The No. 2 Houston Cougars play in the first round of the NCAA tournament against the Northern Kentucky Norse on Thursday, March 16. The game will be live streamed on Sling, which offers half off the first month.

Houston’s leading scorer Marcus Sasser will be a game-time decision when the No. 1 seed Cougars face Northern Kentucky in Birmingham, Alabama.

Averaging 17.1 points per game, Sasser suffered a groin injury last Saturday in the semifinals of the American Athletic Conference tournament against Cincinnati. He didn’t play the following day against Memphis, which upset the Cougars (31-3) to claim the AAC championship.

Houston’s resume was secure enough for the top seed despite the loss, and now the spotlight is on Sasser’s recovery.

The Horizon League Tournament champion Norse (22-12) are making their third NCAA appearance in seven seasons of eligibility for the tournament, after the required four-year reclassification period following the move up from Division II. They have yet to win an NCAA Tournament game.

When is Houston-Northern Kentucky?

Houston and Northern Kentucky play in the first round of the NCAA tournament at 6:10 p.m. (7:10 p.m. ET)

Streaming options

SlingTV

SlingTV is one of the cheaper live streaming services. It offers three different channel packages for its users: Sling Orange, Sling Blue and Sling Orange + Blue.

Sling Blue, which is offering half off the $40 a month for the first month, streams TruTV.

What TV channel is game on?

Houston and Northern Kentucky will be broadcast on TNT.

Mark Heim is a sports reporter for The Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @Mark_Heim.