#1 Men’s Hoops Hosts Top-10 Matchup on Saturday Afternoon

HOUSTON – For the first time in school history, a Top-10 University of Houston Men's Basketball program will play host to a Top-10 opponent on its regular home floor when the Cougars face #8/10 Alabama at 2 p.m., Saturday, inside the Fertitta Center.

With the 48^th sellout inside the Fertitta Center and heavy traffic expected, parking lots and the Fertitta Center doors will open earlier than usual. Gameday parking lots will be available at 11:30 a.m., with Fertitta Center doors opening at 12:30 p.m. Fans are strongly encouraged to arrive early to avoid traffic congestion.

This will be the second straight season in which the Cougars meet the Crimson Tide on the hardwood but the first time Alabama has visited Houston. A year ago, Alabama took an 83-82 win on a controversial ending in Tuscaloosa, Ala., on Dec. 11, 2021.

Houston has won its first nine games to open the season while the Crimson Tide have won seven of its first eight.

In its most recent action, the Cougars claimed a 76-42 win over North Florida on Tuesday inside the Fertitta Center. Freshman Jarace Walker posted 12 points with 10 rebounds for the first double-double of his career while sophomore forward Ja'Vier Francs totaled a career-high 14 points with a game-high four blocked shots in the first meeting against the Ospreys.

Senior guard Marcus Sasser drained two 3-pointers in the first three minutes and finished with 12 points before leaving the game with a laceration above his left eye following a collision. With his point total, he moved past 1,000 points in his career, becoming the 50^th Cougar in school history to reach that milestone.

The Dallas native also became just the seventh student-athlete in school history to drain 200+ 3-pointers in his career.

Junior point guard Jamal Shead finished with a game-high 10 assists, four steals, four rebounds and a blocked shot without a turnover in more than 25 minutes. The Manor, Texas, native is one of only two student-athletes to rank among the nation's Top-20 leaders in both assists per game (6.2 apg, 9^th) and assist-turnover ratio (3.7, 19^th).

A year ago, he was the only student-athlete to rank among the country's Top-10 leaders in both categories

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 ALABAMA
• Alabama brings a 7-1 record in 2022-23 into Saturday's game. The Crimson Tide is 1-0 in road games this season.
• Alabama has won its last two games, including a four-overtime thriller against North Carolina on Nov. 27, since suffering its lone loss to UConn on Nov. 25.
• Alabama will be well-rested after taking a 78-65 win over South Dakota State on Dec. 3 in its most recent action.
• Against South Dakota State, freshman forward Noah Clowney led all players with 22 points and tied with freshman forward Brandon Miller for team-high honors with nine rebounds. Miller also finished with 16 points. Junior guard Mark Sears totaled 19 points on 6-of-11 shooting , while senior guard Jahvon Quinerly added a game-high seven assists. Sophomore center Charles Bediako led all players with five blocked shots in the win.
• This season, Miller leads Alabama with 19.1 points and 8.9 rebounds per game. Sears stands second with 14.9 points per contest. Quinerly tops the Crimson Tide with 4.7 assists per game, and Bediako leads the way with 2.3 blocks per contest.
• Head Coach Nate Oats is in his fourth season at Alabama and his eighth season as a collegiate head coach.
• Oats has compiled a 164-80 career record with a 68-37 mark at Alabama. Previously compiled a 96-43 record at Buffalo (2015-19).
• Oats has built a 1-0 record against Houston during his career.
• Oats is 1-0 against Houston Head Coach Kelvin Sampson during their careers.
• Oats is a 1998 graduate of Maranatha Baptist.

SERIES HISTORY vs. ALABAMA
• Houston owns a 3-2 lead over Alabama in the series, which began during the 1956-57 season.
• Series began with a 76-68 Houston win at the Sugar Bowl Classic in New Orleans on Dec. 28, 1956.
• Houston has won the last two meetings. However, Alabama can boast of the most recent success after taking an 83-82 win in Tuscaloosa, Ala., on Dec. 11, 2021.
at Home: Saturday's game will be the first time Houston has faced Alabama in Men's Basketball in Houston.
• All five previous meetings have come either in Tuscaloosa or in regular-season or postseason tournament play at neutral sites
in Fertitta Center: Saturday's game will be the first time Houston will face the Crimson Tide in Fertitta Center.

TUNE IN
• Fans can watch Saturday's game on ESPN+ with Dan Shulman (play-by-play) and Jay Bilas (analyst) calling the action.
• Fans can hear Saturday'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 1:45 p.m.
• Fans can follow live stats by visiting StatBroadcast.com and following the appropriate links or by clicking here.

UP NEXT
• Following Saturday's game, the Cougars close out their home stand when they face North Carolina A&T at 7 p.m., Tuesday, inside the Fertitta Center during the Coaches vs. Racism | HBCU Roundball Classic. That game can be seen on ESPN+.
• From there, Houston travels to meet its second Top-10 opponent in an eight-day stretch when it faces #3/3 Virginia at 1 p.m. (CST), Dec. 17, inside John Paul Jones Arena in Charlottesville, Va. That game will air on ESPN2.
• 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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