The OVC Men's Basketball Tournament tips off Wednesday in Evansville, bringing together eight teams to battle for an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.
Southeast Missouri State secured the top seed in the men's tournament with a 15-5 conference record, finishing two games ahead of the competition. The Redbirds (20-11), who missed out on last year's tournament, are powered by standout guards Rob Martin (14.5 points, 4.6 assists per game) and Teddy Washington Jr. (14.4 points, 5.4 rebounds per game).
SIU Edwardsville (20-11) also locked in a double bye, while reigning champions Morehead State look to defend their title. Tennessee State enters as the No. 4 seed, aiming to make a deep run after finishing the regular season with a 16-15 overall record and a 12-8 mark in conference play.
The tournament will feature two games each day from Wednesday through Friday, leading up to the championship showdown on Saturday.
The Sporting News has everything you know to watch the drama unfold before the OVC crowns its champion and NCAA automatic bid winner on March 8:
How to watch 2025 OVC tournament live
The men's tournament will kick off on ESPN+ before shifting to the network's cable channels for the semifinals (ESPNU) and championship showdown (ESPN2).
You can get an ESPN+ subscription for $11.99 per month or purchase an annual plan for $119.99 per year, a $24 savings. Stream your favorite teams live and enjoy more sports anywhere with an ESPN+ subscription.
The semi finals and championship game can also be streamed via Sling, which offers access to ESPN channels, including ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN3 and ESPNU, through its Sling Orange Plan with Sports Extra.
Sling is the home for the avid sports fans, offering a range of sports channels so you can always cheer for your favorite teams with channels like ESPN, TBS, TNT, NFL Network, FS1 and more.
See the full game-by-game schedule below.
OVC basketball tournament schedule 2025
- Dates: March 5-8
- Location: Ford Center in Evansville, Indiana
The OVC basketball tournament will be played at Ford Center in Evansville, Indiana beginning Wednesday, March 5, with the final set to be played on Saturday, March 8.
Wednesday, March 5: First Round
| Game | Time (ET) | TV/Live Stream |
|---|---|---|
| No. 5 Tennessee Tech vs. No. 8 UT Martin | 7:00 p.m. | ESPN+ |
| No. 6 Lindenwood vs. No. 7 Morehead State | 9:30 p.m. | ESPN+ |
Thursday, March 6: Quarterfinals
| Game | Time (ET) | TV/Live Stream |
|---|---|---|
| No. 4 Little Rock vs. Winner of Game 1 | 7:00 p.m. | ESPN+ |
| No. 3 Tennessee State vs. Winner of Game 2 | 9:30 p.m. | ESPN+ |
Friday, March 7: Semifinals
| Game | Time (ET) | TV/Live Stream |
|---|---|---|
| No. 1 Southeast Missouri vs. Game 3 Winner | 8:00 p.m. | ESPNU/ESPN+, Sling |
| No. 2 SIUE vs. Game 4 Winner | 10:30 p.m. | ESPNU/ESPN+, Sling |
Saturday, March 8: Championship
| Game | Time (ET) | TV/Live Stream |
|---|---|---|
| Semifinal Winners | 9:00 p.m. | ESPN2/Sling |
OVC tournament bracket 2025
The full seeding, bracket and team records for the 2025 OVC Tournament are below:
| Seed | Team | Record (OVC / Overall) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Southeast Missouri | 15-5 / 20-11 |
| 2 | SIUE | 13-7 / 20-11 |
| 3 | Tennessee State | 12-8 / 16-15 |
| 4 | Little Rock | 12-8 / 18-13 |
| 5 | Tennessee Tech | 10-10 / 15-16 |
| 6 | Lindenwood | 10-10 / 15-16 |
| 7 | Morehead State | 10-10 / 15-16 |
| 8 | UT Martin | 9-11 / 13-18 |
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