Image Credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images

March Madness First Four Results: Knox’s last-second layup helps Alabama State to snatch a thrilling win

Winners of First Four will take part in main event against a better-ranked side.

Image Credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images

The 2025 NCAA Tournament kicked off with the First Four games at UD Arena in Dayton, Ohio. March Madness is already getting hype following the tournament’s expansion to 68 teams. Four teams will be eliminated in two days and we will move to the first round.

Let’s get to know everything about the First Four games in March Madness on Mar. 18.

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Alabama State 70-68 St Francis PA

Two 16-seed teams, Alabama State and Saint Francis went head-to-head in the first game of the evening and it was a complete thriller. The Red Flash from Saint Francis had a five-point advantage at halftime. Alabama State pulled off a comeback in the second half and outscored the Sr Francis 36-29 to win the game.

ALABAMA STATE TAKES A LEAD IN THE FINAL SECOND 😱#MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/TktQHBcwo9
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 19, 2025

Amarr Knox was a top performer with 16 points, including a last-second layup. TJ Madlock scored 11 points and 7 rebounds while CJ Hines added 10. Micah Simpson dropped 0 points off the bench. Juan Cranford Jr led the St Francis with 18 points and 8 rebounds.
Valentino scored 17 points and Riley Barker chipped in with 12.

Alabama State (20-15) advanced to the main event of March Madness and will face the No. 1 seed, Auburn on Mar. 20. Alabama State is making its fifth NCAA Tournament appearance.

San Diego St 68-95 UNC

North Carolina Tar Heels (23-13) routed San Diego State Aztecs (21-10) in the second game of the First Four games. UNC outscored San Diego 47-23 in the first half and took full control of the game. San Diego bounced back in the second game but damage was already done in the opening half. The early double-digit advantage helped North Carolina to reach the main event of the 2025 NCAA Tournament.

RJ Davis wasted no time getting into #MarchMadness mode 😤

He went 6-6 from deep and finished with 26 points in a dominant performance for @UNC_Basketball 🪣 pic.twitter.com/AJroHYPi8t
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 19, 2025

RJ Davis led all the scorers with 26 points while Jae’Lyn Withers dropped a double-double for UNC. Seth Trimble chipped in 16 points off the bench and Ven-Allen Lubin added 12. Elliot Cadeau contributed 12 rebounds and 9 points. Nicholas Boyd paced San Diego with 12 points and 5 rebounds. Wayne McKinney added 12 points while BJ Davis and Magoon Gwath added 9 apiece.

North Carolina (23-13 will face sixth-seed Ole Miss Rebels in the first-round clash on Mar. 21.

Image Credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images

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Gulshan Sharma

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A native of Jaipur, Rajasthan, journalist, and a complete soccer and basketball fan, he found the huge interest with basketball by watching videos of Allen Iverson and Tony Parker, but fell head over heels in love with the sport during the Warriors’ championship era (2015-2018). A sports game addict since his late PS1, he’s also passionate about the Eagles, Inter Miami and the Fever. He’s fortunate to have seen all his favorite teams win championships. He also has a special love for cricket and football (soccer), where he is a fan of Royal Challengers Bangalore and Barcelona.