DAYTON, Ohio — In a thrilling finale to their First Four game, a decisive layup by Amarr Knox with just one second to spare propelled Alabama State past Saint Francis (PA) with a 70-68 victory, marking their maiden triumph in the NCAA Tournament on Tuesday night. This intense matchup between two teams seeded 16th saw Knox add 16 crucial points, thereby paving the way for Alabama State (20-15) to face the No. 1 overall seed, Auburn, in an upcoming South Region clash set in Lexington, Kentucky.
Reflecting on the nerve-wracking encounter, Alabama State’s coach Tony Madlock emphasized the unpredictability endemic to March Madness. “Our games typically end with us either needing a crucial bucket or having to make a critical stop,” he mused. “Tonight, we managed to secure that key basket.”
As the clock ticked down, Alabama State found themselves with possession after forcing a critical turnover. With the game tied and possession under their basket, Micah Simpson executed a long inbound pass towards a crowded lane at the opposing end, an effort reminiscent of a football Hail Mary. The trajectory of the ball saw it deflect off a teammate, fortuitously landing in Knox’s grasp for a simple and decisive layup.
Knox descried the moment, saying, “The plan was to have our tallest, most athletic player try for the ball. Luck was on our side as the ball bounced to me, allowing me to capitalize on the opportunity.”
With only a second left post-layup, Saint Francis made a last-ditch attempt, but their long-range shot failed to connect. Despite a challenging season, Saint Francis, returning to Dayton after inaugurating their season there, joined an unenviable list of teams entering the NCAA Tournament with a losing record, now marking an 0-19 track.
Coach Rob Krimmel praised his squad’s relentless effort across a season of 34 games, acknowledging their disappointment but underscoring their championship spirit.
The game was notable for Alabama State, marking the fifth time they participated in the NCAA Tournament. A key moment came as Micah Octave’s steal and subsequent dunk pushed Alabama State to a four-point lead with just over a minute to play. However, Chris Moncrief’s three-pointer for the Red Flash brought the scores level at 68 as the final seconds approached.
Local favorite Juan Cranford Jr. spearheaded Saint Francis with 18 points, closely followed by Valentino Pinedo, who added 17. Despite holding a nine-point advantage, their fortunes waned. Saint Francis, who shot an impressive 59% from the field and connected on 50% of their three-point attempts, went into halftime ahead by five.
Knox commented on the team’s mindset, “This isn’t the first time we’ve found ourselves in this situation. We remained positive, determined to give it our all, and were confident we’d emerge victorious.”
Plagued by 15 turnovers, the Red Flash gifted Alabama State 26 points. Cranford acknowledged, “With so many turnovers, favorable results become hard to achieve.”
Closing stages witnessed a potential game-winning opportunity slipping through Knox’s fingers, with TJ Madlock missing a crucial 1-and-1 free throw. However, a turnover by Saint Francis set the stage for Alabama State’s climactic endgame move.
On reflections and future plans, Tony Madlock quipped about the forthcoming battle against Auburn, vowing to strategize after heartily celebrating this victory. “What more could we ask for than a bus ride to play at Rupp Arena in Lexington,” he added, brimming with enthusiasm.
Saint Francis faced early disruption when, per regulations, players had to remove incorrectly colored undershirts before the game commenced. Such was the rule that undershirts must match the team’s jersey color, which was red for the occasion.
Alabama State’s effectiveness from the charity stripe lacked significance early on, with the team attempting just four free throws, making one, only in the final five minutes of play.
