PREVIEW: #2/2 Men’s Basketball Opens Players Era Championship

Monday, November 24

MGM Grand Garden Arena – Las Vegas, Nev.

5 p.m. (CT)

University of Houston

Syracuse

Buy Tickets

PREVIEW: #2/2 Men’s Basketball Opens Players Era Championship

11/23/2025 1:19:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Watch (TNT)Listen (950 AM KPRC)Listen (Varsity Network app)Listen (SiriusXM Ch. 145)Live Stats Houston Game Notes (PDF)Syracuse Game Notes (PDF)Big 12 Notes (PDF)

Cougars face Syracuse at 5 p.m. (CST) / 3 p.m. (PST) Monday inside MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas

LAS VEGAS, Nev. – For the second straight season, the #2/2 University of Houston Men's Basketball program will compete at the prestigious Players Era Championship when it tips off against Syracuse at 3 p.m. (PST) / 5 p.m. (CST), Monday, inside MGM Grand Garden Arena.

#2/2 Houston enters this week's tournament following a 91-54 win over Rider inside Fertitta Center on Thursday night. The Cougars jumped out to a 17-2 lead in the first five minutes and never looked back in the first meeting against the Broncs.

Freshman point guard Kingston Flemings scored 18 points on 8-of-10 shooting and dished out five assists with a pair of steals to lead the Cougars. Senior guard Emanuel Sharp posted 15 points, thanks to three 3-pointers, and added a career-high five assists.

With Houston's win over Rider inside Fertitta Center on Nov. 20, Sharp competed in the 100th victory of his Houston career. He became the seventh Cougar to reach that milestone in program history. He joined forward J'Wan Roberts (149, 2019-25), forward Fabian White Jr. (121, 2017-22); point guard Jamal Shead (120, 2020-24); Ja'Vier Francis (114, 2021-25), forward Michael Young (109, 1980-84) and point guard Galen Robinson Jr. (103, 2015-19).

Tuesday's game features the Top-Two scoring defenses in the nation. Houston ranks second in the country, allowing 53.4 points per game, with the Orange just ahead at 53.3 ppg.

Houston stands at No. 1 in the KenPom national defensive efficiency ratings (89.2) through games of Nov. 22. The Cougars led the country in that category a year ago and have stood among the Top 10 in each of the last five seasons.

Since 2017-18, Houston is the nation's winningest team with a 248-44 record. The Cougars also are the nation's winningest team over the last 2+ (72), 3+ (105), 4+ (137), 5+ (165), 6+ (188) and 7+ (221) seasons.

TUNE IN
• Fans can watch Monday's game on TNT with Brandon Gaudin (play-by-play), Candace Parker (analyst) and Nabil Karim (reporter) calling.
• Fans can hear Monday's game on 950 AM KPRC, the Varsity Network app and SiriusXM Ch. 145 with Jeremy Branham (play-by-play). The pregame show begins at 4:45 p.m. (CST), Monday.
• Fans can follow live stats from Monday's game by clicking here.

ABOUT SYRACUSE
• Syracuse enters Monday's game with a 4-0 overall record.
• The Orange are 1-0 in neutral-site games this season after taking an 80-50 win over Drexel inside the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, on Nov. 15.
• In its most recent action, Syracuse enjoyed a 78-73 win over Monmouth inside the JMA Wireless Dome in Syracuse on Tuesday night.
• Against Monmouth, sophomore forward Donnie Freeman led Syracuse with 18 points, thanks to 12-of-14 free throw shooting from the free throw line, and had seven rebounds and added four assists. Senior guard Nate Kingz totaled 15 points on 6-of-12 shooting with four rebounds and two assists while junior guard Naithan George posted 11 points with a game-high nine assists. Senior forward William Kyle III recorded 11 points in the win.
• This season, Freeman leads the Orange with 17.8 points per game while freshman guard Kiyan Anthony stands second with 14.8 points per contest. George averages 11.5 points per game with a team-best 6.5 assists per contest while Kyle leads the way with 8.8 rebounds per game.
• Head Coach Adrian Autry is in his third season at Syracuse and as a collegiate head coach.
• Autry has built a 38-31 record at Syracuse and during his career.
• Monday's game will be the first time that Autry has faced Houston during his career.
• Monday's game will be the first time that Autry has faced Houston Head Coach Kelvin Sampson during their careers.
• 1994 graduate of Syracuse.

SERIES HISTORY vs. SYRACUSE
• The series against Syracuse is tied at 1-1.
• The series began with a 92-87 Syracuse win over the ninth-ranked Cougars inside the Carrier Dome in Syracuse, N.Y., on Dec. 11, 1982.
at Neutral Site: Houston owns a 1-0 record against Syracuse in games played at a neutral site.
• In the lone previous neutral-site meeting, #6/6 (2) Houston took a 62-46 win over (11) Syracuse during the NCAA Tournament Midwest Regional Sweet 16 inside Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis on March 27, 2021.
at Players Era Championship: Monday's game will be the first time that Houston has faced Syracuse at the Players Era Championship.

BUY TICKETS
Single-game home tickets for all games inside Fertitta Center are now on sale, and fans are encouraged to purchase quickly while supplies last. The two-time defending Big 12 Conference Champions, Houston will play host to 16 home games inside Fertitta Center with seven in non-conference play and nine in Big 12 action in 2025-26.

Fans interested in purchasing group tickets may complete this form to be contacted by a member of the Houston Athletics Tickets Sales staff.

Fans can purchase Houston Hoops Showdown tickets to watch the Cougars face Florida State inside Toyota Center on Dec. 6 by clicking here.

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

UP NEXT
• Following Monday's game, Houston continues its stay at the Players Era Championship.
• The Cougars face #20/17 Tennessee at 5 p.m. (CST), Tuesday, Nov. 25, inside MGM Grand Garden Arena
• That game will air on TNT and HBO Max.
• Houston's final Players Era Championship opponent on Wednesday will be determined by results from the first two days.
• From there, the Cougars meet Florida State during the Houston Hoops Showdown inside Toyota Center at 7 p.m., Saturday, December 6.
• That game will air on Peacock.
• All Houston Men's Basketball games can be heard on 950 AM KPRC, the Varsity Network app and Sirius XM Radio.

SUPPORT YOUR COOGS
Fans can make a direct impact on the success of Houston Men's Basketball by providing NIL opportunities 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 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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