#3/2 Men’s Basketball Set to Host Rice in Fertitta Center

HOUSTON – Winners of its last nine home games, the University of Houston Men's Basketball program returns to the friendly confines of the Fertitta Center to play host to Rice at 7 p.m., Wednesday.

The Cougars rose to #3 in the Associated Press poll and to #2 in the USA TODAY Sports Coaches polls and received 3+ first-place votes in each poll for the first time this season. This marked the fourth straight season under Head Coach Kelvin Sampson that the Cougars stood among the nation's Top Five in at least one poll.

Houston enters Wednesday's game following a 66-60 win at Xavier on Friday night. Senior guard LJ Cryer posted 23 points with five 3-pointers to lead all players while senior forward J'Wan Roberts added nine points with a game-high 12 rebounds, two assists and a pair of steals.

The win against the Musketeers pushed the Cougars' road-winning streak to 12 games, the nation's longest active streak and the second-longest streak in Houston history.

This season, Cryer leads the Cougars and ranks among the Big 12 Top-Five leaders with 17.8 points per game. Senior point Jamal Shead stands third in the league with 2.9 steals per contest and is fourth with 6.0 assists per game while Roberts is fourth with 8.2 rebounds per game.

GAME PROMOTIONS
• New Houston Football Head Coach Willie Fritz will speak to fans at halftime.
• Shasta Claus and Sasha Claus will be available for photos in the Cub Zone on the concourse before the game.
• UH Concert Chorale will perform the national anthem before the game.
• Spirit of Houston twirler Alexis Tanner will perform at halftime.
• Fans are encouraged to donate a toy at the Fertitta Center entrances for the KHOU Toy Drive.

TUNE IN
• Fans can watch Wednesday's game on Big 12 Now on ESPN+ with Matt Pedersen (play-by-play), Houston great Reid Gettys (analyst) and Austyn Iven (reporter) calling the action.
• Fans can hear Wednesday'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 6:45 p.m., Wednesday.
• Fans can follow live stats by visiting StatBroadcast.com and following the appropriate links or by clicking here.

ABOUT RICE
• Rice brings a 3-5 record into Wednesday's game inside Fertitta Center.
• The Owls are 0-1 in road games in 2023-24.
• In its most recent action, Rice took a 65-56 win over Houston Christian inside Tudor Fieldhouse on Saturday afternoon.
• Against Houston Christian, senior guard Travis Evee led all players with 18 points and added three rebounds, two assists and a pair of steals. Senior forward Max Fiedler posted a game-high 12 rebounds and 10 assists with a pair of blocked shots. Sophomore guard Mekhi Mason finished with 17 points, four rebounds and a game-high three steals while freshman forward Keanu Dawes came off the bench with 14 points on 5-of-7 shooting with eight rebounds.
• This season, Evee leads the Owls with 17.0 points and 1.5 steals per game. Mason stands second on the team with 13.6 points per game while Fiedler is stops with 9.4 rebounds and 5.6 assists per contest.
Head Coach: Scott Pera is in his seventh season at Rice and as a collegiate head coach.
• Pera has posted an 87-111 record with Rice and during his career.
• Pera is 0-3 against Houston during his career.
• Pera has posted an 0-3 record against Houston Head Coach Kelvin Sampson during their careers.
• 1989 graduate of Penn State Harrisburg.

SERIES HISTORY vs. RICE
• Houston owns a 64-18 lead against Rice in the series, which began during the 1971-72 season.
• Wednesday's game will be the first meeting between the two schools since a 79-46 Houston win inside Fertitta Center on Nov. 12, 2021.
• Houston has won the last seven meetings and eight of the last nine against the Owls. Only a 79-69 Rice win on Autry Court on Jan. 30, 2013, prevents a longer Houston winning streak.
• In the first meeting in the series, Houston claimed a 114-73 win inside Hofheinz Pavilion in Houston on Dec. 9, 1972.
The two schools met at least once every season from 1971-72 to 1995-96 as members of the Southwest Conference.
at Home: The Cougars own a 33-6 lead in the series on their home court.
• Houston has won the last four home meetings against the Owls and not lost to Rice at home since a 79-71 setback inside Hofheinz Pavilion on Feb. 8, 2012.
in Fertitta Center: Houston owns a 1-0 record against Rice inside Fertitta Center during the series history.
• In the lone previous meeting, the Cougars enjoyed a 79-46 win in Fertitta Center on Nov. 12, 2021.

UP NEXT
• Following Wednesday's game, Houston continue its homestand when it meets Jackson State at 3 p.m., Saturday, inside Fertitta Center.
• That game will air on Big 12 Now on ESPN+.
• From there, 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.
• Houston then faces Texas State at 7 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 21, inside Fertitta Center in a game airing on Big 12 Now on ESPN+.
• 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.

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