The SIU Edwardsville (SIUE) Cougars men’s basketball team has achieved a historic milestone by earning their first-ever berth in the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament. As the Ohio Valley Conference (OVC) champions, they secured the No. 16 seed in the Midwest Region.
Their opening game is scheduled for Thursday, March 20, 2025, at 1 p.m. CT, where they will face the top-seeded Houston Cougars at INTRUST Bank Arena in Wichita, Kansas.
This achievement culminates a remarkable season for the Cougars, who finished with a 22-11 record. They clinched the OVC title by defeating Southeast Missouri 69-48 in the championship game.
Under the leadership of head coach Brian Barone, SIUE has emphasized a “family” approach, fostering strong team cohesion that has been instrumental in their success.
For fans in the United States, the game will be broadcast on TBS. If you have access to TBS through your cable or satellite provider, you can watch the game live. Additionally, streaming services that carry TBS, such as Sling TV, will also provide access to the broadcast.