#14/15 Men’s Hoops Hosts SMU in Blackout Game Sunday

HOUSTON – The University of Houston Men's Basketball program begins a busy final week of the regular season when it plays host to rv/rv SMU at 11:30 a.m., Sunday, inside the Fertitta Center.

Fans should note Sunday's 11:30 a.m., tipoff time after it was recently changed from earlier published schedules.

Sunday's game features the Top-Two teams in the American Athletic Conference. No. 14 Houston leads the league with a 12-2 record with the Mustangs one game back at 11-3.

The Cougars have won seven of the last nine meetings against SMU, but the Mustangs can boast of the most recent success after taking an 85-83 win inside Moody Coliseum in Dallas earlier this month.

Houston enters this weekend's game following an 81-67 win over Tulane in New Orleans on Wednesday. Against the Green Wave, senior guard Kyler Edwards scored 14 of his game-high 21 points in the second half and led all players with four 3-pointers as Houston swept the season series against the Green Wave.

Graduate forward Taze Moore scored 18 points with nine rebounds and four assists, while sophomore forward J'Wan Roberts came off the bench to snare a game-high 11 rebounds, including six offensive boards. Sophomore point guard Jamal Shead led all with seven rebounds.

This season, Edwards leads all available with 13.8 points per game and stands 10^th in The American with 5.9 rebounds per contest. He is one of only three players to rank among the league's Top-12 leaders in both scoring and rebounding.

Shead leads The American and ranks 20^th nationally with 5.6 assists per contest, while Carlton holds the same ranking in the nation with 3.2 offensive rebounds per game.

Up Next, vs. SMU

BLACKOUT
As part of Sunday's Blackout game, Houston fans are encouraged to wear black in support of the Cougars.

Head Coach Kelvin Sampson and his staff will wear black gameday attire with the Cougars in their alternate black Jumpman uniforms.

BUY 2021-22 TICKETS
To purchase single-game tickets, fans may click here anytime or call 713-GO-COOGS (462-6647) during regular business hours.

BUY 2022 AMERICAN CHAMPIONSHIP TICKETS
The Cougars look to defend their crown when they compete at the 2022 American Athletic Conference Championship on March 10-13 inside Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas.

While the Cougars' first opponent and game times have not been finalized yet, fans can start making their plans to see the team in action by purchasing tickets.

To for information about The American Championship and/or to purchase tickets, fans may click here anytime or call 713-GO-COOGS (462-6647) during regular business hours.

2022-23 SEASON TICKETS PRIORITY WAIT LIST
Fans who were unable to secure 2021-22 season tickets may start preparing for next season by putting down a $75 deposit and placing their names on the 2022-23 Men's Basketball Season Ticket Priority Wait List by clicking here.

TUNE IN
• Fans can watch Sunday's game on ESPN with Kevin Brown (play-by-play) and Mark Adams (analyst) calling the action.
• Fans can hear Sunday's game on 950 AM KPRC or on The Varsity Network app with Jeremy Branham and Hall of Famer Elvin Hayes calling the action.
• Fans can follow live stats from Sunday's game on StatBroadcast.

TAKING NOTICE
• Head Coach Kelvin Sampson was named to the Naismith Coach of the Year Award Late Season Watch List on Friday.
• After losing four starters from last year's NCAA Final Four team and losing two of the team's leading scorers to season-ending injuries in December this season, Sampson has led the Cougars to No. 14/15 national rankings, a 21-4 overall record and the top spot in the American Athletic Conference with a 10-2 record.

AMONG the BEST
• Through games of Feb. 23, Houston leads the nation in field-goal percentage defense (36.8)
• The Cougars also rank among the nation's Top-10 statistical leaders in scoring margin (+17.4, 4th), scoring defense (59.0, 8th) and winning percentage (85.2, 10th)
• Houston stands among the country's Top 25 in blocked shots (5.4, 12th), offensive rebounds (13.2 orpg, 13th), rebounding margin (+7.0, 16th), assist-turnover ratio (1.46, 19th), rebounds per game (39.5, 21st), 3-point field goal percentage defense (29.6, 23rd), assists (16.2, 23rd) and turnover margin (+3.4, 25th).

STREAKING NATIONALLY
With Monday's release, the Cougars were ranked in the Associated Press poll for the 42^nd consecutive week, extending their school record. Houston has been ranked in every AP poll since Jan. 20, 2019.

This is the fifth straight season under Sampson in which the Cougars were ranked for at least one week. Houston finished at No. 6 in the final AP and at No. 3 in the final Ferris Mowers Coaches polls a year ago after advancing to the sixth NCAA Final Four in school history.

ABOUT SMU
• SMU enters Sunday's game with a 20-6 overall record and 11-3 mark in American Athletic Conference play. The Mustangs stand in second in the latest league standings.
• The Mustangs are receiving three votes in the latest Associated Press poll to rank 39th. SMU is receiving five votes in the Ferris Mowers Coaches polls to stand in 35th.
• SMU has posted a 6-4 record in road games this season with a 6-6 mark in non-home contests.
• In its most recent action, SMU enjoyed a 75-61 win over Tulsa inside Moody Coliseum in Dallas on Wednesday night.
• Against Tulsa, guard Kendric Davis led SMU with 17 points and seven assists, while guard Emmanuel Bandoumel and forward Marcus Weathers added 14 points apiece. Weathers also led the way with 13 rebounds and added three assists. Guard Michael Weathers finished with 11 points, six rebounds and two blocked shots in the win.
• This season, Davis leads SMU and The American with 19.3 points per game and tops the team with 4.7 assists per contest. Marcus Weathers stands second on the team with 12.6 points per game and leads the Mustangs with 7.3 rebounds per game. Emmanuel Bandoumel ranks third with 10.6 points per game, while Michael Weathers is a close fourth with 10.0 rebounds per game but averages a team-best 1.6 steals per game.
• Head Coach Tim Jankovich is in his seventh year at SMU and his 16th season as a collegiate head coach.
• Jankovich has compiled a 121-61 record at SMU and is 280-182 during his career... Previously built a 104-64 record at Illinois State (2007-12) and a 104-64 mark at North Texas (1993-97).
• Jankovich has posted a 4-8 record against Houston during his career with all 11 previous meetings coming during his SMU tenure.
• Jankovich has posted a 4-8 against Houston Head Coach Kelvin Sampson during their careers... Is 4-7 against Sampson as SMU's head coach... Was 0-1 with Illinois State during Sampson's Indiana tenure.
• 1982 graduate of Kansas State.

SERIES HISTORY vs. SMU
• Houston owns a 55-34 lead against SMU in the series, which began during the 1955-56 season.
• Sunday's game is the second of two meetings during the regular season between the two schools. SMU took an 85-83 win inside Moody Coliseum in Dallas on Feb. 9 in the most recent meeting.
• Houston has won two of the last three and seven of the last nine.
• This is the 17th straight season in which the two schools will play at least once.
• Teams met as Conference USA rivals from 2005-06 through 2012-13 before beginning competition as American Athletic Conference rivals in 2013-14.
• Series started with an 89-74 SMU win during the 1956 NCAA Tournament Midwest Region First Round in Lawrence, Kan., on March 16, 1956.
at Home: Houston owns a 28-10 lead in the series in games played in Houston.
• Houston has won the last four games and five of the last six in Houston. Only a 76-66 Tulane win in Hofheinz Pavilion on Feb. 18, 2017, prevents a longer Houston winning streak.
• In the first home meeting in the series, Houston enjoyed a 100-98 win inside Hofheinz Pavilion on Feb. 24, 1976.
in Fertitta Center: Houston owns a 3-0 lead against SMU inside the Fertitta Center.
• In the most recent meeting inside the Fertitta Center, the Cougars claimed a 70-48 win on Jan. 31, 2021.
• In the first meeting inside the Fertitta Center, Houston posted an 80-79 victory on March 7, 2019.

UP NEXT
• Following Sunday's game, the Cougars continue their busy homestand when they meet Cincinnati at 8 p.m., Tuesday. That game will air on ESPNU.
• Houston took an 80-58 win over the Bearcats inside Fifth Third Arena in Cincinnati on Feb. 6
• The game against Cincinnati is a makeup date from the Dec. 28 game, which was postponed due to health protocols in the Houston program.
• From there, the Cougars close their regular-season home slate and celebrate Senior Night when they face Temple at 6 p.m., Thursday, inside the Fertitta Center. That game will air on ESPN2/U.
• Forward Fabian White Jr., guard Kyler Edwards, guard Taze Moore and forward Josh Carlton will be honored in pregame ceremonies.
• All Houston Men's Basketball games can be heard on 950 AM KPRC.

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.

– UHCougars.com –

Upcoming Events

Recent Results