Take a breath, college basketball fans. You’ve made it. The 2025 men’s NCAA Tournament is here, starting with Tuesday’s slate of First Four games.
The first of Tuesday’s games will pit 16 seeds Alabama State and Saint Francis — champions of the SWAC and NEC, respectively — against each other. The winner of that game will advance into the final 64-team field, and will play Auburn, the top overall seed, for their troubles.
The headliner of Tuesday’s doubleheader, of course, comes after the Hornets and Red Flash’s game finishes. It will see No. 11 seeds San Diego State and North Carolina face off, with the winner advancing to face No. 6 seed Ole Miss. The Tar Heels’ entry into the tournament has been widely controversial, especially considering teams such as West Virginia and Indiana were snubbed for the last team in.
Whether Hubert Davis can prove his team belongs in the field remains to be seen against the Aztecs.
With that, follow along for live updates, scores and highlights from Tuesday’s First Four games:
First Four score updates
This section will be updated when First Four games begin.
First Four live updates
What channel are the First Four games on? What to know of truTV
First Four times today
- Game 1: (16) Alabama State vs. (16) Saint Francis | 6:40 p.m. ET
- Game 2: (11) San Diego State vs. (11) North Carolina, 9:10 p.m. ET
- Location: UD Arena (Dayton, Ohio)
Tuesday’s First Four games are scheduled to tip off at 6:40 p.m. ET between 16 seeds Alabama State and Saint Francis. The second game of the night, between 11 seeds San Diego State and North Carolina, is scheduled to tip off at 9:10 p.m. ET, though it could be pushed back depending on how late the first game runs.
The entirety of the men’s First Four will take place at UD Arena on the campus of the University of Dayton in Ohio.
Watch First Four games live with truTV
What channel are First Four games on today?
- TV channel: truTV
- Streaming: March Madness Live | Sling TV
Both of Tuesday’s First Four games will air live on truTV. Streaming options for both games include March Madness Live, which requires a valid cable login. Another option is Sling TV, which carries truTV and the TBS family of networks.
Alabama State vs Saint Francis history
- Series record: N/A
This will be Alabama State and Saint Francis’ first meeting in both programs’ respective histories.
North Carolina vs San Diego State history
- Series record: North Carolina leads 2-0
- North Carolina’s last win: Nov. 24, 1990 (99-63)
- San Diego State’s last win: N/A
This will be the Tar Heels and Aztecs’ third all-time meeting, with UNC winning both prior matchups, according to a North Carolina preview of the game. North Carolina first beat San Diego State on Dec. 29, 1988 by a score of 103-92 in San Diego. Two years later, UNC beat the Aztecs 99-63 in Chapel Hill on Nov. 24, 1990.
Curiously, North Carolina coach Hubert Davis played in both games for the Tar Heels.
First Four predictions
Alabama State vs. Saint Francis
- Emilee Smarr, The Tuscaloosa News: Alabama State
- Gentry Estes, The Tennessean: Saint Francis
- Jeremy Cluff, Arizona Republic: Alabama State 71, Saint Francis 69
North Carolina vs. San Diego State
- Rodd Baxley, Fayetteville Observer: North Carolina 75, San Diego State 69
- Emilee Smarr, The Tuscaloosa News: San Diego State
- Gentry Estes, The Tennessean: San Diego State
- Jeremy Cluff, Arizona Republic: North Carolina 77, San Diego State 70
First Four injury updates
- Alabama State: N/A
- Saint Francis: N/A
- North Carolina: N/A
- San Diego State: Magoon Gwath (knee)
The only notable player injury update for Tuesday’s First Four games is Magoon Gwath of San Diego State, who is set to return from an injury suffered in late February.
The 7-foot center both the Mountain West’s freshman and defensive player of the year in 2024-25, averaging 8.5 points, 5.2 rebounds and 2.6 blocks per game. He leads the Aztecs in both rebounds and blocks per game, despite not playing since Feb. 22.
Alabama State basketball schedule 2024-25
Below are the five most recent results for Alabama State. To see the Hornets’ full schedule, click here.
- Thursday, March 6: at Southern (W, 66-65)
- Saturday, March 8: at Grambling (W, 59-47)
- Thursday, March 13: vs. Texas Southern (W, 84-79) (SWAC tournament)
- Friday, March 14: vs. Grambling (W, 64-62) (SWAC tournament)
- Saturday, March 15: vs. Jackson State (W, 60-56) (SWAC tournament)
Saint Francis basketball schedule 2024-25
Below are the five most recent results for Alabama State. To see the Red Flash’s full schedule, click here.
- Saturday, Feb. 22: vs. Fairleigh Dickinson (W, 85-80)
- Saturday, March 1: vs. Chicago State (W, 80-71)
- Wednesday, March 5: vs. Wagner (W, 58-55) (NEC tournament)
- Saturday, March 8: vs. LIU (W, 71-68) (NEC tournament)
- Tuesday, March 11: vs. CCSU (W, 46-43) (NEC tournament)
North Carolina basketball schedule 2024-25
Below are the five most recent results for Alabama State. To see the Tar Heels’ full schedule, click here.
- Tuesday, March 4: at Virginia Tech (W, 91-59)
- Saturday, March 8: vs. Duke (L, 82-69)
- Wednesday, March 12: vs. Notre Dame (W, 76-56)
- Thursday, March 13: vs. Wake Forest (W, 68-59)
- Friday, March 14: vs. Duke (L, 74-71)
San Diego State basketball schedule 2024-25
Below are the five most recent results for Alabama State. To see the Aztecs’ full schedule, click here.
- Tuesday, Feb. 25: vs. New Mexico (W, 73-65)
- Saturday, March 1: at Wyoming (W, 72-69)
- Tuesday, March 4: at UNLV (L, 74-67)
- Saturday, March 8: vs. Nevada (W, 80-61) (MWC tournament)
- Thursday, March 13: vs. Boise State (L, 62-52) (MWC tournament)
First Four news
- NCAA Tournament winners and losers: North Carolina, Michigan lead March Madness list
- March Madness First Four bracket odds for men’s NCAA Tournament
- North Carolina’s arrival to March Madness First Four delayed by ‘travel issues’
