Houston Returns to Fertitta Center

Sunday, January 31

Houston

Noon

University of Houston

SMU

1/30/2021 11:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball

Watch (ESPN | WatchESPN app)Listen (950 AM KPRC)Listen (TuneIn)Live Stats Houston Game Notes (PDF)SMU Game Notes (PDF)The American Notes (PDF)

Cougars play host to SMU at Noon, Sunday; Houston looks to sweep season series against Mustangs

HOUSTON – Winners of its last seven games, the University of Houston Men's Basketball program returns to the Fertitta Center to play host to SMU at noon, Sunday.

The sixth-ranked Cougars (14-1 • 9-1 American) enter this weekend's game following an 83-60 win at Tulane on Thursday night. Houston jumped out to a 44-14 lead by halftime and never looked back in sweeping the regular-season series against the Green Wave.

Sophomore guard Cameron Tyson came off the bench to pour in a Houston season-high 31 points and a school-record-tying nine 3-pointers against Tulane. The Bothell, Wash., native became only the second Cougar in school history to drain nine treys in a game, joining Robert McKiver, who accomplished the feat three times.

Senior forward Justin Gorham grabbed a game-high 15 rebounds against the Green Wave with 14 of those coming in the opening 20 minutes. It was Gorham's seventh straight game with double-digit rebounds, making him the first Cougar to compile a streak that long since forward Tim Moore during the 1995-96 season.

Junior guard Quentin Grimes leads the Cougars and moved into the lead in the American Athletic Conference with 17.6 points per game. The Woodlands, Texas, native joins ECU's Jayden Gardner as the only players to rank among the league's Top-10 leaders in both scoring and rebounding.

The Cougars lead the nation with only 56.3 points allowed per game and a 36.4 opponent's field goal percentage. Houston also ranks among the country's Top-10 leaders in offensive rebounds (2^nd, 15.5), opponents 3-point field goal percentage (3^rd, 25.4), rebounds (6^th, 42.1), scoring margin (8^th, +17.9) and rebounding margin (+9.8).

Houston is one of only six schools to rank among KenPom.com's Top-17 national leaders in both offensive and defensive efficiencies, joining Gonzaga, , Baylor, Michigan, Virginia and Alabama.

TUNE IN
• Fans can watch Sunday's game on ESPN or the WatchESPN app with Kevin Brown (play-by-play) and Jon Crispin (analyst).
• Fans can hear Sunday's game on KPRC 950 AM or on the TuneIn app with Jeremy Branham (play-by-play) and Hall of Famer Elvin Hayes (analyst). The pregame show begins at 11:45 a.m. (CST).

vs SMU, Student Giveaway, Sticker

PROMOTIONS
University of Houston students who attend Sunday's game will receive a free throwback sticker at the Holman Street doors of the Fertitta Center.

FERRIS MOWERS NABC NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP TROPHY
Prior to Sunday's game, fans will want to visit the Fertitta Center's Cullen Boulevard lobby. There, the Ferris Mowers NABC National Championship Trophy will be on display for fans to see and take photos.

The iconic Waterford Crystal trophy is awarded to the No. 1 team in the season's final Ferris Mowers Coaches' Poll.

The NABC represents nearly 5,000 coaches at all levels with the mission of furthering the best interests of the game of basketball and the student-athletes and coaches who participate in the sport.

For more information, fans should follow @NABC on Twitter and Instagram.

2020-21 Coaches vs. Cancer, Suits and Sneakers Week

2020-21 Coaches vs. Cancer, Suits and Sneakers Week

SUITS & SNEAKERS WEEK
Head Coach Kelvin Sampson and his staff will join with college and high school coaches from across the nation this week to wear sneakers on the sidelines for both games during Coaches vs. Cancer Suits and Sneakers week.

Sampson and the Cougars will wear sneakers to support childhood cancer awareness through the Gold Together campaign, which raises funds to support childhood cancer research, services and awareness, and cancer prevention efforts targeting children.

ABOUT SMU
• SMU brings a 9-3overall record and 5-3 mark in American Athletic Conference play into Sunday's game in the Fertitta Center.
• Mustangs are tied for third with Memphis in the league standings through games of Jan. 28.
• SMU is 3-2 in road games this season with a 2-1 mark in The American play.
• SMU won its most recent game and has won three of its last four... Only a 76-72 loss at Memphis on Tuesday prevents a longer SMU winning streak
• In its most recent action, SMU claimed a 67-65 win over Memphis inside Moody Coliseum in Dallas on Thursday night.
• Against Memphis, junior forward Feron Hunt led the Mustangs with 17 points on 7-of-9 shooting and added five rebounds with a pair of steals... Junior guard Emmanuel Bandoumel posted 15 points with two assists, while senior forward Ethan Chargois posted 13 points with four rebounds... Junior guard Kendric Davis finished with six points and four rebounds and led all players with eight assists.
• This season, Davis leads SMU with 17.3 points, 7.7 assists and 1.5 steals per game... Hunt stands second with 12.4 points per game and tops the team with 8.0 rebounds per contest... Bandoumel is a close third at 12.2 points per game.. Chargois is the fourth Mustang averaging double-digit points with 10.2 points per contest.
• Head Coach Tim Jankovich is in his sixth season as head coach at SMU and his 15th season as a collegiate head coach.
• Jankovich has built a 256-173 record during his career... Has compiled a 99-52 mark with SMU... Was 104-64 at Illinois State (2007-12) and finished with a 53-57 record at North Texas (1993-97)
• Jankovich has posted a 3-7 record against Houston during his career with all 10 previous meetings coming during his SMU tenure.
• Jankovich has posted a 3-7 record against Houston Head Coach Kelvin Sampson during their careers... Jankovich is 3-6 against Sampson as SMU's head coach and was 0-1 with Illinois State.

UP NEXT
• Following Sunday's game, the Cougars open the month of February when they face ECU at 5 p.m. (CST), Wednesday, Feb. 3, inside Minges Coliseum in Greenville, N.C.
• Will be the first of two regular-season meetings against the Pirates (Feb. 17, Fertitta Center).
• From there, Houston will face USF at 6 p.m. (CST) Wednesday, Feb. 10 inside the Yuengling Center in Tampa, Fla.
• That game was originally scheduled for Jan. 14 but was postponed and rescheduled recently due to COVID positive tests and contact tracing within the USF program.
• Rescheduled game can be seen on ESPNU and heard on 950 AM KPRC and the TuneIn app.

JOIN the 2021-22 SEASON-TICKET PRIORITY WAIT LIST
Houston Men's Basketball fans can join the season ticket priority wait list for the 2021-22 season inside the Fertitta Center with a $75 deposit today. To place a deposit for the 2021 season, click here or call 713-GO-COOGS (462-4667).

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, invitations to exclusive events, regular updates about the program and much more.

For more information or to sign up, fans may visit uhcougars.com/5050club or click here. To join the 50-50 Club, fans may call Cougar Pride at 713-743-GoUH (46874).

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's Facebook page at UHCougarMBK or by visiting the team's Instagram page at UHCougarMBK.

– UHCougars.com –