PREVIEW: #4/4 Men’s Hoops Faces Cincinnati on Saturday

Saturday, March 1

Houston, Texas

3:30 p.m.

University of Houston

Cincinnati

Tickets

PREVIEW: #4/4 Men’s Hoops Faces Cincinnati on Saturday

2/28/2025 9:21:00 AM | Men's Basketball

Preview – Coach Kelvin Sampson (YouTube)Digital Game Program Watch (CBS)Listen (950 AM KPRC)Listen (Varsity Network app)Live Stats (StatBroadcast)Houston Game Notes (PDF)Cincinnati Game Notes (PDF)Big 12 Notes (PDF)

Cougars tip off vs. Bearcats at 3:30 p.m., inside Fertitta Center

HOUSTON – Winners of 36 of its last 37 home games, the #4/4 University of Houston Men's Basketball program begins the final part of its 2024-25 home schedule when it plays host to Cincinnati at 3:30 p.m., Saturday, inside Fertitta Center in a game presented by Ford.

With a win against the Bearcats, the Cougars will clinch their second straight outright Big 12 Conference regular-season championship. Houston already has clinched a share of the title, becoming the first time in more than 100 years to join an existing major conference and win the regular-season title in its first two years in the new league.

The Cougars joined Idaho, which accomplished the feat in 1921-22 and 1922-23 as a member of th4e Pacific Coast Conference.

Houston enters this weekend's game following a tough 69-61 win at #10/10 Texas Tech in Lubbock, Texas, on Monday evening. Graduate guard Milos Uzan posted a career-high 22 points with two rebounds, two assists and a pair of steals while graduate forward J'Wan Roberts totaled 16 points with a team-high seven rebounds in the win.

With the Cougars' latest title, graduate guard LJ Cryer played for his fourth straight Big 12 Conference championship team with the last two with the Cougars.

In addition, the Katy, Texas, native needs only 18 more points to reach Houston's career 1,000-Point Club. He would become the 53^rd member of the group and the second this season, joining forward J'Wan Roberts.

Following Saturday's game, the Cougars close their home schedule when they play host to rv/rv Kansas at 8 p.m., Monday, inside Fertitta Center.

That game will be part of Senior Night. Houston Men's Basketball will recognize Roberts, Cryer, senior guard Ramon Walker Jr., senior center Ja'Vier Francis and graduate guard Mylik Wilson in pregame ceremonies beginning at 7:30 p.m., Monday.

PROMOTIONS
• Saturday's game is presented by Ford.
• Fans can view Saturday's digital game program by clicking here.
• The first 2,000 fans at Saturday's game will receive a FREE #ForTheCity rally towel provided by Ford.
• Head Coach Kelvin Sampson is buying a free slice of pizza for every UH student in attendance at Saturday's game.
• Prior to the game, fans can compete in the Bud Light Mini Hoops Mania Challenge located in the Cub Zone behind Section 108. The fan with the highest Pop-N-Shot score will compete in a contest at halftime for a chance to win a trip to Las Vegas and win $10,000.
• Prior to the game, fans can take photos on the concourse with a variety of mascots, who will be visiting Fertitta Center as part of Mascot Day. The mascots will compete at halftime during the Mascot Halftime Spectacular.
• Prior to Saturday's game, Cougar Brass will perform the national anthem.

PARKING LOTS OPEN
• With a variety of pregame activities around the Houston Athletics Complex, parking lots will open at 11 a.m., Saturday.

TUNE IN
• Fans can watch Saturday's game on CBS with Brad Nessler (play-by-play) and Jay Wright (analyst) calling.
• Fans can hear Saturday's game on 950 AM KPRC and the Varsity Network app with Jeremy Branham (play-by-play). The pregame show begins at 3:15 p.m., Saturday.
• Fans can follow live stats from Saturday's game by clicking here.

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.

ABOUT CINCINNATI
• Cincinnati brings a 17-11 overall record and 7-10 mark in Big 12 Conference play into Saturday's game.
• The Bearcats stand in 13th in the Big 12 standings, through games of Feb. 25.
• The Bearcats are 4-7 in road games this season.
• Cincinnati has won its last two games, including a 69-67 win over Baylor in Cincinnati on Tuesday in its most recent action.
• Against Baylor, sophomore guard Jizzle James led the Bearcats with 18 points while junior forward Dillon Mitchell totaled 13 points with a team-high nine rebounds. Junior guard Josh Reed finished with 11 points, four rebounds and a pair of assists, and senior guard Day Day Thomas totaled 10 points with game highs of four assists and three steals.
• This season, James leads Cincinnati with 12.6 points and 3.8 assists per game. Senior guard Simas Lukosius stands second on the team with 11.2 points per game. Mitchell is third among the Bearcats with 10.2 points per game but leads Cincinnati with 6.6 rebounds [per contest.
• Head Coach Wes Miller is in his fourth season at Cincinnati and his 14th year as a collegiate head coach.
• Miller has built a 265-189 record during his career.
• He previously compiled a 185-135 record at UNC Greensboro (2011-21).
• Miller has posted an 0-8 record against Houston during his career.
• Miller has compiled an 0-8 record against Houston Head Coach Kelvin Sampson during their careers
• 2007 graduate of North Carolina.

SERIES HISTORY vs. CINCINNATI
• Cincinnati holds a 33-16 lead in the series, which began during the 1957-58 season.
• Saturday's game is the lone regular-season meeting against Cincinnati during the 2024-25 season.
• Houston has won the last 12 meetings against Cincinnati
• At 49 games, the series against Cincinnati ranks 11th in Houston history. With Saturday's game, the series will move into a tie with Tulane (50) as the 10th-most played in school history.
• In the most recent encounter against Cincinnati, Houston claimed a 67-59 win inside Fertitta Center in Houston on Feb. 27, 2024.
• In the first meeting against the Bearcats, Cincinnati took a 70-53 win in Houston on Dec. 21, 1957.
at Home: The Cougars hold a 9-14 record against Cincinnati in home games played in Houston.
• Houston has won the last seven and eight of the last home meetings. Only a 67-58 Cincinnati win inside Hofheinz Pavilion on Jan. 7, 2017, prevents a longer streak.
• In the first meeting in Houston, Cincinnati claimed a 70-53 win on Dec. 21, 1957.
in Fertitta Center: Houston owns a 6-0 lead against Cincinnati in home games played in Fertitta Center.
• In the most recent meeting in Fertitta Center, the Cougars took a 67-59 win on Feb. 27, 2024.
• In the first meeting in Fertitta Center, Houston enjoyed a 65-58 win on Feb. 10, 2019.

UP NEXT
• Following Saturday's game, Houston closes its regular-season home schedule and celebrates Senior Night against Kansas at 8 p.m., Monday, March 3, in Fertitta Center. That game will air on ESPN.
• Prior to the game, the Cougars will recognize graduate forward J'Wan Roberts, graduate guard LJ Cryer, graduate guard Mylik Wilson, senior forward Ja'Vier Francis and senior guard Ramon Walker Jr.
• From there, the Cougars wrap up their regular-season schedule when they meet Baylor at 9 p.m., Saturday, March 8, inside Foster Pavilion in Waco, Texas.
• Fans should note the 9 p.m., starting time, which was recently changed from earlier published schedules.
• 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.

– UHCougars.com –