PREVIEW: #8/10 Men’s Basketball to Host Louisiana

HOUSTON – The University of Houston Men's Basketball program returns to the friendly confines of the Fertitta Center when it plays host to Louisiana at 7 p.m., Wednesday.

#8/10 Houston enters its lone game this week following a tough 74-69 loss to #11/11 Auburn during the nightcap of the Mattress Firm Battleground 2k24 inside Toyota Center on Saturday night.

Five Cougars scored double-digit points with graduate guard LJ Cryer and junior guard Emanuel Sharp leading the way with 13 points each. Graduate forward J'Wan Roberts and sophomore forward Joseph Tugler each snared seven rebounds to lead Houston with junior guard Milos Uzan's four assists leading all players.

This season, Cryer leads the Cougars with 14.5 points per game. Roberts is second on the team with 13.0 points and 6.5 rebounds per contest while Uzan is averaging a team-best 7.0 assists per game.

PROMOTIONS
• Wednesday's game will be part of the Dorm Attendance Challenge for UH students. The dorm with the most residents at Wednesday's game wins free Raising Cane's during Finals week.
• UH student Rheana Collins will perform the national anthem.

BOUNCING BACK
• Since Feb. 1, 2017, Houston Men's Basketball has played 29 games following a regular-season loss.
• Under Head Coach Kelvin Sampson's leadership, the Cougars have posted a 27-2 record, including 23 straight wins at one point, in those games.
• The Cougars also have won handily in those games, winning by an average of 18.0 points per contest.
• Houston has lost consecutive games only twice since Feb. 1, 2017.
• In the most recent losing streak during the 2023-24 season, the Cougars fell 57-53 at Iowa State (Jan. 9, 2024) and lost at TCU, 68-67 (Jan. 13, 2024).
• Houston went on to win 14 of its next 15 Big 12 Conference games to capture the regular-season championship in its first year in the league.

NATIONAL POLLS
• The Cougars stood at #8 in Monday's Associated Press poll and at #10 in the USA TODAY Sports Coaches poll.
• This marked the 87^th consecutive week in which Houston was ranked, the nation's longest active streak and extending its school record.
• Houston also has appeared in the Top 10 in each of the last 42 AP polls to lead the country and extend its school record.

HOME SWEET HOME
• The Cougars enter Wednesday's game as winners of their last 23 home games inside Fertitta Center.
• That total is tied with Drake for the nation's active home winning streak.
• Houston has posted a 94-6 record in Fertitta Center since the facility opened Dec. 1, 2018.

BUY 2024-25 TICKETS
Non-season ticket holders interested in purchasing season tickets are invited to place their names on the Season Ticket Wait List by clicking here.

TUNE IN
• Fans can watch Wednesday's game on ESPN+ with Matt Pedersen (play-by-play), Reid Gettys (analyst) and Austyn Iven (reporter) calling.
• Fans can hear Wednesday's game on 950 AM KPRC and the Varsity Network app with Jeremy Branham (play-by-play) and Hall of Famer Elvin Hayes calling. 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 LOUISIANA
• Louisiana brings a 1-1 record into Wednesday's game inside Fertitta Center.
• The Cajuns took an 82-65 home win over Texas-Dallas in Lafayette, La., on Thursday.
• Against Texas-Dallas, senior guard Koron Davis came off the bench to score 24 points on 9-of-15 shooting with five rebounds and two 3-pointers. Junior guard Mostapha El Moutaouakkil added 15 points on 5-of-8 shooting with four rebounds and two steals while senior guard Kentrell Garnett totaled 11 points with two rebounds and a game-high three steals. Senior forward Zeke Cook led all players with nine rebounds while senior guard Kyndall Davis posted a game-high four assists.
• Head Coach Bob Marlin is in his 15th season at Louisiana and his 27th season as a collegiate head coach.
• Marlin has built a 267-190 record at Louisiana and has posted a 492-321 mark during his career... He previously compiled a 225-131 record at Sam Houston (1998-10).
• Marlin is 2-5 against Houston during his career... That includes a 1-3 mark with Louisiana and a 1-2 mark with Sam Houston.
• Marlin is 0-2 Houston Head Coach Kelvin Sampson during their careers... That includes an 0-1 mark with Louisiana against Sampson with Houston and an 0-1 record with Sam Houston against Sampson with Oklahoma.
• 1981 graduate of Mississippi State.

SERIES HISTORY vs. LOUISIANA
• Houston owns a 10-7 lead against Louisiana in the series, which began during the 1947-48 season.
• The series began with a 43-34 Louisiana win on Dec. 10, 1947, in Shreveport, La.
• The Cougars have won the three of the last four meetings against the Cajuns, including a 71-56 win inside Fertitta Center on Dec. 14, 2021, in the most recent encounter.
• Louisiana's last win in the series was a 79-76 victory in overtime in Lafayette, La., on Dec. 14, 2013.
at Home: Houston owns a 10-1 lead in home games played in Houston in the series against Auburn.
• The Cougars have won the last three home meetings against the Cajuns with each win decided by 12+ points.
• In the most recent home meeting, the Cougars enjoyed a 71-56 victory on Dec. 14, 2021, inside Fertitta Center.
• Louisiana's lone road win in the series was a 72-56 victory inside Hofheinz Pavilion on Jan. 4, 2003.
in Fertitta Center: Houston owns a 1-0 lead in home games inside Fertitta Center against Louisiana.
• In the lone previous meeting inside Fertitta Center, the Cougars enjoyed a 71-56 victory on Dec. 14, 2021.

UP NEXT
• Following Wednesday's game, Houston continues its homestand when it meets Hofstra at 7 p.m., Friday, Nov. 22, inside Fertitta Center.
• That game will air on ESPN+.
• From there, Houston then travels to Las Vegas to compete at the Players Era Festival.
• The Cougars open that event at 7 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 26, against #2/2 Alabama inside MGM Grand Garden Arena.
• That game will air on TBS and Max
• Houston continues its tournament stay against Notre Dame (11:30 p.m. CST, Nov. 27) and a to-be-determined opponent on Nov. 30).
• All Houston Men's Basketball games can be heard on 950 AM KPRC and the Varsity Network app.

SUPPORT YOUR COOGS
Fans can make a direct impact on the success of Houston Men's Basketball by supporting Linking Coogs – UH's NIL collective – and by joining the 50-50 Club, which provides financial support directly to Houston Men's Basketball for needs beyond its operating budget.

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.

STAY CONNECTED
Fans can receive updates by following @UHCougarMBK on X, formerly known as 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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