McNeese upsets fifth-seeded Clemson 69-67 in the first round of the NCAA Tournament for the Cowboy's first NCAA Tournament win in program history.

It’s Purdue Boilermakers vs McNeese Cowboys in the March Madness bracket. Here’s our prediction, pick for the 2025 NCAA Tournament basketball game.

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The McNeese State Cowboys pulled off the first shocker of the 2025 NCAA Tournament on Thursday, upsetting No. 5 Clemson with a stifling first half to win, 69-67.

Clemson went one and done in the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2021 and suffered its second worst upset (in terms of seeding) in NCAA history. This is a developing story and will be updated.

It won’t need greater description. People will know it was the Cowboys' 69-67 win over the Tigers. McNeese State had never won an NCAA tournament game before. Their football team plays in the Championship Subdivision. Their athletic accomplishments are rarely noted outside of Lake Charles.

Wade has spent the last two seasons with McNeese, making it to two NCAA Tournament appearances. However, on Thursday, before his move to the ACC, Wade and his No. 12 seed Cowboys pulled off the first big upset of this year's tournament, defeating Wade's alma mater, the No. 5 seed Clemson Tigers, 69-67.

McNeese State head coach Will Wade, reportedly headed to N.C. State after the NCAA Tournament, was charged with a technical foul for arguing with officials in the second half of Purdue’s second-round win.