Mar 20, 2025; Providence, RI, USA; McNeese State Cowboys head coach Will Wade (left) celebrates with McNeese University president Wade Rousse (right) after defeating the Clemson Tigers at Amica Mutual Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Eric Canha-Imagn Images

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Men’s March Madness Upset Alert: 12th-Seed McNeese Pulls Off an Upset on 5th-Seed Clemson

McNeese became the first double-digit seed to advance in this year’s tournament.

The No. 12 seed McNeese Cowboys delivered the first major upset of the 2025 NCAA Tournament, defeating the No. 5 seed Clemson Tigers 69-67 at the Amica Mutual Pavilion in Rhode Island on Thursday, March 20. With the win, McNeese became the first double-digit seed to advance in this year’s tournament.

The McNeese State Basketball also recorded its first-ever NCAA Tournament win. The Louisiana-based university entered March Madness as a No. 12 seed in 2024 but suffered a 21-point first-round loss to Gonzaga.

Clemson entered the matchup as the overwhelming favorite, with 81.7% of fans and experts on ESPN’s Bracket Challenge predicting a Tigers win. However, the upset left only 5.7% of the 24 million participants with intact brackets.

McNeese vs. Clemson – Game Highlights

A dominant first half proved decisive for McNeese. The Cowboys excelled on both ends of the floor, particularly on defense, holding Clemson to just 20.8% shooting from the field and a mere 6.7% from three-point range. The Tigers also committed 10 turnovers, trailing 31-13 at halftime.

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McNeese extended its lead to 20 early in the second half and managed the game from there. Although Clemson rallied with late three-pointers, it was not enough to complete the comeback.

Coming off the bench, guard Brandon Murray led the Cowboys with 21 points, four rebounds, and three steals. Among the starters, Quadir Copeland contributed 16 points, while Christian Shumate recorded a double-double with 13 points and 11 rebounds. For Clemson, guards Jaeden Zackery and Chase Hunter stood out with 24 and 21 points, respectively.

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McNeese will look to continue its Cinderella run on Saturday (March 22) when it faces the No. 4 seed Purdue Boilermakers in the second round. The winner will advance to the Sweet 16.