Texas Tech to Face Akron in NCAA Tournament First Round

The Red Raiders and Zips will tip off at 12:40 PM local time in Tampa, Florida.

Mar. 16, 2026 at 12:53am

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Texas Tech, a 5-seed in the NCAA Tournament, will face off against the Akron Zips in the first round in Tampa, Florida. The game is scheduled to tip off at 12:40 PM local time on TruTV.

Why it matters

This is an important matchup for both teams as they look to advance in the NCAA Tournament. Texas Tech is hoping to make a deep run after a strong regular season, while Akron will look to pull off an upset as a lower-seeded team.

The details

The Red Raiders and Zips will meet at Benchmark International Arena in Tampa, with the game being broadcast on TruTV. The broadcast team will feature Tom McCarthy, Candace Parker, Dan Bonner and AJ Ross.

  • The game will tip off at 12:40 PM local time in Tampa, Florida on March 16, 2026.

The players

Texas Tech Red Raiders

The Texas Tech Red Raiders are the NCAA Division I athletic programs of Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas.

Akron Zips

The Akron Zips are the athletic teams of the University of Akron in Akron, Ohio, and compete in the Mid-American Conference (MAC).

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What’s next

The winner of the Texas Tech-Akron matchup will advance to face the winner of the 4-seed Alabama and 13-seed Hofstra game in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.

The takeaway

This first-round matchup between Texas Tech and Akron will be an exciting start to the NCAA Tournament action in Tampa, as both teams look to advance and make a run in the Big Dance.