#1/1 Men’s Hoops Faces Cincinnati in Fertitta Center on Tuesday

HOUSTON – Winners of 10 of its last 11 games and the new #1 team in both national polls, the University of Houston Men's Basketball program hosts its penultimate home game inside Fertitta Center this season when it meets Big 12 Conference rival Cincinnati at 6 p.m., Tuesday. Tuesday's game is presented by Bud Light.

Houston enters this week's game following a tough 82-76 win in overtime at #11/11 Baylor on Saturday in Waco, Texas. It was the Cougars' second win over a Top-11 opponent in a six-day stretch.

Sophomore guard Emanuel Sharp led four Cougars in double digits with 18 points while senior forward J'Wan Roberts totaled 17 points on 7-of-9 shooting and led all players with eight rebounds, a career-high six steals and three blocked shots. Returning to Baylor, where he was a member of its 2021 national championship team, senior guard LJ Cryer scored 15 points and drained six free throws in overtime to lead the Cougars to the win.

Earlier Monday, senior point guard Jamal Shead was named the Big 12 Player of the Week for the second time this season as well as the Naismith Trophy Player of the Week.

The Manor, Texas, native averaged 19.0 points, 4.0 rebounds and 8.0 assists per game with only four total turnovers in nearly 80 minutes of action against #6/6 Iowa State and at #11/11 Baylor.

GAME PROMOTIONS
• Bud Light will be the presenting sponsor for Tuesday's game.
• As part of Tuesday's game, ALL fans are encouraged to Wear White as part of the Cougars' White Out.
• The first 1,000 fans at Tuesday's game will receive a FREE white Space Coogs T-shirt.
• Houston Coach Kelvin Sampson is buying pizza for the first 800 University of Houston students at Tuesday's game.
• Houston Swimming and Diving's Jenna Kerkman will perform the nation anthem with 11 minutes remaining on the countdown clock prior to the game.

IN the NATIONAL RANKINGS
• Houston moved into the #1 position in both the Associated Press and USA TODAY Coaches' Top 25 polls on Monday.
• This was the 19^th week in which the Cougars were ranked #1 in the AP poll during the program's history.
• This marked the second straight season in which Houston held the top spot for at least one week in the AP poll, a first in program history.
• The 2023-24 Cougars were the fourth team to hold the #1 position in the AP poll in the program history, joining the 1967-68, 1982-83 and 2022-23 squads.
• This was the 226^th week in which Houston Men's Basketball was ranked in the AP Top 25.
• This marked the 81^st consecutive week in which the Cougars were ranked in the AP poll, a school record and the nation's longest active streak.
• This was the 36^th straight week in which Houston Men's Basketball was ranked in the Top 10 of the AP poll, another school record.

TUNE IN
• Fans can watch Tuesday's game on ESPN2 with Rece Davis (play-by-play) and Chris Spatola (analyst) calling the action.
• Fans can hear Tuesday's game on 950 AM KPRC and the Varsity Network app with Jeremy Branham (play-by-play) and Hall of Famer Elvin Hayes (analyst) calling the action. The pregame show begins at 5:45 p.m., Tuesday.
• Fans can follow live stats by visiting StatBroadcast.com and following the appropriate links or by clicking here.

ABOUT CINCINNATI
• Cincinnati brings a 16-11 overall record and 5-9 Big 12 mark into Tuesday's game inside Fertitta Center.
• Cincinnati is tied with UCF for 11th in the latest league standings.
• The Bearcats are 4-5 in road games and 4-6 in non home games this season.
• Cincinnati has lost its last two and four of its last five games. Only a 76-74 win at UCF on Feb. 17 prevents a longer streak.
• In their most recent action, the Bearcats dropped a 75-57 decision at TCU on Feb. 24 in Fort Worth, Texas.
• Against, TCU, guard Day Day Thomas led Cincinnati with 13 points and added three rebounds and a pair of assists. Center Aziz Bandaogo led the Bearcats with nine rebounds, including four offensive boards, and forward Simas Lukosius added four assists in the loss.
• This season, Dan Skillings Jr. leads Cincinnati with 12.1 points and is second on the squad with 6.3 rebounds per contest. Thomas stands second with 10.4 points per game but tops the team with 3.0 assists per game. Lukoskusis third among the Bearcats with 10.0 points per game.
• Head Coach Wes Miller is in his third season at Cincinnati and his 13th year as a collegiate head coach.
• Miller has posted a 57-39 record with Cincinnati and is 242-174 during his career.
• Miller previously built a 185-135 record at UNC Greensboro (2011-21).
• Miller is 0-7 against Houston during his career.
• Miller is 0-7 against Houston Head Coach Kelvin Sampson during their careers.
• 2007 graduate of North Carolina

SERIES HISTORY vs. CINCINNATI
• Cincinnati owns a 33-15 lead against Houston in the series, which began during the 1957-58 season.
• Tuesday's game is the second regular-season meeting against Cincinnati during the 2023-24 season. The Cougars took a 67-62 win inside Fifth Third Arena in Cincinnati on Feb. 10.
• Houston has won the last 10 meetings and 12 of the last 14 against the Bearcats. Cincinnati's last win was a 64-62 victory in Cincinnati on Feb. 1, 2020.
• In the first meeting, Cincinnati took a 70-53 win in Houston on Dec. 21, 1957.
at Home: Cincinnati holds a 14-8 lead in the series in games played in Houston.
• Houston has won the last six and seven of the last home games against the Bearcats in Houston. Only a 67-58 loss in Hofheinz Pavilion on Jan. 7, 2017, prevents a longer streak.
• In the first home meeting in Houston, Cincinnati claimed a 70-53 win on Dec. 21, 1957.
in Fertitta Center: Houston is 5-0 against Cincinnati inside Fertitta Center.

UP NEXT
• Following Tuesday's game, the Cougars open the month of March when it faces –/rv Oklahoma at 7 p.m., Saturday, March 2, inside Lloyd Noble Arena in Norman, Okla. That game will air on ESPN2.
• The Cougars close their brief road swing when they take on UCF at 6 p.m. (CST), Wednesday, March 6 inside Addition Financial Arena in Orlando, Fla. That game will air on Big 12 Now on ESPN+.
• From there, the Cougars close their regular season and celebrate Senior Day when they play host to #9/10 Kansas inside Fertitta Center on Saturday, March 9. 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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