The No. 12 seed McNeese Huskies defeated the No. 5 seed Clemson Tigers by a score of 69-67 in the first round of the 2025 NCAA Tournament. This result was a significant upset. In the history of the NCAA Tournament, this victory is the first time that a Southland Conference team has ever triumphed over a club from the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC).

Purdue, the fourth-seeded team in the poll, will be the opponent for the Cowboys in the next round. Particularly noteworthy is the fact that McNeese’s guard Brandon Murray played a pivotal role, scoring a season-high 21 points overall. In addition, the victory is a remarkable accomplishment for coach Will Wade, who has guided McNeese to five consecutive participation in the NCAA basketball tournament.

In the paint, McNeese scored 44 points, which is the most points that Clemson has allowed in the current season.

In the first half of the tournament, Clemson scored only 13 points, which is the second-lowest of any top-five seed in the history of the tournament.
McNeese’s bench scored 35 points, which was one point more than the amount of points scored by the starting players.

Despite the fact that McNeese’s victory is noteworthy for the Southland Conference, it also serves to show the considerable difficulties that Clemson encountered after leading the game by as much as 24 points. In spite of the fact that they outscored McNeese in the second half, the Tigers were eventually unsuccessful in their attempt to win the tournament. This was due to their poor performance in the first half, which raised questions about their level of tournament readiness.

In the NCAA Tournament, McNeese’s victory put an end to a lengthy losing streak for the Southland Conference, which had been against the Atlantic Coast Conference.
With only two teams left in the tournament after Louisville’s earlier elimination, the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) is experiencing difficulties in this year’s tournament. Clemson’s defeat is a sign of this.

McNeese will attempt to make history by advancing to the Sweet 16 for the first time since 1985, but he will have to contend with a much difficult test when he plays Purdue, the fourth seed. The outcome of Coach Wade’s future, which may involve him moving to North Carolina State, may also have an effect on McNeese’s momentum in the tournament.

A lower-seeded team has the potential to shine in the spotlight thanks to McNeese’s shock victory over Clemson, which highlights the unpredictability of March Madness and provides an opportunity for a team to flourish. Not only does this victory give McNeese a boost to his reputation, but it also establishes a standard for Southland Conference teams that will compete in national tournaments in the future.

 

Read our page on how to bet on college basketball. Visit the Betting School and learn how to wager on the moneyline, spread, and total; on your favorite team or an undervalued underdog. Sign up with YouWager.lv now and get in the game with the best welcome bonus, click below: