#2 Men’s Basketball Plays Host to Memphis This Weekend

HOUSTON – Winners of its last six games and 15 of its last 16, the #2/2 University of Houston Men's Basketball program returns to the friendly confines of the Fertitta Center to play host to American Athletic Conference rival Memphis at 2 p.m., Sunday.

Sunday's game features the Top-Two teams in The American standings. Houston leads the league with a 12-1 mark with the Tigers right behind at 10-3.

This will be the first of two regular-season meetings against the Tigers. The two teams close the regular season at 11 a.m., March 5, inside FedExForum in Memphis, Tenn.

Houston enters this weekend's game following an 80-65 win over SMU in Dallas on Thursday night. Against the Mustangs, senior guard Marcus Sasser led the Cougars with 20 points and four 3-pointers and added four assists with a pair of steals.

The Dallas native needs only 13 more 3-pointers to move past guard Robert McKiver (2006-08) and set the Houston career record in that category.

Freshman forward Jarace Walker stands second on the team with 11.6 points and 6.4 rebounds per game. With his rebounding average, the New Freedom, Pa., native stands fourth in Houston freshmen single-season history and is poised break into the Cougars' Top-10 freshman single-season scoring leaders.

IN the NATION…
Through Feb. 16 games, Houston...
• leads the nation in winning percentage (92.3), scoring defense (55.4), and scoring margin (+20.3),
• ranks second in field-goal percentage defense (35.5),
• stands third in 3-point field goal percentage defense (26.7),
• ranks among the country's Top 10 in turnovers (9.6, 5th), turnover margin (+4.7, 8th) and assist-turnover ratio (1.56, 10th) and
• is among the Top 25 in rebounding margin (+7.5, 11th), offensive rebounding (12.8, 16th), rebounding (38.9, 22nd) and blocked shots (4.9, 23rd).

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.

TUNE IN
• Fans can watch Sunday's game on ESPN with Jay Alter (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) and Houston Hall of Famer Elvin Hayes calling the action. The pregame show begins at 1:45 p.m., Sunday.
• Fans can follow live stats by visiting StatBroadcast.com and following the appropriate links or by clicking here.

ABOUT MEMPHIS
• Memphis brings a 20-6 overall record and 10-3 mark in American Athletic Conference action in 2022-23 into Sunday's game.
• The Tigers stand in second in the latest league standings through Feb. 17.
• Memphis owns a 5-4 record in road games this season.
• The Tigers have won their last three and eight of their last nine games. Only a 90-89 loss in overtime at Tulane on Feb. 45 prevents a longer winning streak.
• In its most recent action, Memphis took a 64-63 win over UCF inside FedExForum in Memphis, Tenn., on Thursday night.
• Against UCF, super senior guard Elijah McCadden scored 16 points and grabbed six rebounds to lead the Tigers. Super senior forward DeAndre Williams posted 12 points with six rebounds and a pair of assists while super senior guard Kendric Davis totaled 10 points. Senior forward Chandler Lawson led the way with seven rebounds.
• This season, Davis leads Memphis with 21.3 points, 5.8 assists and 2.2 steals per game. Williams stands second with 17.3 points per game but leads the Tigers with 8.1 rebounds per contest.
• Head Coach Penny Hardaway is in his fifth season at Memphis and as a collegiate head coach.
• Hardaway has built a 104-49 record at Memphis.
• Hardaway is 3-6 against Houston during his career.
• Lanier is 3-6 against Houston Head Coach Kelvin Sampson during their careers.
• 2003 graduate of Memphis.

SERIES HISTORY vs. MEMPHIS
• Memphis owns a 34-21 lead against Houston in the series, which began during the 1956-57 season.
• Sunday's game is the first of two regular-season meetings against Memphis in 2022-23. The Cougars close their regular-season schedule against the Tigers on March 5 inside FedExForum in Memphis, Tenn.
• Houston has won four of the last six meetings against Memphis, including a 71-53 win in The American Championship Title Game inside Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas on March 13, 2022, in the most recent contest.
• This is the 28th straight season in which the two schools will play at least once.
• Teams have been conference rivals in three leagues... Completed in Missouri Valley Conference from 1950-51 through 1959-60 season and played twice each year through 1962-63 season after Houston began competition as an independent.
• Competed as Conference USA rivals from 2005-06 season through 2012-13... Began playing as American Athletic Conference rivals during 2014-15 season.
• Series started with an 87-78 Memphis win in Houston on Dec. 8, 1956.
at Home: Memphis owns a 13-10 lead in the series against Houston in games played in Houston.
• The Cougars have won three of the last four home meetings in Houston. However, Memphis can boast of the most recent success after taking a 69-59 win inside the Fertitta Center on Feb. 12, 2022.
• That was the biggest win by a Houston opponent inside the Fertitta Center in the facility's history.
in Fertitta Center: Houston owns a 3-1 lead against Memphis in games played inside the Fertitta Center during the facility's history.
• In the most recent meeting there, Memphis claimed a 69-59 win on Feb. 12, 2022. It was the largest win by a Houston opponent in the history of the facility.

UP NEXT
• Following Sunday's game, the Cougars continue their brief homestand when they play host to Tulane at 8 p.m., Wednesday, inside the Fertitta Center. That game will air on ESPNU.
• From there, the Cougars travel to face East Carolina at 7 p.m. (CST), Saturday, Feb. 25, inside Williams Arena in Greenville, N.C. That game – the only 2022-23 regular-season meeting against the Pirates – can be seen on ESPN2.
• The Cougars then close their regular-season home schedule when they play host to Wichita State at 6 p.m., Thursday, March 2, inside the Fertitta Center. That game will air on ESPN2.
• Prior to the March 2 game, guard Marcus Sasser, forward Reggie Chaney and center Darius Bowser will be honored during Senior Night ceremonies.
• 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 –

Upcoming Events

Recent Results