- NCAA. Men's March Madness 2025 Bracket and Schedule: Today's games, scores, times, and TV channels for the NCAA Tournament
- NCAA. Women's March Madness 2025 Bracket and Schedule: Today's games, scores, times, and TV channels for the NCAA Tournament
The road to the National Championship kicks off this Thursday with an exciting first-round matchup in the 2025 NCAA Tournament. Ohio Valley Conference champions, SIU Edwardsville, will face off against the powerhouse Houston Cougars at the Intrust Bank Arena in Wichita, Kansas.
Houston, the No. 1 seed in the tournament, enters with a stellar 30-4 record, backed by a dominant 19-1 performance in Big 12 play. The Cougars are coming off an incredibly successful season, which includes winning the Big 12 Championship. Despite a rough start to the year, Houston managed to rebound spectacularly, winning 26 of their last 27 games-a testament to their resilience and talent.
On the other side of the court, SIU Edwardsville has earned its spot in the tournament with a 22-11 record, including a 13-7 mark in the Ohio Valley Conference. The Cougars from Edwardsville secured their spot with a resounding 69-48 victory over Southeast Missouri in the OVC Tournament final. This will be the first-ever appearance for SIU Edwardsville in the NCAA Tournament, making it a monumental achievement for the program, which transitioned to Division I in 2008. Their defensive prowess, limiting opponents to 47% shooting inside the arc, has been their key strength this season.
While SIU Edwardsville has been impressive in its own right, they face a tall order against one of the most well-rounded teams in college basketball. Houston's combination of offensive firepower and defensive tenacity makes them one of the tournament's toughest opponents. The Cougars have already squared off against top-tier teams like Illinois and Indiana this season, though they were soundly defeated in those matchups.
The winner of this game will advance to the second round, where they will face either No. 8 Gonzaga or No. 9 Georgia on Saturday.
What time is Houston vs SIU Edwardsville?
For those eager to catch the action, the game will tip off at 2:00 p.m. ET on Thursday, March 20.
How to watch Houston vs SIU Edwardsville?
Fans can watch live on TBS, where the broadcast will feature Tom McCarthy on play-by-play, Deb Antonelli as the analyst, and Steve Smith reporting from the sidelines. Additionally, the game will be available to stream live on Sling, which offers a wide array of sports channels, including TBS, TNT, truTV, ESPN, and ABC-your ultimate hub for March Madness.
So, set your alarms and get ready to watch these two teams battle it out for a spot in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.