#1 Men’s Hoops Back to Work on Sunday Afternoon

HOUSTON – Winners of its last nine games, the #1/1 University of Houston Men's Basketball program returns to the friendly confines of the Fertitta Center to play host to American Athletic Conference rival Temple at 2 p.m., Sunday.

Sunday's game features two of the American Athletic Conference's top teams. Houston leads the league with a 6-0 mark while Temple is tied for second with Cincinnati and Tulane at 5-2.

Houston enters this weekend's game following an 80-60 road win at Tulane on Tuesday night. Against the Green Wave, senior guard Marcus Sasser led the Cougars with 23 points, thanks to a season-high seven 3-pointers. It was his second straight 20-point effort and the 16th 20-point game of his award-winning career.

The Dallas native leads the Cougars and ranks fifth in The American with 16.9 points per game and was named to the Midseason Watch List for the United States Basketball Writers Association Oscar Robertson Trophy earlier this week.

Sunday's game will be the first of two regular-season meetings against Temple. The Cougars visit the Liacouras Center in Philadelphia on Feb. 5.

COACHING for LITERACY
• For Sunday's game, Houston Head Coach Kelvin Sampson and his staff will wear green pins and wristbands as part of their Fight for Literacy game.
• Through the Fight for Literacy game, Sampson and the Cougars are raising awareness of the issue and giving fans an opportunity to donate to support local work ensuring students are set up for success and resources directly in the community.
• Since 2014, Coaching for Literacy has held more than 200 Fight for Literacy games and provided more than $1 million to support more than 60,000 children nationwide.
• Fans can support local students by donating to coachingforliteracy.org/houston.

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

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 TEMPLE
• Temple brings an 11-9 overall record and 5-2 mark in American Athletic Conference action in 2022-23 into Sundays' game.
• The Owls are tied for second with Cincinnati and Tulane in the latest league standings through Jan. 20, 1.5 games behind Houston.
• Temple owns a 4-2 record in road games this season.
• Temple has alternated wins and losses in each of its last four games with five wins in its last seven games.
• In its most recent action, Temple overcame a halftime deficit to outscore East Carolina by 20 in the second half on the way to a 73-58 win inside the Liacouras Center in Philadelphia on Wednesday night.
• Against East Carolina, sophomore guard Damian Dunn came off the bench to lead all players with 22 points, thanks to a 16-of-18 effort at the free throw line. Sophomore guard Khalif Battle added 20 points on 7-of-14 shooting with a team-high seven rebounds and dished out three assists in the win.
• This season, Battle leads the Owls with 17.5 points per game. Dunn stands second with 15.2 points per contest. Sophomore forward Jamille Reynolds ranks third among the Owls with 11.1 points per game but leads Temple with 6.3 rebounds per contest. Sophomore guard Hysier Miller averages a team-best 3.6 assists per game.
• Head Coach Aaron McKie is in his fourth season at Temple and as a collegiate head coach.
• McKie has built a 47-49 record during his career.
• McKie has posted an 0-5 record against Houston during his career.
• Hunter has posted an 0-5 record against Houston Head Coach Kelvin Sampson during their careers.
• 1994 graduate of Temple.

SERIES HISTORY vs. TEMPLE
• Houston owns a 12-3 lead against Temple in the series, which began during the 2013-14 season.
• Sunday's game will be the first of two regular-season meetings against the Owls during the 2022-23 season. Houston travels to meet Temple inside the Liacouras Center in Philadelphia at 5 p.m. (CST), Sunday, Feb. 5.
• Houston has won the last six games and nine of the last 10 meetings. Only a 73-69 Temple win in Philadelphia on Jan. 9, 2019, prevents a longer Cougar winning streak.
• In 2021-22, Houston swept the regular-season series, taking a 66-61 win in Philadelphia on Jan. 2, 2022, before falling that with an 84-46 win inside the Fertitta Center in Houston on March 3, 2022.
• Sunday's game marks the 10th straight season in which the two schools will play at least once as American Athletic Conference rivals.
• Series started with an 88-74 Houston win inside Hofheinz Pavilion in Houston on Feb. 9, 2014.
at Home: Houston owns a 6-1 lead at home in the series against Temple.
• The Cougars have won the last five home games against the Owls. Only a 69-66 Temple win inside Hofheinz Pavilion on Feb. 21, 2016, prevents a longer Houston winning streak.
• In the most recent meeting in Houston, the Cougars enjoyed an 84-46 win inside the Fertitta Center on March 3, 2022.
• In the first meeting in Houston, the Cougars claimed an 88-74 win inside Hofheinz Pavilion on March 9, 2014).
in Fertitta Center: Houston owns a 3-0 lead in the series against Temple in games played inside the Fertitta Center.
• In the most recent meeting inside the Fertitta Center, the Cougars enjoyed an 84-46 win on March 3, 2022.

UP NEXT
• Following Sunday's game, the Cougars face UCF at 6 p.m. (CST), Wednesday, inside Addition Financial Arena in Orlando, Fla.
• The Cougars look to sweep the regular-season series against the Knights after claiming a 71-65 inside the Fertitta Center on Dec. 31, 2022.
• The Cougars then play host to Cincinnati at 1:15 p.m., Sunday, Jan. 28, inside the Fertitta Center in a game played on CBS. Houston took a 72-59 win inside Fifth Third Arena in Cincinnati on Jan. 8.
• From there, Houston opens the month of February with a road contest at Wichita State at 8 p.m., Feb. 2, in Wichita, Kan. 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.

– UHCougars.com –

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