Clemson Falls to McNeese in Shocking March Madness Upset
Wow, what a game! If you thought March Madness couldn’t get any wilder, Clemson just proved otherwise. The No. 5 seed Tigers took on No. 12 seed McNeese in the first round, and let’s just say, it was a nightmare start for Clemson. The first half? Absolutely brutal. The Tigers managed only 13 points before halftime—just one shy of tying the NCAA tournament record for the fewest points in a half. It was a historic struggle, and not in a good way.
McNeese came out firing on all cylinders, jumping ahead 31-13 at halftime. Clemson couldn’t buy a bucket, shooting just 5-of-24 from the field and a dismal 1-of-15 from three. It was a frustrating half for the Tigers, who also turned the ball over 10 times. The only silver lining? They did hit both of their free throws. But when your best stat line is a perfect trip to the charity stripe, you know you’re in trouble.
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Now, credit where it’s due—Clemson did wake up in the second half. They put up a fight, scoring 54 points and clawing their way back to within a possession in the final moments. But McNeese held strong, knocking down key free throws to seal the 69-67 upset victory. The Southland Conference, which had never won an NCAA Tournament game against an ACC opponent before, finally broke through in dramatic fashion.
A major storyline from this game was McNeese’s Brandon Murray. He outscored Clemson by himself in the first half, dropping 14 points before the break and finishing the night with a season-high 21. Talk about stepping up in the biggest moment! And the mastermind behind this Cinderella story? Head coach Will Wade, who’s already making waves in just his second season at McNeese. Rumor has it he might be heading to NC State soon, but for now, he’s just focused on keeping this dream run alive.
For Clemson, this loss is going to sting. Not only did they fall victim to one of the biggest upsets of the tournament so far, but they also put up one of the worst first-half performances in March Madness history. A team with so much potential just couldn’t find its rhythm until it was too late.
And that’s the magic of March Madness, folks. One minute you’re a high seed with championship hopes, the next, you’re packing your bags after a stunning upset. McNeese now moves on to face No. 4 Purdue, and after what we just witnessed, who’s to say they can’t pull off another shocker? Stay tuned, because this tournament is just getting started!
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