After the buzzer-beater, two-point victory that the Alabama State Hornets secured over St. Francis Red Flash, ASU head coach Tony Madlock had the speech of a lifetime for his team.
The unlikely victory, which was the first NCAA Tournament win in Alabama State history, came in one of the most unconventional forms. In other words, it was the perfect way to kick off the 2025 NCAA Tournament.
In an in-bounds play that looked more like a football hail mary than a basketball route, the Hornets secured the ball of a tip-drill-esque play and threw up the game-winning layup.
"We spend more time on situational stuff," Madlock said. "Touchdown, great pass. Way to go get it, way to get it, way to get it... I want this ball and I gotta go score this ball."
Alabama State Coach Tony Madlock Post-game team speech following NCAA Tourney win over St. Francis
— HBCU Premier Sports & More (@HBCUSports1) March 19, 2025
📽️CBS Sports pic.twitter.com/zC7PiopC5Z
Madlock's praise for his team's drive in the final few seconds of the must-win matchup was endless as he hyped up his players for the ride-or-die mindset as they toppled the St. Francis squad.
"That's a winning play, that's a winning pass, that's everything man," Madlock continued. "That's everything we talked about."
Once he had wrapped up his speech, Madlock got to joke around with his players that they were moving on by saying "Let's keep playing, man." Something an Alabama State head coach has never been able to say before.
The ASU Hornets defeated the SFU Red Flash 70-68 to move onto the Round of 64 where they will face the No. 1 seed Auburn Tigers. The Hornets and the Tigers are scheduled to tip off at 2:50 p.m. ET on Thursday, March 20. The game will be broadcast on CBS.