Alabama State's buzzer-beater beat Saint Francis

The NCAA basketball tournament has started, but fewer close games are being seen this year. This trend is noticeable in both the men’s and women’s tournaments. In the First Four round for men's basketball, Alabama State faced Saint Francis in Dayton, Ohio. Amarr Knox made a thrilling last-second basket to win the game, with just 2.7 seconds left. Many hoped this would signal more exciting games to come in the tournament. However, the excitement didn't last. For example, two-time defending champions UConn played against ninth-seeded Oklahoma. Although the game was tied near the end, UConn pulled ahead with a strong performance. Their coach, Dan Hurley, praised the team's resilience. The women's tournament also started with little drama. The fourth-seeded University of Kentucky narrowly defeated No. 13 Liberty University 79-78. Kentucky's Georgia Amoore scored 34 points and helped secure victory with free throws near the end. Liberty's late three-pointer made the score closer, but Kentucky held on. Overall, the top seeds in both tournaments have been dominating. No. 1 seeds in the men’s tournament won their opening games by an average of 32 points. Meanwhile, the No. 1 and 2 seeds in the women’s tournament won their games by an average of 46 points. After their victory in Dayton, Alabama State quickly moved on to play against the top-ranked Auburn Tigers. Unfortunately, they lost that game by 20 points, highlighting the challenges for underdog teams.