#14/14 Men’s Hoops Hosts Senior Night on Thursday

HOUSTON – For the final time in their careers, University of Houston seniors Taze Moore, Kyler Edwards, Josh Carlton and Fabian White Jr. will compete in the Fertitta Center when the Cougars face Temple at 6 p.m., Thursday, in American Athletic Conference action.

During the last five years, the Class of 2022 will compete in four NCAA Tournaments with Final Four and Sweet 16 appearances and earned a combined 136 victories.

Each of the four Cougars reached the 1,000-point milestone during the 2021-22 season with each having already received or soon receiving their bachelor's degrees.

SENIOR CEREMONY • 5:25 p.m., THURSDAY
Thursday's Senior Ceremony will begin at 5:25 p.m., on the Fertitta Center court.

Student-athletes, coaches and administrators will stand facing the student section in the Fertitta Center and with their backs to the Club seating.

2021-22 American Athletic Conference Regular-Season Champion

2021-22 AMERICAN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE CHAMPIONS
With Tuesday's win over Cincinnati, the Cougars clinched the American Athletic Conference regular-season championship with two regular-season games remaining.

This marks the third American regular-season crown in the last four years, a first for the Cougars in any conference. It's also the fourth American title of any kind (regular season or tournament) under Head Coach Kelvin Sampson.

The Cougars also clinched the No. 1 seed at the American Athletic Conference Championship, set for March 10-13 inside Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas. Houston is the defending tournament champion.

Following Thursday's game, Sampson and the Cougars will cut down the nets inside the Fertitta Center in celebration of the program's 17^th conference title and 10^th regular-season championship.

Fans are invited to stay and take photos of the postgame celebration.

ABOUT the COUGARS
#14/14 Houston enters Thursday's game following a 71-53 win over Cincinnati on Tuesday inside the Fertitta Center. It was the program's fifth straight win and 17^th victory in the last 19 games.

White enjoyed a career night, scoring a career-high 28 points with 10 rebounds for his team-leading fourth double-double of the season and the 10^th of his career.

Carlton added 15 points, thanks to 9-of-11 shooting from the free throw line, and fell just a rebound shy of posting a double-double of his own, while Moore and Edwards tied with 12 points apiece.

This season, Edwards leads the available Cougars with 13.6 points per game and remains one of only three players to rank among The American's Top-11 leaders in both scoring and rebounding.

With his performance, White moved into second on the team with 12.9 points and 6.0 rebounds per game, while Carlton tops the squad with 6.7 rebounds, including 3.3 offensive boards, per contest.

Sophomore point guard Jamal Shead leads the Cougars and The American with 5.6 assists per game and a 2.81 assist-turnover ratio.

Preview, vs. Temple, March 3, 2022

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 Thursday's game on ESPN2 with Kevin Brown (play-by-play) and Mark Adams (analyst) calling the action.
• Fans can hear Thursday'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 Thursday's game on StatBroadcast.

AMONG the BEST
• Through games of March 1, 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 defense (58.8, 5th), winning percentage (86.2, 6th), offensive rebounds (13.5, 7th), scoring margin (+17.3, 7th) rebounding margin (+7.8, 8th).
• Houston stands among the country's Top 20 in blocked shots (5.3, 13th), 3-point field goal percentage defense (29.3, 15th), rebounds per game (39.9, 17th), assist-turnover ratio (1.45, 18th) and assists (16.2, 20th).

STREAKING NATIONALLY
With Monday's release, the Cougars were ranked in the Associated Press poll for the 43^rd 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 TEMPLE
• Temple enters Thursday's game with a 16-10 overall record and 9-6 mark in American Athletic Conference play. The Owls stand in fourth in the latest league standings.
• Temple has posted a 5-5 record in road games this season with a 6-7 mark in non-home contests.
• In its most recent action, Temple claimed a 75-70 win over Tulane in Philadelphia on Saturday.
• It was the Owls' third win in their last four games. Only a 78-64 loss at Memphis on Feb. 24 prevents a longer winning streak.
• Against Tulane, redshirt freshman guard Damian Dunn led five Owls in double digits with 19 points and added four rebounds. Sophomore guard Tai Strickland and Junior forward Sage Tolbert each finished with 15 points, while freshman guard Jahlil White totaled 13 points with a game-high 12 rebounds. Freshman guard Hysier Miller added 1-0 points with a game-high six assists in the win.
• This season, Dunn leads the available Owls with 15.1 points per game. Sophomore guard Khalif Battle was averaging a team-best 21.4 points per game before being sidelined with a foot injury in early December 2021. Freshman guard Jeremiah Williams averages 9.5 points per game and leads the Owls with 4.3 assists and 1.4 steals per contest.
• Head Coach Aaron McKie is in his third year at Temple and as a collegiate head coach.
• McKie has compiled a 35-38 record at Temple and during his career.
• McKie has posted an 0-4 record against Houston during his career.
• McKie has posted an 0-4 record against Houston Head Coach Kelvin Sampson during their careers
• 1994 graduate of Temple

SERIES HISTORY vs. TEMPLE
• Houston owns an 11-3 lead against Temple in the series, which began during the 2013-14 season.
• Thursday's game is the second of two meetings during the regular season between the two schools. Houston took a 66-61 win inside the Liacouras Center in Philadelphia on Jan. 2.
• Houston has won the last four games and seven of the last eight against the Owls. Only a 73-69 Temple win in Philadelphia on Jan. 9, 2019, prevents a longer Houston winning streak.
• This is the ninth straight season in which the two schools will compete as American Athletic Conference rivals.
• Series started with an 88-74 Houston win in Houston on Feb. 9, 2014
at Home: Houston owns a 5-1 lead in the series against Temple in games played in Houston.
• Houston has won the last four games in Houston. Only a 69-66 Temple win in Hofheinz Pavilion on Feb. 21, 2016, prevents a longer Houston winning streak.
• In the first home meeting in the series, Houston enjoyed an 88-74 win inside Hofheinz Pavilion on Feb. 9, 2014.
in Fertitta Center: Houston owns a 2-0 lead against Temple inside the Fertitta Center.
• In the most recent meeting inside the Fertitta Center, the 2020-21 Cougars claimed a 76-50 win on Dec. 22, 2020.
• In the first meeting inside the Fertitta Center, Houston posted a 73-66 win on Jan. 31, 2019.

UP NEXT
• Following Thursday's game, the Cougars close the regular season when they take on Memphis inside FedExForum at 11 a.m., Sunday. That game will air on CBS.
• The Tigers claimed a 69-59 win inside the Fertitta Center in Houston on Feb. 12 in the first meeting between the two teams this season, snapping the Cougars' 37-game home winning streak.
• From there, Houston takes its first steps in the postseason when it competes in the American Athletic Conference Championship Quarterfinals on Friday, March 11.
• Houston's will compete as the No. 1 seed with its exact opponent, game time and broadcasting network to be determined with the end of the regular season on Sunday.
• 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.

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