PREVIEW: #15/12 Men’s Basketball Closes Non-Conference on Saturday

HOUSTON – Winners of its last three and four of its last five games, the #15/12 University of Houston Men's Basketball program closes its non-conference schedule when it faces Texas A&M-Corpus Christi at 1 p.m., Saturday, inside Fertitta Center in a game presented by Coca-Cola.

Houston enters its non-conference finale following a 78-49 win over Toledo inside Fertitta Center on Wednesday night. That was the Cougars' 28^th consecutive home win inside Fertitta Center, which stands as the nation's longest active winning streak.

With that victory, Houston improved to 99-6 record inside Fertitta Center since the facility opened Dec. 1, 2018.

Against Toledo, sophomore guard Terrance Arceneaux poured in a career-high 16 points and fell just one rebound shy of recording the first double-double for his career.

Arceneaux was one of five Cougars to reach double-digit points, joining sophomore forward Joseph Tugler (13), junior guard Emanuel Sharp (13), junior point guard Milos Uzan (10) and graduate guard Mylik Wilson (10).

Kordelius Jefferson, Ugly Sweater Contest

Kordelius Jefferson, Ugly Sweater Contest

PROMOTIONS
• Saturday's game is presented by Coca-Cola.
• Shasta and Sasha Claus will be available for pregame photos in the Cub Zone on the concourse behind Section 108.
• Prior to the game, Miss Houston 2019 and 2020 Blaine Ochoa will perform the national anthem.
• At halftime, fans with the best ugly Christmas sweater will be selected out of the crowd to participate in the Whata-Ugly Sweater Contest, presented by Whataburger.
• Fans needed to do some last-minute holiday shopping are invited to shop in the UH Team Store near the TDECU Stadium Garage. The UH Team Store will open at 11:30 a.m., Saturday.

NATIONAL POLLS
• The Cougars stood at #15 in the Associated Press poll and rose to #12 in the USA TODAY Sports Coaches polls released Monday.
• This marked the 92^nd consecutive week in which Houston was ranked, the nation's longest active streak and extending its school record.
• Houston is 17-4 when playing as the #15 (AP) team during its history and has won eight of its last nine games as the #15 (AP) team.

TUNE IN
• Fans can watch Saturday's game on CBS Sports Network with Carter Blackburn (play-by-play) and Avery Johnson (analyst) calling.
• Fans can hear Saturday's Men's Basketball game on 950 AM KPRC and the Varsity Network app with Jeremy Branham (play-by-play) and Hall of Famer Elvin Hayes calling. Fans also can hear the game on Sirius XM Ch. 83. The pregame show begins at 12:45 p.m., Saturday.
• Fans can follow live stats from Saturday's game by visiting StatBroadcast.com and following the appropriate links or by clicking here.

ABOUT TEXAS A&M-CORPUS CHRISTI
• Texas A&M-Corpus Christi brings a 7-5 record into Saturday's game inside Fertitta Center.
• The Islanders are 1-1 in Southland Conference play to tie for fourth.
• Texas A&M-Corpus Christi has alternated wins and losses in its last five games.
• In its most recent action, the Islanders claimed a 117-63 win over Southwestern Adventist inside Dugan Wellness Center in Corpus Christi, Texas, on Wednesday afternoon.
• Against Southwestern Adventist, senior forward Garry Clark came off the bench to pour 19 points on 9-of-12 shooting and lead six Islanders in double digits. Junior forward Sheldon Williams posted a triple-double with 13 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists, leading all players in the last two categories. Senior guard Jordan Roberts finished with 18 points and five assists while junior center Stephen Giwa posted 16 points with five rebounds. Junior guard Aaron Potter and junior center Shilo Jackson finished with 13 points apiece.
• This season, Clark leads the Islanders with 14.4 points and 5.8 rebounds per game. Freshman guard Isaac Williams is second on the team with 9.6 points per game but leads Texas A&M-Corpus Christi with 4.6 assists per contest.
• Head Coach Jim Shaw is in his second season at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi and as a collegiate head coach.
• Shaw has built a 28-17 record during his career.
• Shaw has posted an 0-1 record against Houston during his career.
• Shaw has posted an 0-1 record against Houston Head Coach Kelvin Sampson during their careers.
• 2003 graduate of Grinnell.

SERIES HISTORY vs. TEXAS A&M-CORPUS CHRISTI
• Houston owns an 8-1 lead against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi in the series, which began during the 2005-06 season.
• The Cougars have won the last four meetings against the Islanders
• In the most recent meeting, Houston took an 82-60 win inside Fertitta Center on Nov. 11, 2023.
• In the first meeting against the Islanders, Houston took an 86-83 win inside Hofheinz Pavilion in Houston on Jan. 7, 2006.
at Home: Houston owns a 6-0 record against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi in games played on the Cougars' home court.
• In the most recent home meeting against the Islanders, Houston took an 82-60 win inside Fertitta Center on Nov. 11, 2023.
• In the first meeting, the Cougars enjoyed a 67-56 win inside Hofheinz Pavilion in Houston on Dec. 4, 2007
in Fertitta Center: Houston owns a 1-0 lead against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi in games played inside Fertitta Center during the series history.
• In the lone previous meeting in Fertitta Center, the Cougars enjoyed a 82-60 win in Houston on Nov. 11, 2023.

UP NEXT
• Following Saturday's game, Houston opens Big 12 Conference play and closes the year 2024 when it meets Oklahoma State at 7 p.m., Monday, Dec. 30, inside Gallagher-Iba Arena in Stillwater, Okla.
• That game can be seen on ESPN+.
• Houston returns to open Big 12 play in the Fertitta Center and the year 2025 against BYU at 1 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 4.
• That game will air on ESPN+.
• The Cougars continue their conference homestand as they host TCU at 8 p.m., Monday, Jan. 6, inside Fertitta Center.
• That game will air on ESPN2.
• All Houston Men's Basketball games can be heard on 950 AM KPRC and the Varsity Network app.

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.

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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