#3 Men’s Basketball Closes Non-Conference Regular Season

HOUSTON – The University of Houston Men's Basketball program closes its non-conference regular-season schedule when it plays host to McNeese at 7 p.m., Wednesday, inside the Fertitta Center.

The Cougars enter Wednesday's game following a 69-61 win at #2/2 Virginia on Saturday. It was the first Top-Two regular-season road win in program history.

Against the Cavaliers, freshman forward Jarace Walker led all players with 17 points and seven rebounds and finished second among the Cougars with four assists. The New Freedom, Pa., native was named the American Athletic Conference Freshman of the Week earlier this week, his second weekly accolade in 2022-23.

Wednesday's game will be the first time #3/3 Houston has faced McNeese since the 2017-18 season. It will be the first time the Cougars host the Cowboys on their regular home court since a 78-67 win inside Hofheinz Pavilion on Dec. 31. 2005.

With a win over McNeese on Wednesday, the 2022-23 Cougars will tie the 1954-55 team for the second-most regular-season non-conference wins with 12 in school single-season history (in seasons in which Houston competed in a conference). The 2018-19 team enjoyed a school-record 13 non-conference regular-season wins.

This season, senior guard Marcus Sasser leads the Cougars and ranks among the American Athletic Conference Top-10 leaders with 15.9 points per game. Walker stands second on the team with 10.0 points and 6.5 rebounds per game with junior forward J'Wan Roberts leading the way with 7.1 rebounds per contest.

Junior point guard Jamal Shead tops Houston with 5.6 assists per contests with sophomore center Ja'Vier Francis leading the Cougars and the American Athletic Conference with 1.8 blocks per game.

TUNE IN
• Fans can watch Wednesday's game on ESPN+ with Matt Pedersen (play-by-play) and Houston great Reid Gettys (analyst) calling the action.
• Fans can hear Wednesday's game on 950 AM KPRC or The Varsity Network app with Jeremy Branham (play-by-play) and Houston Hall of Famer Elvin Hayes (analyst) calling the action. The pregame show begins at 6:45 p.m.
• Fans can follow live stats by visiting StatBroadcast.com and following the appropriate links or by clicking here.

BUY 2022-23 TICKETS
Fans may purchase single-game tickets for the Cougars' 18 regular-season home games inside the Fertitta Center. Supplies are limited, and fans are encouraged to purchase soon before they run out.

To purchase single-game tickets, fans may call the Athletics Ticket Office at 713-GO-COOGS (462-6647) during regular business hours or click here any time.

For the third straight season, the Cougars sold out of their season tickets for home games inside the Fertitta Center.

Fans who were unable to purchase season tickets in 2022-23 are invited to join the team's 2023-24 Wait List as the Cougars prepare to enter the Big 12 Conference. To join the 2023-24 season tickets Wait List, fans can click here.

ABOUT McNEESE
• McNeese brings a 3-9 record in 2022-23 into Wednesday's game. The Cowboys are 1-6 in road games this season.
• McNeese has lost its last three games and six of the last seven contests. Only a 52-49 win at Northern Iowa on Dec. 9 prevents a longer streak.
• In their most recent action, the Cowboys dropped an 86-67 loss at Southern Miss on Sunday in Hattiesburg, Miss.
• Against Southern Miss, the Cowboys fell behind 42-35 by halftime and never led in the game.
• Senior guard Zach Scott led all players with 21 points on 6-of-9 shooting from the field, including 4-of-7 from the 3-point line and 5-of-6 from the free throw line. Sophomore guard Trae English added 14 points and tied with senior guard Harwin Francois for team-high honors with three assists. Sophomore forward Christian Shumate led the Cowboys with nine rebounds, including three offensive boards.
• This season, English leads McNeese with 12.3 points, 2.9 assists and 1.8 steals per game. Shumate stands second with 10.8 points per game and leads the Cowboys with 10.0 rebounds per contest.
• Head Coach John Aiken is in his second season at Virginia and his fourth season as a collegiate head coach.
• Aiken has built a 14-31 record at McNeese... Previously compiled a 30-33 mark at Belhaven (2012-14).
• Wednesday's game will be the first time Aiken has faced Houston during his career.
• Wednesday's game will be the first time Aiken has faced Houston Head Coach Kelvin Sampson during their careers.
• 2008 graduate of Southern Maine.

SERIES HISTORY vs. McNEESE
• Houston owns a 6-1 lead over McNeese in the series, which began during the 1994-95 season.
• Entering Wednesday's game, Houston has won the last five meetings. Only an 83-81 loss in overtime in Lake Charles, La., prevents a longer Houston winning streak.
• Wednesday's game marks the first meeting since an 81-53 win inside Texas Southern's H&PE Arena on Nov. 10, 2007... It's the first meeting on the Cougars' regular home floor since a 78-67 victory inside Hofheinz Pavilion on Dec. 31, 2005.
• The series began with an 83-76 Houston win inside Hofheinz Pavilion on Dec. 21, 1994.
at Home: Houston owns a 5-0 lead over McNeese in the series in games played on Houston's home floor.
• In the most recent meeting in Houston, the Cougars enjoyed an 81-53 win inside Texas Southern's H&PE Arena on Nov. 10, 2017, as Hofheinz Pavilion was being renovated to become the Fertitta Center.
• In the most recent meeting on Houston's regular home court, the Cougars claimed a 78-67 win inside Hofheinz Pavilion on Dec. 31, 2005.
in Fertitta Center: Wednesday's game will be the first time Houston has played McNeese inside the Fertitta Center.

UP NEXT
• Following Wednesday's game, Houston open its American Athletic Conference slate when it meets Tulsa at 8 p.m., Dec. 28, inside the Reynolds Center in Tulsa, Okla. That game will air on ESPN2 or ESPNU.
• From there, the Cougars open their league schedule in the Fertitta Center when they play host to UCF at 1 p.m., New Year's Eve. That game will air on ESPN+
• All Houston Men's Basketball games can be heard on 950 AM KPRC.

SUPPORT HOUSTON RISE
Join Houston Rise, a $150 million fundraising campaign for Houston Athletics dedicated to championship success in the Big 12 Conference.

Every Houston Rise contribution prepares our Cougars to compete and win when we start Big 12 competition in July 2023. Click here to rise and be counted.

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 (4687).

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.

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