PREVIEW: #4/4 Men’s Hoops Meets #11/11 Auburn on Saturday

HOUSTON – In one of the nation's premier non-conference games of the season, the #4/4 University of Houston Men's Basketball program will face #11/11 Auburn at 8:30 p.m., Saturday, during the nightcap of the Mattress Firm Battleground 2k24 inside Toyota Center.

Houston enters this weekend's game following a dominating 97-40 win over Jackson State inside Fertitta Center on Monday. The Cougars connected on 58.2 percent (39-of-67) from the field, including 12-of-20 from the 3-point line and 7-of-7 from the arc and limited the Tigers to 27.7 percent (13-of-47) with 21 turnovers.

Houston posted the second-biggest season-opening win in school history and the largest since a 69-point victory (131-62) against Florida Tech on Nov. 22, 2005, inside Hofheinz Pavilion.

Graduate All-American guard LJ Cryer led all players with 16 points, thanks to four 3-pointers while junior point guard newcomer Milos Uzan flirted with a triple-double with eight points, seven rebounds and a game-high 10 assists in his Houston debut.

Graduate forward J'Wan Roberts posted 14 points on 6-of-8 shooting and added six rebounds with three rebounds, an assist and steal in the win.

With that victory, Roberts broke out of a tie with All-American point guard Jamal Shead and became the winningest student-athlete in Fertitta Center history. The St. Thomas, V.I., native now has a 63-3 career home record.

BUY 2024-25 TICKETS
Fans can purchase tickets to the Mattress Firm Battleground 2k24 by clicking here. The Cougars will face #11/11 Auburn at 8:30 p.m., Saturday, inside Toyota Center with Rice meeting Florida State in the first game of the doubleheader at 6 p.m.

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

HOUSTON in TOYOTA CENTER HISTORY
• Saturday's game will be the third time Houston has competed inside Toyota Center since it opened Oct. 6, 2003.
• It also will be the second straight season in which the Cougars will play in that facility.
• During the 2023-24 season, fourth-ranked Houston enjoyed a 70-66 win over Texas A&M during the nightcap of The Halal Guys Showcase on Dec. 16, 2023.
• In their first game in Toyota Center, the Cougars claimed a 54-52 win over Rice in the Dickies Shootout on Dec. 21, 2013.

TUNE IN
• Fans can watch Saturday's game on ESPNU with Rich Hollenberg (play-by-play) and Fran Fraschilla (analyst) calling the action.
• Fans can hear Saturday'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 around 8:15 p.m., Saturday.
• Fans can follow live stats by visiting StatBroadcast.com and following the appropriate links or by clicking here.

ABOUT AUBURN
• Auburn enters Saturday's game at #11 in both the Associated Press and USA TODAY Sports Coaches preseason polls.
• The Tigers have a 1-0 record after taking a 94-43 home win over Vermont in Auburn, Ala., on Wednesday night.
• Against the Catamounts, Miles Kelly came off the bench to post 21 points off seven 3-pointers and lead five Tigers in double digits. Guard Denver Jones totaled 16 points with two rebounds and two assists while Chaney Johnson added 13 points with a game-high nine rebounds. Center Johni Broome posted 12 points with seven rebounds, two assists and a pair of blocked shots, and forward Chad Baker-Mazara finished with 11 points, three rebounds and two assists in the win.
In 2023-24, Auburn finished with a 27-8 overall record and 13-5 SEC mark.
• The Tigers tied for second with Kentucky, Alabama and South Carolina in the 2023-24 SEC standings.
• Head Coach Bruce Pearl is in his 11th season at Auburn and his 30th season as a collegiate head coach.
• Pearl has built a 201-119 record at Auburn and has posted a 663-264 mark during his career... He previously compiled a 231-36 record at Southern Indiana (1991-02), an 86-38 mark at Milwaukee (86-38) and a 145-61 record at Tennessee (2005-11).
• Pearl is 0-1 against Houston during his career with the lone previous meeting coming during his Auburn tenure.
• Pearl is 0-1 Houston Head Coach Kelvin Sampson during their careers with the lone previous meeting coming during his Auburn tenure.
• 1982 graduate of Boston College.

SERIES HISTORY vs. AUBURN
• Houston owns a 7-1 lead against Auburn in the series, which began during the 1961-62 season.
• The Cougars have won the last six meetings against the Tigers.
• Saturday's showdown will be the first meeting against Auburn since an 81-64 Houston win during the NCAA Tournament Midwest Region Round of 32 inside Legacy Arena in Birmingham, Ala., on March 18, 2023.
• Auburn's lone win in the series was a 71-69 victory in overtime at the Holiday Classic inside Sam Houston Coliseum in Houston on Dec. 29, 1962.
at Neutral Site: Houston owns a 2-0 lead at neutral sites in the series against Auburn.
• In the most recent meeting at a neutral site, the Cougars claimed an 81-64 win during the NCAA Tournament Midwest Region Round of 32 inside Legacy Arena in Birmingham, Ala., on March 18, 2023.
• In the first meeting at a neutral site, Houston enjoyed a 54-49 win at the Lion's Club Tournament in Houston on Dec. 23, 1961.

UP NEXT
• Following Saturday's game, Houston takes on Louisiana at 7 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 13, inside Fertitta Center.
• That game can be seen on ESPN+.
• From there, the Cougars continue their homestand when they meet Hofstra at 7 p.m., Friday, Nov. 22, inside Fertitta Center.
• That game will air on ESPN+.
• 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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