In a surprising upset, the No. 12 seed McNeese State outplayed the No. 5 seed Clemson, forcing turnovers and limiting their shooting to secure a 69-67 victory in the NCAA men’s tournament. McNeese displayed an aggressive style and strong athleticism, building an 18-point lead by halftime and clinching their first tournament win in program history. Led by standout performances from guard Brandon Murray and Christian Shumate, McNeese dominated the game, while Clemson struggled with poor shooting, especially from beyond the arc. Despite a late rally from Clemson, McNeese’s deep bench and tenacious play maintained their lead to secure the win. The upset marks the 56th time a No. 12 seed has defeated a No. 5 seed since the tournament expanded in 1985, highlighting the unpredictability of March Madness. The loss for Clemson follows a record-breaking regular season, adding to the disappointment in the ACC’s performance in this year’s tournament.
North Carolina advanced past No. 11 San Diego State in the First Four, while the Cardinals lost 89-75 to No. 9 Creighton earlier on Thursday afternoon. The Blue Devils will face No. 16 Mount St. Mary’s on Friday.
