#6/5 Men’s Hoops Set for BIG EAST-Big 12 Battle on Friday

CINCINNATI – Winners of its first seven games to open the season, the University of Houston Men's Basketball program competes in its first BIG EAST-Big 12 Battle when it meets Xavier at 6:30 p.m. (EST) Friday, inside Cintas Center.

#6/5 Houston enters Friday's game following a 79-44 win over Montana inside Fertitta Center in Houston on Nov. 24. Against the Grizzlies, senior guard LJ Cryer totaled 24 points with five 3-pointers to lead the Cougars while senior point guard Jamal Shead totaled 13 points with three rebounds, four steals, seven assists and only one turnover in nearly 29 minutes.

This season, the Cougars lead the nation in scoring defense (49.0 ppg) and have held six of their seven opponents to 50 points or fewer, including 31 to ULM in the season-opening win over ULM on Nov. 6 for the third-fewest points allowed in school history.

Houston also leads the Big 12 and ranks among the nation's Top-Five leaders in fewest turnovers (8.1 tpg) and turnover margin (+8.6).

Cryer averages 17.0 points per game to tie for fifth in the league while senior forward J'Wan Roberts is among the Big 12's Top 10 with 7.7 rebounds per contest. Shead stands second in the Big 12 with 6.3 assists and 3.0 steals per game.

In the Cougars' win over Montana, Shead moved past 500 assists in his career with a pass to Cryer on a 3-pointer at the end of the first half. He became the seventh Cougar in school history to reach that total and now stands fifth on the Houston career charts with 504 assists.

Roberts became the first Cougar to compete in 50 games inside the Fertitta Center during his career and has posted a 50-3 record in front of the hometown fans.

TUNE IN
• Fans can watch Friday's game on FS1 with Matt Schumacker (play-by-play) and Donny Marshall (analyst) calling the action.
• Fans can hear Friday's game on 950 AM KPRC and the Varsity Network app with Jeremy Branham (play-by-play) calling the action. The pregame show begins at 5:15 p.m. (CST), Friday.
• Fans can follow live stats by visiting StatBroadcast.com and following the appropriate links or by clicking here.

ABOUT XAVIER
• Xavier brings a 4-3 record into Friday's game against Xavier inside Cintas Center.
• The Musketeers are 3-1 in home games in 2023-24.
• In its most recent action, Xavier dropped a 78-76 decision to Oakland inside Cintas Center on Monday night.
• Against Oakland, sophomore guard Desmond Claude posted 24 points on 7-of-14 shooting from the field and 10-of-12 from the free throw line. Graduate guard Quincy Olivari added 11 points with a team-high seven rebounds while senior guard Dayvion McKnight added four points with three rebounds and a game-high eight assists.
• This season, Claude leads the Musketeers with 16.7 points per game. Olivari stands second with 13.4 points per game and tops Xavier with 5.1 rebounds per contest. Senior forward Gytis Nemeiksa ranks third on the team with 10.1 points per game while McKnight leads the way with 5.3 assists per game.
• Head Coach Sean Miller is in his seventh season at Xavier and his 19th year as a collegiate head coach.
• Miller has posted a 151-60 record with Xavier and is 403-169 during his career.
• Friday's game will be the first time Miller has faced Houston during his career.
• Miller has posted a 1-0 record against Houston Head Coach Kelvin Sampson during their careers.
• In the lone previous meeting, Miller's 2007-08 Xavier team claimed an 80-65 win over Sampson's Indiana team during the Chicago Invitational Challenge inside Sears Center in Hoffman Estates, Ill., on Nov. 24, 2007.
• 1992 graduate of Pittsburgh.

SERIES HISTORY vs. XAVIER
• Houston owns a 2-0 lead against Xavier in the series, which began during the 1972-73 season.
• Friday's game will be the first meeting between the two schools since a 100-75 Houston win during the Bluebonnet Classic inside Hofheinz Pavilion in Houston on Dec. 16, 1977.
• In the first meeting in the series, Houston claimed a 114-73 win inside Hofheinz Pavilion in Houston on Dec. 9, 1972.
on Road: Friday's game will be the first time Houston has faced the Musketeers in Cincinnati.

UP NEXT
• Following Friday's game, Houston returns to Fertitta Center to play host to Rice at 7 p.m., Wednesday, in a game airing on Big 12 Now on ESPN+.
• From there, the Cougars continue their homestand when they meet Jackson State at 3 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 9, inside Fertitta Center.
• That game will air on Big 12 Now on ESPN+.
• Houston takes on Texas A&M during The Halal Guys Showcase at 1:30 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 16, inside Toyota Center.
• That game will air on ESPN2 and be part of a doubleheader with Texas facing LSU at 11 a.m., Dec. 16.
• All Houston Men's Basketball games can be heard on 950 AM KPRC and the Varsity Network app.

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 as we begin Big 12 competition. 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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