Providence, RI–The McNeese Cowboys, led by head coach Will Wade and their now-famous boombox-carrying manager, delivered the first major upset of March Madness.
The 12th-seeded Cowboys built a commanding first-half lead, going up by 24 points before fending off a furious late rally from No. 5 seed Clemson to secure a historic 69-67 victory in the opening round of the East Region on Thursday. It marks McNeese’s first-ever NCAA Tournament win.
“We’ve shattered every record in the book,” Wade said after the game. “This was the last one we needed. But we’re not done yet—we want to keep this going.”
McNeese now advances to face fourth-seeded Purdue on Saturday, after the Boilermakers defeated High Point 75-63.
Fast Start Fuels Historic Win
Brandon Murray led the way with 21 points, including 14 in the first half, as McNeese (28-6) put on a defensive clinic, holding Clemson to just 13 first-half points. The Cowboys’ suffocating defense fueled a 17-2 run that turned a tied game into a dominant 23-8 advantage.
Even after Clemson (27-7) cut into the lead in the second half, closing the gap to 12 points in the final minute, McNeese held on to claim the upset.
“We hit them first, and they didn’t know how to react,” Murray said. “Coach tells us to play with confidence, so that’s exactly what we did.”
Chris Shumate added 13 points and 11 rebounds for the Cowboys, who have gained viral fame in recent weeks thanks to their rapping team manager and Wade’s aggressive coaching style. Despite speculation that Wade is set to take over at NC State, the coach remains focused on the present.
A Wild Finish
Clemson mounted a furious comeback in the final minute. With 70 seconds remaining, McNeese’s Javohn Garcia blocked a shot twice on the same possession before Shumate streaked downcourt for a breakaway reverse dunk, pushing the lead back to 12.
Clemson responded with a barrage of three-pointers. Jaeden Zackery hit from deep to cut the lead to nine, followed by another from Jake Heidbreder to trim it to six. Sincere Parker’s highlight-reel dunk briefly energized McNeese, but Zackery drilled another three to make it 67-62.
Missed free throws nearly cost the Cowboys—six in the final six minutes—but despite Chauncey Wiggins’ late three-pointer bringing Clemson within three, the Tigers ran out of time. Chase Hunter’s layup at the buzzer was meaningless, as McNeese celebrated its historic victory.
Clemson’s Cold Start Dooms Comeback Attempt
Clemson’s struggles were evident from the start. The Tigers made just five field goals in the first half and were 1-for-15 from three-point range before halftime. Since the shot clock era began in 1986, only one other team seeded fifth or better had been held to 13 points or fewer in an NCAA Tournament first half.
Wade’s Redemption Tour Continues
After being dismissed from LSU amid recruiting violations, Wade took a year off before taking over at McNeese, where he has quickly transformed the program. In just two seasons, he has led the Cowboys to consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances and now their first win.
Next Up: Purdue Challenge
McNeese will take on Purdue next, entering the matchup with a 9-5 record in nonconference play this season. The Cowboys are no strangers to facing power conference teams, having played two SEC opponents earlier in the year. Under Wade, they also boast a win over Michigan in Ann Arbor last season.
Now, with momentum on their side, McNeese looks to keep their Cinderella story alive.
