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The first of two First Four games Wednesday begins at 5:40 p.m. ET, when Grambling takes on Montana State for a spot in the 64-team NCAA Tournament bracket.

Both the Tigers and Bobcats are automatic bids, fighting for a No. 16 seed to play Purdue in the Round of 64. 

First Four games first started in 1999. Then, only one game was necessary to complete the bracket. Now, between 31 automatic bids and 37 at-large bids, the First Four games are meant to file out the weakest of the auto and at-large bids and solidify the 64-team tournament.

The Tigers won the Southwestern Athletic Conference tournament final over Texas Southern on Saturday. They finished with four players in double figures; Jordan Smith led the way with 20 points.

Should the Tigers defeat the Bobcats in the First Four game, they will qualify for the school's first ever NCAA Tournament.

As for the Bobcats, they won the Big Sky conference tournament last Wednesday. They finished the season with the fifth-place standing in the conference. Their overall record from the regular season finished 17-17, going 9-9 in conference play. 

The Bobcats have made the NCAA Tournament in each of the last two seasons. Both times, they've played as No. 14 seeds, and both times, they've lost in the first round.

Here is everything you need to know about the Grambling vs. Montana State First Four game, including television and streaming options.

What channel is Grambling vs. Montana State on today?

  • TV Channel: truTV
  • Live Stream: Sling

Grambling vs. Montana State will air on truTV, which will broadcast every First Four game and select games in the first and second rounds.

You can also stream the game on Sling.

Grambling vs. Montana State start time

  • Date: Wednesday, March 20
  • Time: 6:40 p.m. ET

The Tigers and the Bobcats are scheduled to tip off no earlier than 6:40 p.m. ET at the UD Arena in Dayton, Ohio.

Grambling vs. Montana State tickets

Tickets to the Grambling vs. Montana State game in Dayton, Ohio are on sale now at StubHub. Buy tickets to the game on StubHub.

March Madness schedule 2024

First Four

Tuesday, March 19

Scores Time (ET) TV/Live stream
No. 16 Wagner 71, No. 16 Howard 68 6:40 p.m. truTV, Sling
No. 10 Colorado State 67, No. 10 Virginia 42 9:10 p.m. truTV, Sling

Wednesday, March 20

Game Time (ET) TV/Live stream
No. 16 Grambling vs. No. 16 Montana State 6:40 p.m. truTV, Sling
No. 10 Colorado vs. No. 10 Boise State 9:10 p.m. truTV, Sling

Round 1

Thursday, March 21

Game Time (ET) TV/Live stream
No. 9 Michigan State vs. No. 8 Mississippi State 12:15 p.m. CBS, Paramount+
No. 11 Duquesne vs. No. 6 BYU 12:40 p.m. truTV, Sling
No. 14 Akron vs. No. 3 Creighton 1:30 p.m. TNT, Sling
No. 15 Long Beach State vs. No. 2 Arizona 2 p.m. TBS, Sling
No. 16 Wagner vs. No. 1 North Carolina 2:45 p.m. CBS, Paramount+
No. 14 Morehead State vs. No. 3 Illinois 3:10 p.m. truTV, Sling
No. 11 Oregon vs. No. 6 South Carolina 4 p.m. TNT, Sling
No. 10 Nevada vs. No. 7 Dayton 4:30 p.m. TBS, Sling
No. 10 Colorado State vs. No. 7 Texas 6:50 p.m. TNT, Sling
No. 14 Oakland vs. No. 3 Kentucky 7:10 p.m. CBS, Paramount+
No. 12 McNeese vs. No. 5 Gonzaga 7:25 p.m. TBS, Sling
No. 15 South Dakota State vs. No. 2 Iowa State 7:35 p.m. truTV, Sling
No. 15 Saint Peter's vs. No. 2 Tennessee 9:20 p.m. TNT, Sling
No. 11 NC State vs. No. 6 Texas Tech 9:40 p.m. CBS, Paramount+
No. 13 Samford vs. No. 4 Kansas 9:55 p.m. TBS, Sling
No. 10 Drake vs. No. 7 Washington State 10:05 p.m. truTV, Sling

Friday, March 22

Game Time (ET) TV/Live stream
No. 9 Northwestern vs. No. 8 Florida Atlantic 12:15 p.m. CBS, Paramount+
No. 14 Colgate vs. No. 3 Baylor 12:40 p.m. truTV, Sling
No. 12 UAB vs. No. 5 San Diego State 1:45 p.m. TNT, Sling
No. 15 Western Kentucky vs. No. 2 Marquette 2 p.m. TBS, Sling
No. 16 Stetson vs. No. 1 UConn 2:45 p.m. CBS, Paramount+
No. 11 New Mexico vs. No. 6 Clemson 3:10 p.m. truTV, Sling
No. 13 Yale vs. No. 4 Auburn 4:15 p.m. TNT, Sling
No. 10 Colorado/Boise State vs. No. 7 Florida 4:30 p.m. TBS, Sling
No. 9 Texas A&M vs. No. 8 Nebraska 6:50 p.m. TNT, Sling
No. 13 Vermont vs. No. 4 Duke 7:10 p.m. CBS, Paramount+
No. 16 Grambling/Montana State vs. No. 1 Purdue 7:25 p.m. TBS, Sling
No. 13 College of Charleston vs. No. 4 Alabama 7:35 p.m. truTV, Sling
No. 16 Longwood vs. No. 1 Houston 9:20 p.m. TNT, Sling
No. 12 James Madison vs. No. 5 Wisconsin 9:40 p.m. CBS, Paramount+
No. 9 TCU vs. No. 8 Utah State 9:55 p.m. TBS, Sling
No. 12 Grand Canyon vs. No. 5 Saint Mary's 10:05 p.m. truTV, Sling

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Author(s)
Ryan Taylor Photo

Ryan Taylor is a Chicagoland native and currently resides in Lincoln Park, just north of the city. He graduated from DePaul University in 2022 with a bachelor's in journalism. He also ran cross country and track at the Division-1 level in the Big East conference. Ryan is an avid Chicago sports fan, with a staunch bias for the White Sox (sadly) over the Cubs. If not writing, he's probably lifting, playing basketball, or debating whether or not the Bears should keep Justin Fields.