basketball lost by 12 points to Missouri in the SEC tournament. Here's how it could impact the March Madness bracket.
Yahoo Sports - 5d
WATCH: RJ Melendez explains how slumping Mississippi State can make March Madness run

Mississippi State hasn't played its best basketball of late, but RJ Melendez says the Bulldogs are still well prepared to make a March Madness run
Yahoo Sports - 5d
Alabama basketball’s March Madness opponent is Green Bay to open NCAA Tournament bracket

It’s Alabama vs. Green Bay in March Madness to open its 2025 NCAA Tournament women’s bracket. Here’s what to know about the first-round game.
Yahoo Sports - 1d
Where Alabama basketball stands in March Madness bracket predictions

Where Alabama basketball March Madness bracketology and predictions stand on Selection Sunday, when 2025 NCAA Tournament bracket will be revealed.
Yahoo Sports - 3d
How Abigail Netherton's last-second shot made TSSAA girls basketball history for Van Buren

Van Buren County will play for a historic TSSAA girls basketball state championship after beating Coalfield on Abigail Netherton's last-second shot.
Yahoo Sports - 4d
Faye Williams, Bartlett girls basketball flex height in last-second TSSAA state tournament win

A late shot from Bartlett junior Faye Williams sealed the team's win vs. Oak Ridge as it advanced in the TSSAA girls basketball state tournament.
Yahoo Sports - 5d
Ball State women's basketball defeats Toledo in MAC Championship; final score, takeaways

Ball State women's basketball won the MAC Tournament for with a win over Toledo. How the Cardinals punched their ticket to Women's March Madness:
Yahoo Sports - 3d
Alabama State basketball punches NCAA Tournament ticket with SWAC conference title

With its 60-56 win over Jackson State in Saturday's SWAC Tournament, Alabama is heading to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in 14 years.
Yahoo Sports - 3d
How Clemson basketball's loss vs Louisville in ACC tournament impacts March Madness predictions

Here's a look at how Clemson basketball's loss vs Louisville in the ACC tournament could affect its March Madness bracket predictions.
Yahoo Sports - 4d
Alabama women’s basketball March Madness predictions: Where Crimson Tide could land in NCAA bracket

Where Alabama women’s basketball’s March Madness predictions stand on Selection Sunday, when the 2025 NCAA Tournament bracket will be revealed.
Yahoo Sports - 3d
Colorado State steals NCAA Tournament auto-bid: How Rams win affects March Madness bracket

NCAA Tournament bubble teams have another thing to worry about after Colorado State assured itself a spot in March Madness.
Yahoo Sports - 3d
How to Watch March Madness 2025

Here’s how you can tune in to watch the men’s and women’s teams fight to win the 2025 NCAA Division I Basketball championship.
Wired - 6d
Alabama St. wins thriller with own spin on Hail Mary

Amarr Knox's layup with a second left lifted Alabama State to its first NCAA tournament win Tuesday night, 70-68 over Saint Francis in a matchup of No. 16 seeds in the First Four.
ESPN - 4h
Fayetteville State men's basketball wins dramatic NCAA Tournament opener in overtime

Fayetteville State men's basketball made history with its first-ever NCAA D2 Tournament win, beating Fairmont State in OT. Here's how it happened.
Yahoo Sports - 3d
Alabama vs Robert Morris schedule, TV channel: How to watch March Madness NCAA Tournament game

What time is the Alabama vs Robert Morris NCAA Tournament game? How to watch Crimson Tide vs Colonials March Madness game on Friday, March 21 on TV.
Yahoo Sports - 2d
Ball State women's basketball tickets for 2025 NCAA Women's Tournament: Prices, how to buy

Want to buy tickets to Ball State women's basketball's NCAA Tournament opener? Here's how, including prices for Women's March Madness tickets:
Yahoo Sports - 2d
Could March Madness No. 1 seed be on the line for Alabama basketball vs Florida?

A spot in the SEC championship game may not be the only thing on the line between Alabama basketball and Florida Saturday afternoon.
Yahoo Sports - 3d
Can Missouri basketball reach Sweet 16 in March Madness bracket? Our prediction

Can Missouri basketball reach the NCAA bracket’s Sweet 16? Our 2025 March Madness predictions show how MU can break 16-year second weekend absence.
Yahoo Sports - 1d
United creates its own March Madness with 3-2 win in Las Vegas

Mar. 16—Maybe March Madness is not entirely exclusive to basketball. New Mexico United stole a page from the month's collective insanity, beating the buzzer (so to speak) with jaw-dropping goal in ...
Yahoo Sports - 2d
Oklahoma State basketball to host Wichita State in NIT bracket after missing March Madness

Oklahoma State basketball to play Wichita State at Gallagher-Iba in NIT bracket after missing March Madness.
Yahoo Sports - 2d
Class 5A girls basketball: El Reno tops Booker T. Washington for second straight state title

The El Reno girls basketball team earned a 68-52 win over Booker T. Washington to claim its second straight Class 5A state championship.
Yahoo Sports - 3d
How to buy Kentucky women’s basketball tickets for 2025 March Madness

Want to buy tickets for the Kentucky women’s basketball NCAA Tournament 2025 opener vs. Liberty? Here’s how, including prices for March Madness.
Yahoo Sports - 2d
Labaron Philon becoming the player Alabama basketball needs, and it showed in SEC Tournament

Labaron Philon showed out for Alabama basketball vs Kentucky in SEC Tournament, and he could be a big factor in March Madness
Yahoo Sports - 4d
After dispatching Alabama, Florida basketball eager for second shot at SEC Tournament title

Florida basketball has won 11 of last 12 but will get another test facing home state Tennessee in SEC Tournament finals in Nashville
Yahoo Sports - 3d
Where Penn State basketball stands in March Madness bracket predictions

Where Penn State basketball March Madness bracketology and predictions stand on Selection Sunday, when 2025 NCAA Tournament bracket will be revealed.
Yahoo Sports - 3d
What to know: Auburn basketball facing Alabama State or Saint Francis to start March Madness

Who will Auburn basketball play to open the NCAA Tournament? It'll be one of these two mid-majors.
Yahoo Sports - 2d
How far will Michigan State go in March Madness? Predictions for Spartans in NCAA tournament

Our columnists and beat writer weigh in on how far Michigan State basketball will advance in the NCAA tournament.
Yahoo Sports - 1d
March Madness to March Sadness. Ohio State declines invitation to College Basketball Crown

The Ohio State basketball team failed to make the March Madness NCAA Tournament and has also declined an invitation to the College Basketball Crown.
Yahoo Sports - 1d
Why Alabama basketball was without its analytics team in SEC Tournament win over Kentucky

Alabama basketball had all it needed on the floor Friday to dispatch Kentucky from the SEC Tournament, but why didn't it have its analytics team?
Yahoo Sports - 4d
Ready for the madness? How to watch, stream the 2025 NCAA March Madness Tournament

College basketball fans can go big or go home with their bracket as the 2025 NCAA March Madness tournament is now set. Here's when and how to watch.
Yahoo Sports - 1d