Knox’s last-second layup lifts Alabama State over Saint Francis 70-68 in First Four

DAYTON, Ohio — 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 at the First Four.

Knox scored 16 points to help the Hornets earn a date with No. 1 overall seed Auburn on Thursday in a South Region game at Lexington, Kentucky.

Saint Francis, which lost its season opener at Dayton, made an unlikely return to the same arena as the 19th team to enter the NCAA Tournament with a losing record. Those teams are now 0-19.

After forcing a turnover in the final seconds, Alabama State had the ball out of bounds under its own basket. With the score tied, Micah Simpson threw a long pass nearly the length of the court toward a scrum of players in the lane at the other end — not unlike a Hail Mary in football.

The ball deflected off a teammate and right into Knox’s hands near the rim, giving him a simple layup for the winning bucket.

Micah Octave’s steal and dunk put Alabama State ahead by four with 1:36 left, but the Red Flash tied the score at 68 on Chris Moncrief’s 3-pointer with 40 seconds remaining.

Juan Cranford Jr., playing in his hometown, led Saint Francis with 18 points. Valentino Pinedo scored 17 for the Red Flash (16-18), who led by as many as nine.

Alabama State (20-15) is making its fifth NCAA Tournament appearance.

Saint Francis shot 59% and went 6 of 12 from 3-point range to take a 39-34 lead into halftime.

Topics

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 - 4h
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 - 3h
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 - 7h
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 - 3h
Auburn is the No. 1 seed in the South Region; Tigers seek redress after first-round ouster last year

Auburn is the No. 1 overall seed for the NCAA Tournament and is headed to the South Region, where coach Bruce Pearl and the Tigers will be trying to seek a little bit of retribution after a ...
Yahoo Sports - 2d
Saint Francis (Pa.) vs. Alabama State odds, prediction, time: 2025 First Four picks from proven model

The SportsLine Projection Model has revealed its Alabama State Hornets vs. Saint Francis (Pa.) Red Flash picks for the First Four 2025 in Dayton
CBS Sports - 11h
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 - 1h
Arkansas nearly blows a 20-point lead before holding off No. 16 seed South Carolina in SEC opener

Trevon Brazile had 16 points, seven rebounds and four blocks, Johnell Davis scored six key points in the final 40 seconds and No. 9 seed Arkansas nearly blew a 20-point lead before holding off No. ...
ABC News - 6d
Bruce Pearl points to No. 3 Auburn's resume in saying Tigers deserve NCAA's No. 1 overall seed

The Auburn Tigers go into the NCAA Tournament having lost three of their final four games. Coach Bruce Pearl isn't worried. “We lost to Alabama, Tennessee and at Texas A&M,” Pearl said Saturday ...
Yahoo Sports - 3d

Knox’s last-second layup lifts Alabama State over Saint Francis 70-68 in First Four

Topics

Related

Knox's last-second layup lifts Alabama State over Saint Francis (PA) in First Four

Alabama St. wins thriller with own spin on Hail Mary

Alabama State basketball roars back to stun Saint Francis in March Madness: On to Round of 64

March Madness starts with a bang: Alabama State earns thrilling win and North Carolina has dominant performance

Auburn is the No. 1 seed in the South Region; Tigers seek redress after first-round ouster last year

Saint Francis (Pa.) vs. Alabama State odds, prediction, time: 2025 First Four picks from proven model

WATCH: First game of March Madness ends in mayhem as Alabama State downs Saint Francis with last-second shot

Arkansas nearly blows a 20-point lead before holding off No. 16 seed South Carolina in SEC opener

Bruce Pearl points to No. 3 Auburn's resume in saying Tigers deserve NCAA's No. 1 overall seed

More from Yahoo Sports

Imane Khelif: Donald Trump does not intimidate me – I am not transgender

North Texas and Furman square off in NIT matchup

BYU and VCU square off in opening round of NCAA Tournament

Houston Cougars face SIU-Edwardsville Cougars in opening round of NCAA Tournament

Texas faces Xavier in First 4 matchup

More in Sports

Imane Khelif: Donald Trump does not intimidate me – I am not transgender

North Texas and Furman square off in NIT matchup

Texas faces Xavier in First 4 matchup

San Francisco and Utah Valley square off in NIT

BYU and VCU square off in opening round of NCAA Tournament