McNeese State Stuns Clemson in March Madness Thriller: From Domination to Desperation

The madness is alive and well! The 12th-seeded McNeese State Cowboys just pulled off a jaw-dropping upset, holding off a furious Clemson comeback to win 69-67 in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. It was a game of two extremes, as McNeese went from complete domination to near devastation, only to hold on in the final seconds.

For 32 minutes, it was a clinic. McNeese had Clemson gasping for air, locking them down defensively and rolling to a staggering 31-13 halftime lead. Clemson looked helpless—bricking shots, getting out-hustled, and watching McNeese play with the confidence of a team that had no business fearing a Power Five program. The Cowboys weren’t just winning; they were embarrassing the Tigers, turning them into a March Madness punchline. Clemson’s offensive efficiency, ranked 24th in the nation per KenPom, had vanished into thin air. The Tigers couldn’t buy a bucket if their season depended on it. And, well, it did.

And then, chaos erupted.

Clemson finally decided to wake up, deploying a suffocating press and leaning on their size advantage. The Tigers, who shot just 1-for-13 from deep in the first half, suddenly caught fire. The Cowboys’ 22-point lead started shrinking fast, and the tension inside Amica Mutual Pavilion became thick enough to slice. The McNeese bench went from pure jubilation to an anxious mess as Clemson clawed its way back into contention.

With just two minutes left, Clemson had stormed back within eight, 60-52. The unthinkable was happening—McNeese was unraveling. The Cowboys’ offense sputtered, turnovers mounted, and Clemson’s desperation threes kept falling. The Tigers’ press was doing more than just disrupting McNeese—it was causing panic. What once looked like a blowout was now on the verge of a historic collapse.

Then, in the final minute, all hell broke loose. Clemson drilled four three-pointers, but McNeese kept their composure just enough. Christian Shumate and Sincere Parker got breakaway dunks, barely keeping the Cowboys in front. Clemson’s Chase Hunter hit a layup at the buzzer, but it was too little, too late. It was an ending fit for March—chaotic, heart-pounding, and controversial.

McNeese 69, Clemson 67. The 12-seed advances, and the 5-seed goes home in heartbreak.

But let’s talk about that technical foul on Viktor Lakhin. With Clemson surging, the Tigers’ 6-11 big man picked up his fifth on what looked like a total phantom call. Was it soft? Absolutely. Did it shift momentum? Without a doubt. If Lakhin stays in, maybe Clemson completes the miracle. But was it the reason Clemson lost? Not a chance. The Tigers had 32 minutes to make this a game, and they waited until the final stretch to find any sort of rhythm.

The truth is, McNeese earned this. They dominated for most of the game, weathered a brutal collapse, and still came out on top. It wasn’t perfect, but March is about surviving. And the Cowboys? They’re still dancing. Meanwhile, Clemson is left wondering how they spent 20 minutes looking like a middle school JV squad before turning into an offensive juggernaut when it was almost too late. That’s March Madness in a nutshell.