Providence, RI.- March is the month where legends are born.

While casual sports fans only know about the McNeese State because of the “aura” surrounding team manager Amir Kahn, the Cowboys just made sure you remember the name. This afternoon (March 20), the McNeese State Cowboys faced off against the Clemson Tigers in the First Round of the NCAA Tournament.

Most fans headed into the Tournament considered the Cowboys “Cinderellas” until they pulled Clemson. On paper, Clemson had a clear size advantage over McNeese, being one of the top rebounding squads in the country.

McNeese set the tone early, showcasing a suffocating defense that left Clemson struggling offensively. The Tigers managed to score only 13 points in the first half, trailing 31-13 at halftime, and marking one of the lowest first-half point totals for a No. 5 seed in the shot-clock era. (1999 Wisconsin, 12 Points). To emphasize the struggles for Clemson, the Tigers hit only 1 3 Pointer in the first 20 minutes, alongside 10 offensive turnovers.

The Cowboys took full advantage of the terrible afternoon from Clemson, as Brandon Murray erupted for 21 points, 4 rebounds and 3 assists. Murray’s 10/18 shooting performance was backed up by a 16-7-5 day from Quad Copeland and an explosive 13 point/ 11 rebound double-double from Christian Shumate.

The boombox is bumpin’ in the locker room as McNeese State celebrates their first NCAA Tournament win in program history. The Cowboys advance to the Round of 32, where they will face off against the Purdue Boilermakers on Saturday, March 22.

Cover Photo Credits: McNeese State Athletics