#2 Men’s Basketball Back on the Road at Cincinnati on Sunday

CINCINNATI – Winners of its last six games, the #2/2 University of Houston Men's Basketball programs hits the road to take on Cincinnati at 2 p.m. (CST) Sunday, inside Fifth Third Arena in Cincinnati.

Sunday's game features two of the Top Three teams in the American Athletic Conference. The Cougars are tied with Temple for the league lead at 3-0 while Cincinnati is tied with UCF and Tulane for third at 2-1 through Jan. 6.

This will be the first of two regular-season meetings against the Bearcats. Cincinnati visits Fertitta Center in Houston to close out the month on Jan. 28.

Houston enters Sunday's game following an 87-53 win over SMU inside the Fertitta Center on Thursday night. Freshman forward Jarace Walker led all players with 23 points 10 rebounds for his second double-double of the season.

The New Freedom, Pa., native ranks third among the Cougars with 9.7 points per game in his first collegiate season but stands second on the team and among the league's Top-10 leaders with 6.2 rebounds per contest.

Senior guard Marcus Sasser continues to lead the Cougars and ranks fifth in The American with 15.8 points per game. The Dallas native recently moved into sixth in Houston career history with 217 3-pointers made.

Junior point guard Jamal Shead leads the Cougars and ranks third in the league with 5.3 assists per game. The Manor, Texas, native needs only 15 more assists to become the 20^th Cougar in school history with multiple 100-assist seasons during his career.

Junior forward J'Wan Roberts leads the Cougars and stands sixth in the league with 7.2 rebounds per game. Sophomore center Ja'Vier Francis leads the Cougars and The American with a 75.0 field goal percentage and 1.8 blocked shots per game.

TUNE IN
• Fans can watch Sunday's game on ESPN with Mike Corey (play-by-play) and Mark Adams (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) calling the action. The pregame show begins at 1:45 p.m. (CST)
• Fans can follow live stats by visiting StatBroadcast.com and following the appropriate links or by clicking here.

ABOUT CINCINNATI
• Cincinnati brings an 11-5 overall record and 2-1 mark in American Athletic Conference action in 2022-23 into Sunday's game. The Bearcats are tied for third with UCF and Tulane in the latest league standings through Jan. 5.
• Cincinnati owns a 9-1 record in home games this season.
• Cincinnati has won five of its last six and eight of its last 10 games. Only a 70-61 loss at Temple on Monday prevents a longer winning streak.
• In its most recent action, the Bearcats enjoyed a 70-61 win at Wichita State on Thursday night. Cincinnati jumped out to a 39-22 lead at halftime and held off a Shocker rally in the second half to take the win.
• Against Wichita State, senior guard Landers Nolley II totaled 12 points with 11 rebounds and four assists to lead the Bearcats. Sophomore forward Viktor Lakhin led Cincinnati with 14 points on 7-of-14 shooting and grabbed nine rebounds. Junior guard Mika Adams-Woods finished with 11 points four rebounds and four assists in the win.
• This season, graduate guard David DeJulius leads Cincinnati with 15.5 points and 3.4 assists per game. Nolley stands second with 14.9 points per contest while Lakhin averages 12.9 points and a team-best 7.8 rebounds and 1.1 blocks per game. Junior guard Jeremiah Davenport stands fourth among the Bearcats with 10.2 points per game.
• Head Coach Wes Miller is in his second season at Cincinnati and his 12th season as a collegiate head coach.
• Miller has built a 29-20 record at Cincinnati... Previously compiled a 185-135 record at UNC Greensboro (2011-21).
• Miller has posted an 0-3 record against Houston during his career with all three previous meetings coming during his Cincinnati tenure.
• Miller has posted an 0-3 record against Houston Head Coach Kelvin Sampson during their careers with all three previous meetings coming during his Cincinnati and Sampson's Houston tenures.
• 2007 graduate of North Carolina.

SERIES HISTORY vs. CINCINNATI
• Cincinnati owns a 33-11 lead against Houston in the series, which began during the 1957-58 season.
• Sunday's game is the first of two regular-season meetings in 2022-23. Cincinnati visits the Fertitta Center in Houston on Jan. 28.
• Houston has won the last six games and eight of the last 10 meetings against the Bearcats. Only a 64-62 Bearcat win in Cincinnati on Feb. 1, 2020, prevents a longer Cougar winning streak.
• A year ago, Houston swept the regular-season series and earned a postseason win against Cincinnati. The Cougars opened with an 80-58 win inside Fifth Third Arena in Cincinnati on Feb. 6, 2022, and followed with a 71-53 win inside the Fertitta Center on March 1, 2022. Houston then took a 69-56 win in The American Championship Quarterfinals inside Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas on March 11, 2022.
• Sunday's game marks the ninth straight season in which the two schools will play at least once.
• Teams played at least once every year from 1957-58 through 59-60 as members of Missouri Valley Conference... Teams continued rivalry as Conference USA foes from 1996- 97 through 2004-05... Series resumed during the 2013-14 season when Houston joined the American Athletic Conference.
• Series started with a 70-53 Cincinnati win in Houston on Dec. 21, 1957. The Bearcats dominated the early series, winning 27 of the first 28 games against the Cougars.
on Road: Cincinnati own 17-2 lead at home in the series against Houston.
• The Cougars have won two of the last three meetings in Cincinnati, including an 80-58 victory inside Fifth Third Arena on Feb. 6, 2022. Only a 64-62 Cincinnati win on Feb. 1, 2020, prevents a longer Houston road winning streak.
• The Bearcats dominated the early series in Cincinnati, winning each of the first 16 games there.
• In the most recent meeting in Cincinnati, the Cougars enjoyed an 80-58 win inside Fifth Third Arena on Feb. 6, 2022.
• In the first meeting in Cincinnati in the series, the Bearcats took a 93-57 win on Jan. 13, 1958.

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.

UP NEXT
• Following Sunday's game, the Cougars return to the friendly confines of the Fertitta Center to play host to South Florida at 7 p.m., Wednesday, Jan. 11. That game will air on ESPN+.
• From there, the Cougars hit the road again to meet Tulane at 6 p.m., Tuesday, Jan. 17. 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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