McNeese State basketball is on a mission heading into March Madness. The Cowboys are the No. 12 seed in the Midwest Region of the 2025 NCAA Tournament and are facing the No. 5 Clemson Tigers at the Amica Mutual Pavilion in Providence, Rhode Island.

In the first half, McNeese dominated.

Clemson struggled, scoring only 13 points, while McNeese went into the break with 31. Not only are the Cowboys performing well on the court, but they also have the added star power of student manager and viral sensation Amir Khan.

Khan is the only student manager with an NIL deal and has emerged as one of the first superstars of March Madness this season.

In fact, Khan is so famous that the McNeese State cheerleaders sport his aura on their socks for the Big Dance. His star power is unrivaled.

Every year, March Madness brings new faces and breakout players who capture the nation’s attention. Amir Khan is already a frontrunner for Man of the Tournament.

Honestly, Clemson was done the moment Khan led the Cowboys out of the locker room with “No Switch” by NBA YoungBoy blasting from his boombox.

If McNeese State can hold on for the victory, they will move on to face the No. 4 seed Purdue Boilermakers on Saturday, March 22.

We might be witnessing the rise of America’s darling for the 2025 tournament.