Overview

• The Houston Cougars (30-4), a national powerhouse, enter the game as the top seed after winning the Big 12 championship over Arizona.
• The SIU-Edwardsville Cougars (22-11) make their NCAA Tournament debut after securing the Ohio Valley Conference title against Southeast Missouri State.
• The game will take place at INTRUST Bank Arena in Wichita, Kansas, with tipoff scheduled for 2 p.m. ET.
• Houston is heavily favored with a -29.5 point spread, reflecting its dominance and tournament experience, including five consecutive Sweet 16 appearances.
• The matchup will be broadcast live on TBS and available for streaming on platforms like Sling TV and DirecTV Stream.