Alabama State's Miraculous Hail Mary Victory in March Madness

Alabama State pulled off a stunning last-second Hail Mary to defeat St. Francis (Pa.) 70-68 in a thrilling March Madness opener.

In a dramatic start to the NCAA tournament, the Alabama State Hornets clinched a nail-biting victory over St. Francis (Pa.) in the First Four games. With the score tied at 68 and only 3.4 seconds on the clock, Alabama State’s Micah Simpson threw a desperate Hail Mary from one end of the court to the other. The ball, after being tipped, found its way into the hands of Amarr Knox, who banked in the game-winning layup with just seconds to spare. St. Francis’s last-second attempt to tie the game fell short, sealing Alabama State’s incredible 70-68 win.

The game was a rollercoaster of emotions with Alabama State trailing by as much as nine points in the first half. However, they managed to claw back and even take a brief lead in the final minutes of the game. St. Francis’s Chris Moncrief tied the game with a three-pointer with 40 seconds left, setting the stage for the dramatic finish. A crucial turnover by St. Francis in the dying moments allowed Alabama State the chance to execute their winning play.

Amarr Knox, the hero of the game, led Alabama State with 16 points. The victory sets up a challenging matchup for Alabama State against the No. 1 seed Auburn in the Round of 64. Auburn, despite a strong 27-2 start to their season, has struggled recently, losing three of their last four games, which might give Alabama State a glimmer of hope as they prepare for this David versus Goliath battle in the next round.