#1 Men’s Basketball on the Road to Face ECU on Saturday

GREENVILLE, N.C. – Winners of its last eight games and 17 of its last 18, the #1 University of Houston Men's Basketball program hits the road to meet American Athletic Conference rival East Carolina at 8 p.m. (EST) Saturday, inside Williams Arena.

With a win against the Pirates, the Cougars will clinch the outright 2022-23 American Athletic Conference regular-season championship. Houston has already captured a share of the regular-season title for the program's fourth crown in the last five years and the sixth championship overall (regular season and tournament) under Head Coach Kelvin Sampson.

The Cougars enter this weekend's contest on the heels of an 89-59 win over Tulane inside Fertitta Center on Wednesday night. Junior forward J'Wan Roberts poured in a career-high 26 points while senior guard Marcus Sasser finished with 20 points for his fourth straight 20-point game and freshman forward Jarace Walker led all with a career-high 13 rebounds.

In 2022-23, Sasser has emerged as one of the nation's premier players on both ends of the floor. The Dallas native leads the Cougars and ranks among The American's Top-10 leaders in with 16.9 points per game and needs only seven more 3-pointers to set the school career record.

However, Sasser also leads the Cougars and ranks sixth in the league with 1.8 steals per contest and grabbed five rebounds with a game-high four steals in Wednesday's win over Tulane.

Roberts leads the Cougars and The American with a 66.1 field goal percentage and has hit at least 50 percent of his shots from the field in all but three games this season. The St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, native buried 9-of-10 (90.0) tries against Tulane on Wednesday to set a Fertitta Center record in field goal percentage.

TUNE IN
• Fans can watch Saturday's game on ESPN2 with James Westling (play-by-play) and Perry Clark (analyst) calling the action.
• Fans can hear Saturday'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 6:45 p.m. (CST), Saturday.
• 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 EAST CAROLINA
• East Carolina brings a 14-13 overall record and 5-9 mark in American Athletic Conference action in 2022-23 into Saturday's game.
• The Pirates Wave stand in eighth in the latest league standings through Feb. 22.
• East Carolina owns a 9-5 record in home games inside Williams Arena this season.
• The Pirates have won three of their last four games. Only an 86-70 loss at SMU on Feb. 19 prevents a longer winning streak.
• In its most recent action, East Carolina claimed a 62-60 win at Tulsa on Tuesday.
• Against Tulsa, guard junior Jaden Walker led all players with 24 points, thanks to 8-of-11 shooting, and added five rebounds with a team-high three assists, a block and steal while playing all 40 minutes. Sophomore guard RJ Felton totaled 14 points with a game-high-tying nine rebounds and two assists while playing all but one minute. Sophomore forward Brandon Johnson tied for the team lead with nine rebounds.
• This season, sophomore guard Javon Small leads East Carolina with 15.8 points and 5.6 assists per game. Felton stands second with 13.6 points per contest. Johnson ranks third among the Pirates with 12.7 points per game but leads the team with 8.3 rebounds per contest.
• Head Coach Michael Schwartz is in his first season at East Carolina and as a collegiate head coach.
• Schwartz has built a 14-13 career record.
• Saturday's game will be the first time Schwartz has faced Houston during his career.
• Saturday's game will be the first time Schwartz has faced Houston Head Coach Kelvin Sampson during their careers.
• 1999 graduate of Texas.

SERIES HISTORY vs. EAST CAROLINA
• Houston owns a 19-6 lead against East Carolina in the series, which began during the 2001-02 season.
• Saturday's game is the lone regular-season meetings against East Carolina in 2022-23.
• Houston has won 10 of the last 11 meetings against the Pirates. Only an 82-73 loss in Greenville, N.C., on Feb. 3, 2021, prevents a longer Cougar winning streak.
• In the most recent meeting, Houston enjoyed a 79-36 win inside the Fertitta Center in Houston on Jan. 22, 2022.
• This is the ninth straight and the 18th in the last 19 years in which the two schools will compete as conference rivals. The schools did not face one another during the 2013-14 season.
• Schools competed as Conference USA rivals from 1996-97 through 2012-13... Have squared off as American Athletic Conference rivals at least once a year since 2014-15.
• Series started with a 63-46 East Carolina win in Greenville, N.C., on Feb. 23, 2002
on Road: Houston owns a 10-6 lead in the series against East Carolina in games played in Greenville. N.C.
• The Cougars have won five of the last six road meetings in Greenville. However, the Pirates can boast of the most recent success after taking a n 82-73 win in Greenville on Feb. 3, 2021.

UP NEXT
• Following Saturday's game, the Cougars closes their regular-season home schedule when they plays host to Wichita State at 6 p.m., Thursday, inside the Fertitta Center. That game will air on ESPN2.
• Prior to that game, guard Marcus Sasser, forward Reggie Chaney and center Darius Bowser will be honored during Senior Night ceremonies.
• From there, the Cougars close their regular-season schedule when they face Memphis at 11 a.m., Sunday, March 5, inside FedExForum in Memphis, Tenn. That game can be seen on CBS.
• Houston then takes its first steps in the postseason when it competes for the last time at the American Athletic Conference Championship inside Dickies Arena in Fort Worth Texas on March 10-12.
• 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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