Tuesday’s men’s First Four games ran the gamut for the NCAA Tournament, resulting in a heart-racing buzzer-beater and a good, old-fashioned beatdown.
The first of Tuesday’s games pit 16 seeds Alabama State and Saint Francis, who engaged in a back-and-forth battle between the SWAC and NEC champions. With the game tied at 68-68 with just seconds remaining on the clock, the Hornets completed a Hail Mary-style inbounds pass and managed to get the go-ahead bucket with less than a second remaining for the 70-68 win.
The win was Alabama State’s first in NCAA Tournament history, giving them an opportunity to play No. 1 overall seed Auburn in Thursday’s first round. It will also be a reunion for Hornets coach Tony Madlock, who was an Auburn assistant from 2010-2014.
The presumed headliner of Tuesday’s doubleheader turned out to be a snoozer, as Hubert Davis’ North Carolina team manhandled San Diego State 95-68 — an emphatic response to critics who wondered whether the last team in was truly deserving of making the 68-team field. UNC basketball will now advance to play No. 6 seed Ole Miss on Thursday.
Check out all the updates, scores and highlights from Tuesday’s First Four games:
First Four score updates
Final: North Carolina 95, San Diego State 68
UNC proves it belongs with a dominant win over SDSU
Coming into the First Four, there were questions of whether North Carolina belonged in the NCAA Tournament. Those questions will no longer be asked after the Tar Heels pulled off a 95-68 win over San Diego State on Tuesday.
The Tar Heels led by as many as 40 points multiple times. RJ Davis had 26 points in the victory and Seth Trimble added 16 points. Seven different players scored at least six points and 10 different players scored at least two points.
North Carolina cruising to victory
We have arrived at the final media timeout and there isn’t much mystery of who will win. UNC leads 87-52 with 3:32 left in the game.
RJ Davis pushes UNC lead to 40 points
RJ Davis continues to push the UNC lead to 40 points at 82-42 with a pull-up 3-pointer in transition. Davis is up to 26 points on 8-of-12 shooting and has made all six of his 3-point attempts.
North Carolina pushes lead to 30 over San Diego State
North Carolina continues to dominate San Diego State. The lead has ballooned 30 at 69-39 at the under-12 media timeout. UNC is still on fire from 3-point range, up to 10 of 15 shooting from beyond the arc,
UNC continues to dominant in second half
North Carolina has not slowed down and continues to build on its lead in the second half. With 15:53 left in the game, the Tar Heels are leading San Diego State 57-30. San Deigo State is down to 27.8% shooting from the field.
End of first half: North Carolina 47, San Diego State 23
RJ Davis hits 3-pointer to end half as UNC dominates
RJ Davis hits a 3-pointer right before the end of the half to stretch the North Carolina lead to 47-23. The Tar Heels finished the half 7 of 9 from beyond the arc. Davis leads all scorers with 11 points. Seth Trimble has 10 points.
Magoon Gwath leads the Aztecs with eight points. San Diego State finished the first half shooting 8 of 30 from the field and 4 of 16 from 3-point range.
UNC opens up 21-point lead over San Diego State
Entering the final media timeout of the half, UNC holds a 37-16 lead over San Diego State with 3:49 left. The Aztecs had a stretch of over four minutes without a field goal. UNC capitalized with a 20-2 run and has begun running away with it.
Seth Trimble leads the way with eight points for the Tar Heels. Elliot Cadeau has added seven points. Seven of the eight Tar Heels who have entered have scored a point.
North Carolina in control midway through first half
North Carolina is on a 14-2 run over the last 3:06 and the Tar Heels have opened up a 27-13 lead with 9:17 left in the first half. UNC is 5 for 5 from 3-point range. Jae’Lyn Withers has two 3-pointers.
Meanwhile, San Diego State continues to struggle from the field, shooting 5 of 17.
UNC starts hot from 3-point range
North Carolina is shooting 4 for 4 from 3-point range early and holds a 16-11 lead with 11:43 left in the first half. Four different players have hit a triple for the Tar Heels. UNC has turned the ball over six times, keeping the Aztecs alive.
UNC holds lead at first media timeout
North Carolina holds a 10-6 lead at the game’s first media timeout. The Tar Heels have hit four of their five shots, while the Aztecs are shooting 2 of 7 and 1 of 6 from 3-point range.
Starting lineups for the second First Four game between UNC and SDSU:
North Carolina
G: Elliot Cadeau
G: RJ Davis
G: Drake Powell
F: Ven-Allen Lubin
F: Jae’Lyn Withers
San Diego State
G: Nick Boyd
G: BJ Davis
G: Miles Byrd
F: Magoon Gwath
F: Jared Coleman-Jones
Final: Alabama State 70, Saint Francis 68
Alabama State shocks Saint Francis with clutch layup
Alabama State is moving on to the first round of the NCAA Tournament with a 70-68 win over Saint Francis. The game-winning basket for the Hornets comes on a Hail Mary pass from one side of the court to the basket from Micah Simpson. Amarr Knox caught the ball on a ricochet and scored the game-winning basket.
Alabama State takes lead on late layup
Micah Simpson fires a Hail Mary to Amarr Knox, who hits the layup to give Alabama State a 70-68 lead with one second left.
Saint Francis ties game at 68-68
Chris Moncrief hits a 3-pointer for Saint Francis to tie the game at 68-68 with just under 40 seconds left. Alabama State calls a timeout with 31.6 seconds left. The Hornets have 21 seconds left on the shot clock.
Alabama State pushes lead to four with under 2 minutes left
After Saint Francis tied the game at 62-62, Alabama State scores back-to-back baskets, including a dunk by Micah Octave to give the Hornets a 66-62 lead with 1:36 left. Saint Francis calls a timeout.
Alabama State takes lead at final media timeout
A 3-pointer from CJ Hines gives Alabama State its first lead since the 15:07 mark in the first half. It’s 62-60 with 3:46 remaining. The Hornets shot their first free throw when TJ Madlock was fouled and scored on an and-one.
Alabama State will shoot their second and third free throws with a chance to push the lead coming out of the timeout.
Saint Francis holds a three-point lead
Saint Francis continues to lead with 7:06 left in the game. At the under-8 media timeout, it’s 57-54 Red Flash. Alabama State has been within one point multiple times but cannot tie the game or take the lead yet.
The Hornets are still without a free throw.
Alabama State within one of Saint Francis
Just like that, it’s a one-point game, with Saint Francis holding a slim 50-49 lead. Amarr Knox is up to 12 points for the Hornets. Micah Simpson hit a 3-pointer to cut the lead to one.
Valentino Pinedo continues to lead all scorers with 17 points. However, the Red Flash have gone scoreless in the last 2:14 and has made just one their last seven shots.
Saint Francis grows lead to start second half
Saint Francis leads Alabama State 46-40 at the first media timeout of the second half with 15:48 left. The Red Flash grows their lead by a point. After hitting six 3-pointers in the first half, Saint Francis is 1 of 2 in the second half.
Over 24 minutes into this one, the Hornets have yet to shoot a free throw.
End of first half: Saint Francis 39, Alabama State 34
Saint Francis leads Alabama State by five in First Four game
Saint Francis led for the majority of the first half and enters halftime with a 39-34 lead over Alabama State. Juan Cranford Jr. leads all scorers with 13 points and four 3-pointers for the Red Flash. Valentino Pinedo has 11. D’Ante Bass has eight points to lead all scorers for the Hornets.
The Red Flash shot 13 of 22 from the field and 6 of 12 from 3-point range. The six turnovers prevented a bigger lead. The Hornets did not shoot a free throw in the first half and shot 42% from the field.
Saint Francis leads Alabama State late in first half of First Four
Saint Francis leads at the final media timeout of the half, 32-26 with 3:26 left. The Hornets have gone cold from the field with a scoring drought spanning 2:44 and shooting 1 for their last seven from the field.
Saint Francis continues to lead at under-8 media timeout
We’ve arrived at the under-8-minute media timeout, and Saint Francis continues to lead, 26-23, with 7:12 left in the first half. The Red Flash is shooting 9 of 14 from the field but has turned it over six times. Alabama State has 12 of its 23 points off turnovers.
Right before the media timeout, the Hornets picked up their seventh team foul of the half. Saint Francis will shoot free throws if fouled again for the rest of the half.
Saint Francis, Alabama State heating up
Saint Francis and Alabama State are beginning to find the basket after a sluggish offensive start for both teams. The Red Flash is on a 10-2 run heading into the second media timeout and leads 17-12 with 11:46 left in the half. Valentino Pinedo leads all scorers with seven points for Saint Francis. CJ Hines has five points to lead Alabama State.
Saint Francis holds early lead
Heading into the first media timeout, Saint Francis holds a slim 6-4 lead with 15:40 left in the first half. The Red Flash is shooting 50% from the field but already has two turnovers. Alabama State is shooting 2 for 7 to start.
Pregame
NET Rankings for Alabama State-Saint Francis
Much has been made of NET rankings and who is in the NCAA Tournament and who isn’t. Alabama State enters the First Four with a NET ranking of 274, while Saint Francis has a NET ranking of 297. The Hornets won the SWAC tournament, while the Red Flash won the NEC. Read here to learn more about NET rankings.
Starting lineups for Alabama State-Saint Francis
With the tipoff of the 2025 men’s NCAA Tournament closing in, here’s a look at the starters for Alabama State-Saint Francis in tonight’s First Four game:
Alabama State:
G: Amarr Knox
G: CJ Hines
G: Micah Octave
G: TJ Madlock
F: Jasteven Walker
Saint Francis:
G: Chris Moncrief
G: Juan Cranford Jr.
G: Riley Parker
F: Daemar Kelly
F: Valentino Pinedo
What channel are the First Four games on? What to know of truTV
First Four times today
Game 1: (16) Alabama State vs. (16) Saint Francis | 6:40 p.m. ET
Game 2: (11) San Diego State vs. (11) North Carolina, 9:10 p.m. ET
Location: UD Arena (Dayton, Ohio)
Tuesday’s First Four games are scheduled to tip off at 6:40 p.m. ET between 16 seeds Alabama State and Saint Francis. The second game of the night, between 11 seeds San Diego State and North Carolina, is scheduled to tip off at 9:10 p.m. ET, though it could be pushed back depending on how late the first game runs.
The entirety of the men’s First Four will take place at UD Arena on the campus of the University of Dayton in Ohio.
Watch First Four games live with truTV
What channel are First Four games on today?
TV channel: truTV
Streaming: March Madness Live | Sling TV
Both of Tuesday’s First Four games will air live on truTV. Streaming options for both games include March Madness Live, which requires a valid cable login. Another option is Sling TV, which carries truTV and the TBS family of networks.
Alabama State vs Saint Francis history
Series record: N/A
This will be Alabama State and Saint Francis’ first meeting in both programs’ respective histories.
North Carolina vs San Diego State history
Series record: North Carolina leads 2-0
North Carolina’s last win: Nov. 24, 1990 (99-63)
San Diego State’s last win: N/A
This will be the Tar Heels and Aztecs’ third all-time meeting, with UNC winning both prior matchups, according to a North Carolina preview of the game. North Carolina first beat San Diego State on Dec. 29, 1988 by a score of 103-92 in San Diego. Two years later, UNC beat the Aztecs 99-63 in Chapel Hill on Nov. 24, 1990.
Curiously, North Carolina coach Hubert Davis played in both games for the Tar Heels.
First Four predictions
Alabama State vs. Saint Francis
Emilee Smarr, The Tuscaloosa News: Alabama State
Gentry Estes, The Tennessean: Saint Francis
Jeremy Cluff, Arizona Republic: Alabama State 71, Saint Francis 69
North Carolina vs. San Diego State
Rodd Baxley, Fayetteville Observer: North Carolina 75, San Diego State 69
Emilee Smarr, The Tuscaloosa News: San Diego State
Gentry Estes, The Tennessean: San Diego State
Jeremy Cluff, Arizona Republic: North Carolina 77, San Diego State 70
First Four injury updates
Alabama State: N/A
Saint Francis: N/A
North Carolina: N/A
San Diego State: Magoon Gwath (knee)
The only notable player injury update for Tuesday’s First Four games is Magoon Gwath of San Diego State, who is set to return from an injury suffered in late February.
The 7-foot center both the Mountain West’s freshman and defensive player of the year in 2024-25, averaging 8.5 points, 5.2 rebounds and 2.6 blocks per game. He leads the Aztecs in both rebounds and blocks per game, despite not playing since Feb. 22.
Alabama State basketball schedule 2024-25
Below are the five most recent results for Alabama State. To see the Hornets’ full schedule, click here.
Thursday, March 6: at Southern (W, 66-65)
Saturday, March 8: at Grambling (W, 59-47)
Thursday, March 13: vs. Texas Southern (W, 84-79) (SWAC tournament)
Friday, March 14: vs. Grambling (W, 64-62) (SWAC tournament)
Saturday, March 15: vs. Jackson State (W, 60-56) (SWAC tournament)
Saint Francis basketball schedule 2024-25
Below are the five most recent results for Alabama State. To see the Red Flash’s full schedule, click here.
Saturday, Feb. 22: vs. Fairleigh Dickinson (W, 85-80)
Saturday, March 1: vs. Chicago State (W, 80-71)
Wednesday, March 5: vs. Wagner (W, 58-55) (NEC tournament)
Saturday, March 8: vs. LIU (W, 71-68) (NEC tournament)
Tuesday, March 11: vs. CCSU (W, 46-43) (NEC tournament)
North Carolina basketball schedule 2024-25
Below are the five most recent results for Alabama State. To see the Tar Heels’ full schedule, click here.
Tuesday, March 4: at Virginia Tech (W, 91-59)
Saturday, March 8: vs. Duke (L, 82-69)
Wednesday, March 12: vs. Notre Dame (W, 76-56)
Thursday, March 13: vs. Wake Forest (W, 68-59)
Friday, March 14: vs. Duke (L, 74-71)
San Diego State basketball schedule 2024-25
Below are the five most recent results for Alabama State. To see the Aztecs’ full schedule, click here.
Tuesday, Feb. 25: vs. New Mexico (W, 73-65)
Saturday, March 1: at Wyoming (W, 72-69)
Tuesday, March 4: at UNLV (L, 74-67)
Saturday, March 8: vs. Nevada (W, 80-61) (MWC tournament)
Thursday, March 13: vs. Boise State (L, 62-52) (MWC tournament)
First Four news
NCAA Tournament winners and losers: North Carolina, Michigan lead March Madness list
March Madness First Four bracket odds for men’s NCAA Tournament
North Carolina’s arrival to March Madness First Four delayed by ‘travel issues’