PREVIEW: #3/3 Men’s Basketball Set to Host rv/– Texas

Saturday, February 17

Houston, Texas

Noon

University of Houston

rv/– Texas

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PREVIEW: #3/3 Men’s Basketball Set to Host rv/– Texas

2/15/2024 9:34:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Preview – Coach Kelvin Sampson Digital Game Program Game Notes

Cougars tip off at Noon, Saturday, in first meeting against the Longhorns inside Fertitta Center

HOUSTON – Winners of seven of its last eight games as well as its last 18 home games, the #3/3 University of Houston Men's Basketball program meets rv/– Texas for the second in time 2023-24 at Noon, Saturday, inside Fertitta Center. Saturday's game is presented by Stewart J. Guss Injury Lawyers.

This will be the start of a busy stretch for the Cougars, who play their next game against #10/10 Iowa State at 8 p.m., Monday, inside Fertitta Center in a battle of two of the top teams in the Big 12 Conference.

With their 18-game home winning streak, the Cougars are tied for the nation's longest active winning, joining Drake, Kansas, Morehead State and San Diego State.

Houston enters this weekend's contest following a tough 67-62 win at Cincinnati inside Fifth Third Arena on Saturday. Senior forward J'Wan Roberts scored 10 points on 10-of-15 shooting and led the Cougars with eight rebounds while senior point guard Jamal Shead totaled 16 points with four rebounds, four assists and no turnovers in more than 38 minutes.

Senior guard Mylik Wilson came off the bench to post four points with seven rebounds, two assists and three steals in the Cougars' 10^th straight win against the Bearcats.

Shead and Cryer recently were named to the Jersey Mike's Naismith Trophy Player of the Year Midseason Team. Houston was one of only four schools in the nation with multiple student-athletes on the Midseason Team, joining Purdue, North Carolina and Kansas.

GAME PROMOTIONS
• Saturday's presenting sponsor is Stewart J. Guss Injury Lawyers.
• The first 1,500 fans at Saturday's game will receive a free #32 Reggie Chaney shirsey.
• Houston Football legend and 1989 Heisman Trophy winner Andre Ware will lead the Whose House chant prior to tip off.
• Prior to Saturday's game, fans are invited to the Block Party on Cullen, beginning at 10 a.m. Free breakfast tacos and drinks at the general student tailgate at Cemo Plaza with games, music, entertainment and more.
• Retired US Air Force Senior Master Sergeant Promise Harris will perform the national anthem before the game.
• The Spirit of Houston, featuring twirler Alexis Tanner, will perform at halftime.

IN the RANKINGS
• Houston checked in at #3 in both the Associated Press and USA TODAY Sports Coaches Top 25 polls. This marked the 79^th straight week in which the Cougars were ranked in the AP poll. That is the nation's longest active streak and the longest streak in school history.
• The Cougars also have been ranked in the AP Top 10 for 34 consecutive weeks, setting another program record.
• Houston is 25-3 when competing as the #3 (AP) team and has won its last 19 games when playing as the nation's #3 team.

TUNE IN
• Fans can watch Saturday's game on CBS with Ian Eagle (play-by-play) and Bill Raftery (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 Houston legend Elvin Hayes (analyst) calling the action. The pregame show begins at 11:45 a.m., Saturday.
• Fans can follow live stats by visiting StatBroadcast.com and following the appropriate links or by clicking here.

ABOUT TEXAS
• Texas brings a 16-8 overall record and 5-6 Big 12 mark into Saturday's game inside Fertitta Center.
• Texas is tied for ninth in the latest league standings.
• The Longhorns are 3-3 in road games and 5-4 in non-home games during the 2023-24 season.
• Texas has alternated wins and losses in its last four games with wins in two of the last three contests. Only a 70-65 home loss to Iowa State in Austin, Texas, on Feb. 6 prevents a longer winning streak.
• In its most recent action, Texas claimed a 94-58 win over West Virginia inside Moody Center in Austin, Texas, on Feb. 10.
• Against West Virginia, all five Longhorn starters scored double-digit points, led by graduate forward Dylan Disu's game-high 27 points on 10-of-16 shooting from the field and 7-of-10 from the arc. Graduate guard Max Abmas finished with 19 points, six rebounds and six assists while junior guard Tyrese Hunter totaled 19 points with five rebounds, seven assists and a pair of steals. Sophomore guard Chendall Weaver added 13 points with six rebounds and four assists, and sophomore forward Dillon Mitchell posted 12 points with eight rebounds , four assists, two blocks and two steals in the win.
• This season, Abmas leads Texas with 17.7 points and adds 4.4 assists per game. Disu is second with 16.9 points per game while Hunter is third with 11.3 points per game but averages a team-best 4.5 assists per game., Mitchell averages 11.0 points per game and tops the Longhorns with 8.6 rebounds per game.
• Head Coach Rodney Terry is in his second season at Texas and his 12th year as a collegiate head coach.
• Terry has posted a 38-16 record with Texas and is 201-172 during his career.
• Terry previously built a 37-48 record at UTEP (2018-21) and was 126-108 at Fresno State (2011-18).
• Terry is 0-2 against Houston during his career.
• Terry is 0-2 against Houston Head Coach Kelvin Sampson during their careers.
• 1990 graduate of St. Edward's

SERIES HISTORY vs. TEXAS
• Houston owns a 33-32 lead against Texas in the series, which began during the 1949-50 season.
• Saturday's game will be the second of two regular-season meetings against Texas during the 2023-24 season. Houston took a 76-72 win in overtime inside Moody Center in Austin, Texas, on Jan. 29 in the most recent meeting.
• This marks the 11th straight season in which Houston will face Cincinnati as conference rivals.
• Houston has won the last two meetings against Texas, the longest winning streak against the Longhorns since 1992-93.
• The two schools met at Southwest Conference rivals for 21 consecutive seasons from 1975-76 through 1995-96
• In the first meeting, Texas claimed a 46-44 win in Austin, Texas, on Dec. 20, 1949.
at Home: Houston owns a 16-10 lead against Texas in games played on the Cougars' home court.
• Houston has won four of the last home meetings against the Longhorns. Only a 71-60 Texas win inside Hofheinz Pavilion on Dec. 20, 2000, prevents a longer streak.
• In the first home meeting, Houston dropped an 80-79 decision inside Public School Field House in Houston on Jan. 30, 1954.
in Fertitta Center: Saturday's game will be the first meeting against Texas inside Fertitta Center.

UP NEXT
• Following Saturday's game, the Cougars continue their homestand when they face #10/10 Iowa State for the second time this season inside Fertitta Center in Houston at 8 p.m., Monday, Feb. 19. That game will air on ESPN.
• From there, the Cougars take on #12/13 Baylor at 11 a.m., Saturday, Feb. 24, in Waco, Texas. That game will air on CBS.
• 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, giving to Houston Rise 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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