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March Madness Shock: No. 12 McNeese Stuns No. 5 Clemson

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Zach Lentz | Last updated Mar 20, 2025 5:52 PM ET

Cinderella arrived early in Providence. No. 12 seed McNeese delivered the first major upset of the NCAA tournament Thursday night, shocking No. 5 seed Clemson, 69-67, in dramatic fashion.

After leading by as many as 24 points early in the second half, McNeese had to withstand a furious Clemson comeback that narrowed the margin to a single possession in the closing seconds. Clemson guard Chase Hunter’s layup as time expired wasn't enough, leaving the Tigers just short.

McNeese forward Brandon Murray led the Cowboys with a stellar 21-point performance on 10-of-18 shooting, while teammate Chris Shumate was dominant on the glass, pulling down 11 rebounds to go along with his 13 points. Quad Copeland added 16 points and five assists despite committing seven turnovers.

Clemson’s Jaedyn Zackery paced the Tigers with a game-high 24 points, hitting four three-pointers, but his potential game-winning three-point attempt with four seconds left rimmed out. Hunter contributed 21 points, keeping Clemson within striking distance until the end.

The Cowboys capitalized on Clemson's cold first half, outscoring them 31-13 before halftime. Although Clemson fought back with a blistering 54-point second half, McNeese held firm down the stretch, with clutch free throws from Jordan Garcia sealing the victory.

McNeese now advances in the Providence Region, setting up another chance to continue its Cinderella run. For Clemson, it’s a bitter early exit, capping a promising season with an unexpected disappointment.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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