University of Houston Athletics

Houston Faces BYU in Fertitta Center on Friday
11/14/2019 3:43:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Cougars meet Cougars on the hardwood for second straight season
HOUSTON – Fresh off its season-opening win, the University of Houston Men's Basketball program looks to improve to 2-0 when it faces BYU at 8 p.m., Friday, inside the Fertitta Center. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.
The Cougars enter this weekend's contest following an 84-56 win over Alabama State in the first meeting between the two schools. It was Houston's 11th straight season-opening victory and the fifth straight by 28+ points under Head Coach Kelvin Sampson.
Making his Houston regular-season debut, freshman guard Marcus Sasser led the Cougars with 14 points, thanks to 4-of-7 shooting from the 3-point line.
Sophomore guard Quentin Grimes finished with 13 points, and junior forward Justin Gorham totaled 11 points with four rebounds. Like Sasser, both Grimes and Gorham made their initial appearances in the Scarlet & White.
This will be the second straight season Houston faces BYU on the hardwood. A year ago, Houston enjoyed a 76-62 win in Provo, Utah, to capture the Men Against Breast Cancer Cougar Cup championship.
Houston owns a 5-2 lead in the all-time series against BYU with wins in five of the last six games.
BUY TICKETS
Regular-season single-game tickets for the University of Houston Men's Basketball program's 2019-20 season are on sale now, and fans are encouraged to purchase their tickets soon before all are gone.
Fans can purchase single-game tickets at the Houston Athletics Ticket Office during regular business hours, Monday through Friday, and any time at uhcougars.com/tickets.
Fans who were unable to purchase season tickets can get a head start for the 2020-21 season by placing their names on the Priority Waiting List for only a $50 deposit. To reserve places on the Priority Waiting List, fans can register by clicking here and follow the appropriate links from the right column.
ABOUT BYU
• BYU has posted a 2-1 record in 2019-20.
• Friday's game will be BYU's first road game of the season
• In its most recent action, BYU took a 68-63 win over Southern Utah inside the Marriott Center in Provo, Utah, on Wednesday.
• Against Southern Utah, senior guard Jake Toolson led all players with 22 points and added two rebounds and three assists. Senior forward Dalton Nixon totaled 13 points with a team-high seven rebounds, while senior guard TJ Haws added 10 points and a pair of steals.
• This season, Toolson leads the Cougars with 15.7 points and 3.7 assists per game. Haws stands second with 13.3 points and 3.3 assists per game. Alex Barcello averages 120 points per game to rank third. Harding paces the Cougars with 5.7 rebounds per game.
• Head Coach Mark Pope is in his first season at BYU and his fifth as a collegiate head coach.
• Pope has compiled a 79-57 record during his career and is 2-1 at BYU…. Previously posted a 77-56 record as head coach at Utah Valley (2015-19).
• Friday's game will be the first time Pope has faced Houston or Houston Head Coach Kelvin Sampson during his career.
• 1996 graduate of Kentucky.
TUNE IN
• Fans can watch Friday's game on ESPNU with Ted Emrich (play-by-play) and Tim Welsh (analysis) calling or by clicking here.
• Fan can hear Friday's game on KPRC 950 AM with Jeremy Branham (play-by-play) and Houston Hall of Famer Elvin Hayes (analysis) calling. Fans also can hear the game on the TuneIn app by clicking here. The pregame show begins at 7:45 p.m.
UP NEXT
• Following Friday's game, the Cougars hit the road for the first time but won't have to leave the city limits as they meet Rice at 7 p.m., Tuesday, inside Tudor Fieldhouse.
• From there, Houston travels west to take on No. 14/14 Oregon at 6 p.m., Nov. 22, inside Matthew Knight Arena in Eugene, Ore.
JOIN the 50-50-CLUB
Fans are invited to join the 50-50 Club to support Houston Men's Basketball. 50-50 Club members help fund program necessities and enhance the experience for our student-athletes.
Fans who join the 50-50 Club will receive embroidered Jordan Brand team apparel, a signed basketball, invitations to practice, a tour of the $25 million Guy V. Lewis Development Facility, regular updates about the program and much more.
To join the 50-50 Club, fans can call 713-743-9742 or email UHMensBasketball@uh.edu. For more information about the 50-50 Club, levels of giving and benefits, fans can click here.
STAY CONNECTED
Fans can receive updates by following @UHCougarMBK on Twitter and catch up with the latest news and notes on the team by clicking LIKE on the team' Facebook page at UHCougarMBK or by visiting the team's Instagram page at UHCougarMBK.
The Cougars enter this weekend's contest following an 84-56 win over Alabama State in the first meeting between the two schools. It was Houston's 11th straight season-opening victory and the fifth straight by 28+ points under Head Coach Kelvin Sampson.
Making his Houston regular-season debut, freshman guard Marcus Sasser led the Cougars with 14 points, thanks to 4-of-7 shooting from the 3-point line.
Sophomore guard Quentin Grimes finished with 13 points, and junior forward Justin Gorham totaled 11 points with four rebounds. Like Sasser, both Grimes and Gorham made their initial appearances in the Scarlet & White.
This will be the second straight season Houston faces BYU on the hardwood. A year ago, Houston enjoyed a 76-62 win in Provo, Utah, to capture the Men Against Breast Cancer Cougar Cup championship.
Houston owns a 5-2 lead in the all-time series against BYU with wins in five of the last six games.
BUY TICKETS
Regular-season single-game tickets for the University of Houston Men's Basketball program's 2019-20 season are on sale now, and fans are encouraged to purchase their tickets soon before all are gone.
Fans can purchase single-game tickets at the Houston Athletics Ticket Office during regular business hours, Monday through Friday, and any time at uhcougars.com/tickets.
Fans who were unable to purchase season tickets can get a head start for the 2020-21 season by placing their names on the Priority Waiting List for only a $50 deposit. To reserve places on the Priority Waiting List, fans can register by clicking here and follow the appropriate links from the right column.
ABOUT BYU
• BYU has posted a 2-1 record in 2019-20.
• Friday's game will be BYU's first road game of the season
• In its most recent action, BYU took a 68-63 win over Southern Utah inside the Marriott Center in Provo, Utah, on Wednesday.
• Against Southern Utah, senior guard Jake Toolson led all players with 22 points and added two rebounds and three assists. Senior forward Dalton Nixon totaled 13 points with a team-high seven rebounds, while senior guard TJ Haws added 10 points and a pair of steals.
• This season, Toolson leads the Cougars with 15.7 points and 3.7 assists per game. Haws stands second with 13.3 points and 3.3 assists per game. Alex Barcello averages 120 points per game to rank third. Harding paces the Cougars with 5.7 rebounds per game.
• Head Coach Mark Pope is in his first season at BYU and his fifth as a collegiate head coach.
• Pope has compiled a 79-57 record during his career and is 2-1 at BYU…. Previously posted a 77-56 record as head coach at Utah Valley (2015-19).
• Friday's game will be the first time Pope has faced Houston or Houston Head Coach Kelvin Sampson during his career.
• 1996 graduate of Kentucky.
TUNE IN
• Fans can watch Friday's game on ESPNU with Ted Emrich (play-by-play) and Tim Welsh (analysis) calling or by clicking here.
• Fan can hear Friday's game on KPRC 950 AM with Jeremy Branham (play-by-play) and Houston Hall of Famer Elvin Hayes (analysis) calling. Fans also can hear the game on the TuneIn app by clicking here. The pregame show begins at 7:45 p.m.
UP NEXT
• Following Friday's game, the Cougars hit the road for the first time but won't have to leave the city limits as they meet Rice at 7 p.m., Tuesday, inside Tudor Fieldhouse.
• From there, Houston travels west to take on No. 14/14 Oregon at 6 p.m., Nov. 22, inside Matthew Knight Arena in Eugene, Ore.
JOIN the 50-50-CLUB
Fans are invited to join the 50-50 Club to support Houston Men's Basketball. 50-50 Club members help fund program necessities and enhance the experience for our student-athletes.
Fans who join the 50-50 Club will receive embroidered Jordan Brand team apparel, a signed basketball, invitations to practice, a tour of the $25 million Guy V. Lewis Development Facility, regular updates about the program and much more.
To join the 50-50 Club, fans can call 713-743-9742 or email UHMensBasketball@uh.edu. For more information about the 50-50 Club, levels of giving and benefits, fans can click here.
STAY CONNECTED
Fans can receive updates by following @UHCougarMBK on Twitter and catch up with the latest news and notes on the team by clicking LIKE on the team' Facebook page at UHCougarMBK or by visiting the team's Instagram page at UHCougarMBK.
– UHCougars.com –
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