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Thursday, February 16
Dallas, Texas
6 p.m.
University of Houston
at
SMU
#2 Men’s Hoops Travels to Meet SMU on Thursday
2/15/2023 9:49:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Preview – Coach Kelvin Sampson (YouTube)Watch (ESPN2)Listen (950 AM KPRC)Listen (Varsity Network app)Live Stats (StatBroadcast)Houston Game Notes (PDF)SMU Game Notes (PDF)American Athletic Conference Notes (PDF)Buy 2022-23 Tickets2023-24 Season Ticket Wait ListSupport Houston RiseJoin 50-50 Club
Cougars tip off vs. Mustangs at 6 p.m., Thursday, inside Moody Coliseum in Dallas
DALLAS – Following a break in the team's schedule, the #2/2 University of Houston Men's Basketball program resumes its American Athletic Conference slate when it meets SMU at 6 p.m., Thursday, inside Moody Coliseum in Dallas.
The Cougars look to sweep the regular-season series against the Mustangs after taking an 87-53 win over SMU inside the Fertitta Center in Houston on Jan. 5.
Houston enters the first of two games following a seven-day break from competition. In its most recent contest, the Cougars claimed an 80-42 win over Tulsa inside the Fertitta Center on Feb. 8, behind senior guard Marcus Sasser's game-high 25 points and five 3-pointers.
This season, junior forward J'Wan Roberts leads the Cougars and ranks seventh in the American with 7.0 rebounds per game.
The St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, native also leads Houston and stands second in the league with a 64.3 field goal percentage. Roberts has connected on at least 50 percent from the field in all but three games this season.
Sophomore center Ja'Vier Francis tops the team and ranks fourth in the league with 1.5 blocked shots per game. The New Orleans native has enjoyed 12 games with multiple blocks in 2022-23, including a career-high-tying four swats in wins over North Florida (Dec. 6, 2022) and at Tulsa (Dec. 28, 2022).
TUNE IN
• Fans can watch Thursday's game on ESPN2 with John Schriffen (play-by-play) and Tim Welsh (analyst) calling the action.
• Fans can hear Thursday'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 5:45 p.m. Thursday.
• 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' 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 SMU
• SMU brings a 9-17 overall record and 4-9 mark in American Athletic Conference action in 2022-23 into Thursday's game.
• The Mustangs stand in eighth in the latest league standings through Feb. 12.
• SMU owns a 6-7 record in home games inside Moody Coliseum this season.
• The Mustangs have lost three of their last four games, including a 91-89 setback at Wichita State in double overtime on Sunday afternoon. Only a 72-71 win over Temple on Feb. 8 prevents a longer streak.
• Against Wichita State, Zhuric Phelps led SMU with 26 points and seven assists and tied for team-high honors with five assists while playing all but four minutes in the loss. Efe Odigie totaled 21 points on 10-of-16 shooting with five rebounds. Samuell Williamson finished with 19 points and a game-high 10 rebounds, and Zach Nutall added 15 points with seven rebounds and five assists.
• This season, Phelps leads SMU with 17.4 points and 2.3 steals per game. Nutall stands second with 13.5 points game and is tied for the team lead with Williamson with 2.8 assists per contest. Odigie ranks third among the Mustangs 11.0 points per game. Williams tops the team with 7.4 rebounds per game.
• Head Coach Rob Lanier is in his first season at SMU and his eighth season as a collegiate head coach.
• Lanier has built a 9-17 record at SMU and 120-117 career record ... Previously compiled a 53-30 mark at Georgia State (2019-22) and a 58-70 record at Siena (2001-05).
• Lanier is 0-1 against Houston during his career.
• Lanier is 0-1 against Houston Head Coach Kelvin Sampson during their careers.
• 1990 graduate of St. Bonaventure.
SERIES HISTORY vs. SMU
• Houston owns a 57-34 lead against SMU in the series, which began at the NCAA Tournament during the 1955-56 season.
• Thursday's game is the second of two regular-season meetings in 2022-23. Houston claimed an 87-53 win inside the Fertitta Center on Jan. 5.
• Houston has won the last two games, four of the last five and nine of the last 11 meetings against SMU. Only an 85-83 Mustang win in Dallas on Feb. 9, 2022, prevents a longer Houston winning streak.
• Thursday's game marks the 18th straight season in which the two schools will play at least once.
• Teams met as Conference USA rivals from 2005-06 through 2012-13 before beginning competition as American Athletic Conference rivals in 2013-14.
• Series started with an 89-74 SMU win during the 1956 NCAA Tournament Midwest Region First Round in Lawrence, Kan., on March 16, 1956.
on Road: Houston owns a 19-18 lead in the series against SMU in games played in Dallas.
• SMU has won two of the last three games in Dallas, including an 85-83 decision inside Moody Coliseum on Feb. 9, 2022, in the most recent meeting.
• Houston's last road win at SMU was a 74-60 victory on Jan. 3, 2021.
UP NEXT
• Following Thursday's game, the Cougars meet Memphis for the first time in 2022-23 when it tips off at 2 p.m., Sunday, inside the Fertitta Center in Houston. That game will air on ESPN.
• Houston then continues its brief homestand when it plays host to Tulane at 8 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 22, inside the Fertitta Center. That game will air on ESPN2 or ESPNU.
• From there, the Cougars face East Carolina at 7 p.m. (CST), Saturday, Feb. 25, inside Williams Arena in Greenville, N.C. That game can be seen on ESPN2 or ESPNU.
• 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.
The Cougars look to sweep the regular-season series against the Mustangs after taking an 87-53 win over SMU inside the Fertitta Center in Houston on Jan. 5.
Houston enters the first of two games following a seven-day break from competition. In its most recent contest, the Cougars claimed an 80-42 win over Tulsa inside the Fertitta Center on Feb. 8, behind senior guard Marcus Sasser's game-high 25 points and five 3-pointers.
This season, junior forward J'Wan Roberts leads the Cougars and ranks seventh in the American with 7.0 rebounds per game.
The St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, native also leads Houston and stands second in the league with a 64.3 field goal percentage. Roberts has connected on at least 50 percent from the field in all but three games this season.
Sophomore center Ja'Vier Francis tops the team and ranks fourth in the league with 1.5 blocked shots per game. The New Orleans native has enjoyed 12 games with multiple blocks in 2022-23, including a career-high-tying four swats in wins over North Florida (Dec. 6, 2022) and at Tulsa (Dec. 28, 2022).
TUNE IN
• Fans can watch Thursday's game on ESPN2 with John Schriffen (play-by-play) and Tim Welsh (analyst) calling the action.
• Fans can hear Thursday'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 5:45 p.m. Thursday.
• 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' 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 SMU
• SMU brings a 9-17 overall record and 4-9 mark in American Athletic Conference action in 2022-23 into Thursday's game.
• The Mustangs stand in eighth in the latest league standings through Feb. 12.
• SMU owns a 6-7 record in home games inside Moody Coliseum this season.
• The Mustangs have lost three of their last four games, including a 91-89 setback at Wichita State in double overtime on Sunday afternoon. Only a 72-71 win over Temple on Feb. 8 prevents a longer streak.
• Against Wichita State, Zhuric Phelps led SMU with 26 points and seven assists and tied for team-high honors with five assists while playing all but four minutes in the loss. Efe Odigie totaled 21 points on 10-of-16 shooting with five rebounds. Samuell Williamson finished with 19 points and a game-high 10 rebounds, and Zach Nutall added 15 points with seven rebounds and five assists.
• This season, Phelps leads SMU with 17.4 points and 2.3 steals per game. Nutall stands second with 13.5 points game and is tied for the team lead with Williamson with 2.8 assists per contest. Odigie ranks third among the Mustangs 11.0 points per game. Williams tops the team with 7.4 rebounds per game.
• Head Coach Rob Lanier is in his first season at SMU and his eighth season as a collegiate head coach.
• Lanier has built a 9-17 record at SMU and 120-117 career record ... Previously compiled a 53-30 mark at Georgia State (2019-22) and a 58-70 record at Siena (2001-05).
• Lanier is 0-1 against Houston during his career.
• Lanier is 0-1 against Houston Head Coach Kelvin Sampson during their careers.
• 1990 graduate of St. Bonaventure.
SERIES HISTORY vs. SMU
• Houston owns a 57-34 lead against SMU in the series, which began at the NCAA Tournament during the 1955-56 season.
• Thursday's game is the second of two regular-season meetings in 2022-23. Houston claimed an 87-53 win inside the Fertitta Center on Jan. 5.
• Houston has won the last two games, four of the last five and nine of the last 11 meetings against SMU. Only an 85-83 Mustang win in Dallas on Feb. 9, 2022, prevents a longer Houston winning streak.
• Thursday's game marks the 18th straight season in which the two schools will play at least once.
• Teams met as Conference USA rivals from 2005-06 through 2012-13 before beginning competition as American Athletic Conference rivals in 2013-14.
• Series started with an 89-74 SMU win during the 1956 NCAA Tournament Midwest Region First Round in Lawrence, Kan., on March 16, 1956.
on Road: Houston owns a 19-18 lead in the series against SMU in games played in Dallas.
• SMU has won two of the last three games in Dallas, including an 85-83 decision inside Moody Coliseum on Feb. 9, 2022, in the most recent meeting.
• Houston's last road win at SMU was a 74-60 victory on Jan. 3, 2021.
UP NEXT
• Following Thursday's game, the Cougars meet Memphis for the first time in 2022-23 when it tips off at 2 p.m., Sunday, inside the Fertitta Center in Houston. That game will air on ESPN.
• Houston then continues its brief homestand when it plays host to Tulane at 8 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 22, inside the Fertitta Center. That game will air on ESPN2 or ESPNU.
• From there, the Cougars face East Carolina at 7 p.m. (CST), Saturday, Feb. 25, inside Williams Arena in Greenville, N.C. That game can be seen on ESPN2 or ESPNU.
• 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 –
Players Mentioned
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/ Men's Basketball
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