Long Beach State and recently dismissed coach Dan Monson face No. 2 Arizona in the NCAA Tournament on Thursday, March 21. The game will be live streamed on Sling (half off first month) and DirecTV Stream (free trial).

Monson’s was fired earlier this month with one concession: He’d be allowed to coach through the end of the season.

The season is still going. That he spent Wednesday preparing his team for its first-round game in the NCAA Tournament against Arizona — a team coached by Tommy Lloyd, who got his start on the sidelines thanks to Monson himself — is a testament to the resilience of this coaching lifer and players who took responsibility for the meltdown.

Monson’s fate was sealed after the five-game skid dropped the Beach — the nickname for the school that hasn’t won an NCAA game since 1973 — to 18-14, its chances of a run to March Madness barely a blip, even in a conference with no true powerhouses.

It was portrayed as a mutual decision to part ways. Monson said the first-year athletic director, Bobby Smitheran, told him coaching out the final few weeks of the season would give him a chance for a well-deserved sendoff.

After three wins in three nights last week, the Beach found themselves cutting down the nets at the Big West Tournament, then waiting to see where they’d go for a most-unexpected trip to the NCAA tourney.

Earlier this week, a school official confirmed this once-in-a-lifetime run to the tournament won’t change the end result. Monson’s tenure as Long Beach State’s coach will end — either Thursday, or Saturday, or, who knows, a week or two down the road.

When is Arizona-Long Beach St.?

Arizona and Long Beach State play at 1 p.m. (2 p.m. ET) on Thursday, March 21.

Will games be live streamed?

Sling

Sling Orange is $40 a month (half off the first month) and offers ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPN3.

DirecTV Stream

DirecTV Stream offers a free trial.

There are four options of DirecTV Stream:

The Entertainment Package, which consists of 65+ channels, is $69.99 until the promotion runs out April 30. It’s the basic package for can’t-miss entertainment – including ESPN, TNT, Nickelodeon and HGTV.

The Choice Package has more than 90 channels and is $84.99 during the promotion. The channels in ENTERTAINMENT, plus MLB Network, NBA TV, college sports networks, and more. Enjoy Regional Sports Networks with no additional fees.

The Ultimate Package has more than 130 channels and is $114.99 during the promotion. Everything in CHOICE, plus Oxygen, Golf Channel, NHL Network, Universal Kids and more.

The Premier Package has more than 140 channels and is $159.99 during the promotion. Everything in ULTIMATE, plus HBO Max, SHOWTIME, STARZ, Cinemax and more.

DirecTV Stream offers a free trial that doesn’t require much effort.

To sign up, enter a phone number, email address and credit card, and you’ll receive five days of the service without charge.

In addition, enhance your experience with the DirecTV Stream device. While it doesn’t include a free trial, it give you access to thousands of apps like Netflix and more on Google Play. You can search using the voice remote with Google Assistant, and you can enjoy a traditional live TV channel guide. It is sold separately.

Will games be televised?

Arizona and Long Beach State will be televised on TBS.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.