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

Posted March 18, 2025 8:41 pm

By JEFF WALLNER

Alabama State players react to a TJ Madlock basket during the second half of Tuesday’s First Four college basketball game against Saint Francis in Dayton, Ohio. AP

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 in 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.

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

Alabama State (20-15) was 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.

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

Saint Francis guard Juan Cranford Jr. (4) drives against Alabama State's TJ Madlock, left, during the first half of a First Four college basketball game in the NCAA Tournament, Tuesday, March 18, 2025, in Dayton, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean) AP

Saint Francis' Wisler Sanon II (23) dribbles against Alabama State's Micah Simpson during the first half of a First Four college basketball game in the NCAA Tournament, Tuesday, March 18, 2025, in Dayton, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean) AP

Alabama State guard TJ Madlock, left, shoots against Saint Francis' Chris Moncrief (0) during the first half of a First Four college basketball game in the NCAA Tournament, Tuesday, March 18, 2025, in Dayton, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean) AP

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