Saturday’s Round of 32 action is headlined by a clash of college basketball heavyweights who entered the 2025 NCAA Tournament in vastly different positions.
No. 1-seed Houston is a staple in the upper echelons of the college basketball ecosystem, engineering Sweet 16 runs in each of the last five seasons — one of which ended with a Final Four appearance (2021). Kelvin Sampson’s team looks well-equipped to keep that tradition alive in 2025, posting a 31-4 record en route to a fourth-straight conference title.
STREAM: Watch Houston vs. Gonzaga live with Sling TV
Led by All-Big 12 first teamers LJ Cryer and J’Wan Roberts and conference Defensive Player of the Year Joseph Kugler, the Cougars are as strong as anyone in the field. And yet, when they face off against No. 8-seeded Gonzaga, they’ll be greeted by quite the adversary — a Zags side spearheaded by Sweet 16 prestige … and three all-conference first team standouts of its own. Nolan Hickman, Graham Ike and Ryan Nembhard are a daunting triumvirate for any side to contest. Just ask No. 9-seed Georgia, who surrendered 34 to the trio in its 21-point loss on Thursday.
The Sporting News is tracking live updates from Saturday’s Houston vs. Gonzaga matchup. Follow below for highlights, live analysis and more as the Round of 32 rolls on from Wichita State’s home ground.
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Houston vs. Gonzaga live score
Houston vs. Gonzaga live updates, results, highlights from 2025 March Madness game
9:16 p.m.: The Cougars’ defense is world-renowned for its ability to undo even the most of prolific of offenses. That reputation remains intact through the opening 14 minutes of o; the Zags are shooting just 42 percent from the field at present. However, Houston’s offense has been the standouts thus far; the Cougars are shooting 48 percent from the field and 50 percent from three.
TOUGH finish from Emanuel Sharp
#MarchMadness @UHCougarMBK pic.twitter.com/Hzajvuxol0
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 23, 2025
9:10 p.m.: Cryer’s hot spell continues! He’s up to 13 points tonight, one more than the Bulldogs have scored through 12 minutes.
Houston leads 24-12.
9:00 p.m.: Hosuton continues to show off its might on both ends of the floor in the game’s opening moments. LJ Cryer’s jumper is money thus far; he’s hit four so far, two of which came from behind the three-point line. The Cougars lead 17-8 with a little less than 12 minutes left in the first half.
LJ Cryer buries a pair of quick threes
#MarchMadness @UHCougarMBK pic.twitter.com/vWDyELmXjn
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 23, 2025
8:52 p.m.: The Cougars came out the gate with some vigor, swiftly tallying 10 points in the game’s first five minutes or so. The Bulldogs look a bit shell-shocked at the moment. Perhaps the first television timeout will allow them to get their bearings back.
8:45 p.m.: The action is underway! And Houston starts the match with a flourish, collecting a first-possession basket via a Joseph Tugler tip-in.
8:40 p.m.: Expect fireworks from tonight’s contest, which is set to tip off in about five minutes.
Locked in
#MarchMadness#ForTheCity x #GoCoogs pic.twitter.com/05yABWPl8M
— Houston Men’s Hoops
(@UHCougarMBK) March 23, 2025
8:30 p.m.: Here’s a look at the starting lineups for tonight’s joust:
Houston:
- LJ Cryer
- Milos Uzan
- Joseph Tugler
- J’Wan Roberts
- Emmanuel Sharp
Gonzaga:
- Ryan Nembhard
- Nolan Hickman
- Graham Ike
- Braden Huff
- Khalif Battle
8:15 p.m.: THe Zags are on the floor! Expect the same from Houston in due time!
Zags have arrived
pic.twitter.com/tRhcyfjsx7
— Gonzaga Basketball (@ZagMBB) March 23, 2025
7:15 p.m.: There’s plenty of support for the Cougars as we near about an hour from tip-off. Check it out for yourself:
Here come the Cougars
#MarchMadness#ForTheCity x #GoCoogs pic.twitter.com/uRFNys9v7Q
— Houston Men’s Hoops
6:30 p.m.: We’re about two hours from the start of tonight’s matchup. Prep work is already underway, with both sides readying for their duel in shootaround.
Final prep
pic.twitter.com/LR8KBcnrEP
— Gonzaga Basketball (@ZagMBB) March 22, 2025
Shootaround
#ForTheCity x #GoCoogs pic.twitter.com/ESP9ZXTObr
— Houston Men’s Hoops
Houston vs. Gonzaga start time
- Date: Saturday, March 22
- Time: 8:40 p.m. ET (6:40 p.m. local time)
The Cougars and Bulldogs will tip off at 8:40 p.m. ET (6:40 p.m. local time) on Saturday. The match will be played at Intrust Bank Arena in Wichita, Kansas.
What channel is Houston vs. Gonzaga on today?
- TV channels: TNT
- Live stream: Sling, Max, March Madness App
Saturday’s matchup between Houston vs. Gonzaga will be aired nationally on TNT. Cord-cutters can find the action on Sling, Max or the March Madness App, which allows cable users to view all games broadcast on TNT, TBS and TruTV.
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NCAA Tournament schedule 2025
Round 2
Saturday, March 22
| Game | Time (ET) | TV |
|---|---|---|
| (4) Purdue vs. (12) McNeese | 12:10 p.m. | CBS |
| (2) St. John’s vs. (10) Arkansas | 2:30 p.m. | CBS |
| (4) Texas A&M vs. (5) Michigan | 5 p.m. | CBS |
| (3) Texas Tech vs. (11) Drake | 6 p.m. | TNT |
| (1) Auburn vs. (9) Creighton | 7 p.m. | TBS |
| (3) Wisconsin vs. (6) BYU | 7:30 p.m. | CBS |
| (1) Houston vs. (8) Gonzaga | 8:30 p.m. | TNT |
| (2) Tennessee vs. (7) UCLA | 9:30 p.m. | TBS |
Sunday, March 23
| Game | Time (ET) | TV |
|---|---|---|
| 8. UConn vs. 1. Florida | Noon | CBS |
| 9. Baylor vs. 1. Duke | 2:30 p.m. | CBS |
| 6. Illinois vs. 3. Kentucky | 5 p.m. | CBS |
| 7. Saint Mary’s vs. 2. Alabama | 6 p.m. | TNT |
| 12. Colorado State vs. 4. Maryland | 7 p.m. | TBS |
| 6. Ole Miss vs. 3. Iowa State | 7:30 p.m. | truTV |
| 10. New Mexico vs. 2. Michigan State | 8:30 p.m. | TNT |
| 5. Oregon vs. 4. Arizona | 9:30 p.m. | TBS |
Sweet 16
Thursday, March 27
| Game | Time (ET) | TV |
|---|---|---|
| TBD vs. TBD | 7 p.m. | |
| TBD vs. TBD | 7:30 p.m. | |
| TBD vs. TBD | 8:45 p.m. | |
| TBD vs. TBD | 9:30 p.m. |
Friday, March 28
| Game | Time (ET) | TV |
|---|---|---|
| TBD vs. TBD | 7 p.m. | |
| TBD vs. TBD | 7:30 p.m. | |
| TBD vs. TBD | 8:45 p.m. | |
| TBD vs. TBD | 9:30 p.m. |
Elite Eight
Saturday, March 29
| Game | Time (ET) | TV |
|---|---|---|
| TBD vs. TBD | 6 p.m. | |
| TBD vs. TBD | 8:30 p.m. |
Sunday, March 30
| Game | Time (ET) | TV |
|---|---|---|
| TBD vs. TBD | 2 p.m. | |
| TBD vs. TBD | 4:55 p.m. |
Final Four
Saturday, April 5
| Game | Time (ET) | TV |
|---|---|---|
| TBD vs. TBD | 6 p.m. | CBS |
| TBD vs. TBD | 8:30 p.m. | CBS |
National championship
Monday, April 7
| Game | Time (ET) | TV |
|---|---|---|
| TBD vs. TBD | 9 p.m. | CBS |
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