McNeese State claims March’s first upset

NCAA MEN’S BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT

McNeese State’s Sincere Parker (21) and Christian Shumate (24) celebrate after defeating Clemson 69-67 in the first round of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament Providence, R.I. EMILEE CHINN — GETTY IMAGES

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McNeese coach Will Wade and his boombox-toting manager gave March Madness its first bracket buster.

The 12th-seeded Cowboys (28-6) used a stifling first half to open a 24-point lead, and then held off late-charging No. 5 seed Clemson (27-7) for the program’s first NCAA Tournament victory, a 69-67 win in the opening round of the East Region on Thursday.

After falling behind by as many as 24 in the second half, the Tigers rallied to erase most of a 12-point deficit in the final minute.

Jaeden Zackery scored 24 points to lead Clemson.

auburn 83, alabama state 63 >> Mike Kelly made seven 3-pointers and scored 23 points, Johni Broome added 14 points and 11 rebounds, and No. 1 seed Auburn beat 16th-seeded Alabama State.

The Tigers (29-5) came in having lost three of four games.

Tahaad Petitford added 16 points for Auburn.

brigham young 80, virginia commonwealth 71 >> Richie Saunders scored 18 points to lead BYU to a win over VCU.

The win propelled the sixth-seeded Cougars (25-9) into a Saturday showdown against third-seeded Wisconsin.

Zeb Jackson scored a season-high 23 points for the Rams (28-7).

houston 78, SIU-Edwardsville 40>> Milos Uzan scored 16 points, LJ Cryer added 15 and No. 1 seed Houston stormed past No. 16 seed SIU Edwardsville.

Ja’Vier Francis added 13 points and eight rebounds for Houston (31-4), which has won 26 of 27 games overall.

Ray’Sean Taylor had 10 points for SIUE (22-12).

wisconsin 85, montana 66 >> Wisconsin got 19 points from John Blackwell and double-digit scoring from four others on the way to victory over Montana.

The third-seeded Badgers (27-9) won a tournament game for the first time since 2022.

Te’Jon Sawyer and Kai Johnson led the Grizzlies (25-10) with 15 points each.

Purdue 75, high point 63 >> Trey Kaufman-Renn had 21 points and eight rebounds, and fourth-seeded Purdue held off High Point.

Braden Smith added 20 points and six assists for Purdue (23-11).

D’Maurian Williams had 12 points for No. 13 seed High Point (29-6).

Texas A&M 80, Yale 71 >> Texas A&M snuffed out hope of another Ivy League upset by defeating Yale behind a career-high 25 points along with 10 rebounds from big man Pharrel Payne.

Wade Taylor IV scored his 2,00th point for the Aggies (23-10) in the game.

John Poulakidas led 13th-seeded Yale (22-8) with 23 points.

Drake 67, missouri 57 >> Bennett Stirtz scored 21 points and No. 11 seed Drake, a team relying heavily on Division II transfers, held on after blowing most of a 15-point lead to beat sixth-seeded Missouri.

Tavion Banks added 15 points and nine rebounds for the Bulldogs (31-3).

Caleb Grill had 14 points for Missouri (22-12).

creighton 89, louisville 75 >> Jamiya Neal scored a career-high 29 points as ninth-seeded Creighton beat No. 8 seed Louisville.

The Bluejays (25-10) won their fifth consecutive March Madness opener.

Chucky Hepburn scored 22 points for Louisville (27-8).

gonzaga 89, georgia 68 >> Khalif Battle scored 24 points as eighth-seeded Gonzaga used a sharp, focused performance to rout Georgia.

Braden Huff added 18 points for Gonzaga (26-8).

Asa Newell scored 20 points for Georgia (20-13).

tennessee 77, Wofford 62 >> Chaz Lanier scored 29 points and No. 2 seed Tennessee never trailed in a victory over Wofford..

The Volunteers (28-7) now try to reach a third straight Sweet 16.

Jackson Sivills led the Terriers (19-16) with 15 points.

arkansas 79, kansas 72 >> Jonas Aidoo scored 22 points to help 10th-seeded Arkansas to victory over No. 7 seed Kansas.

Johnell Davis added 18 points for the Razorbacks (21-13).

Zeke Mayo had 18 points for Kansas (21-13), which hadn’t lost in the first round since 2006.

UCLA 72, Utah State 47 >> No. 7 seed UCLA had little trouble with 10th-seeded Utah State, winning by 25 points.

The Bruins (23-10) were led by Skyy Clark and Eric Dailey Jr., who scored 14 points apiece.

Mason Falslev scored a game-high 17 points for the Aggies (26-8).

St. John’s 83, Omaha 53 >> Second-seeded St. John’s turned a close game into a rout with a tremendous second half to claim a 30-point win over No. 15 seed Omaha.

RJ Lewis scored a game-high 22 points for the Red Storm (30-4), which led 33-28 at halftime before doubling up the Mavericks 50-25 after the break. Simeon Wilcher scored 13 points.

Summit League champion Omaha (22-12) was led by JJ White’s 15 points.