NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament First Four Schedule and Results Dayton hosted the First Four games on March 17 and 18, 2026, as part of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament. The opening day featured two tightly contested matchups, with No. 16 seed Howard defeating No. 16 seed UMBC 86-83 and No. 11 seed Texas narrowly edging No. 11 seed NC State 68-66. These results set the stage for the second day of action, which included additional games to determine which teams would advance to the 64-team bracket. The First Four, introduced in 2011 when the tournament expanded from 65 to 68 teams, serves as a qualifier for the lowest-ranked teams. It features four games: two on the first day and two on the second, with the winners advancing to the main tournament. The 2026 edition saw No. 16 seeds Prairie View A&M and Lehigh face off, while No. 11 seeds Miami (Ohio) and SMU competed for a spot in the next round. The tournament’s structure ensures that the four lowest-ranked teams—typically No. 16 seeds and at-large inclusions—compete in a mini-tournament to secure a place in the 64-team bracket. The games are held at UD Arena in Dayton, Ohio, a venue that has hosted the First Four since 2011, except for 2021, when the event was moved to Indiana due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The First Four games on March 17 included Prairie View A&M vs. Lehigh and Miami (Ohio) vs. SMU. The winners of these matchups would join the previously victorious teams from the first day, completing the selection process for the main tournament. The event concluded on March 18, with the final results determining which teams would advance to the next round. The tournament’s scheduling and format highlight the competitive nature of college basketball, as teams with lower seeds face off in a bid to secure a spot in the larger tournament.#ncaa_men_s_basketball_tournament #dayton #tru_tv #ud_arena #sling_tv
