University of Houston Athletics
Tuesday, February 4
Houston, Texas
7 p.m.
University of Houston
vs
Oklahoma State
Photo by: Courtesy University of Houston
PREVIEW: #5/5 Men’s Basketball Faces Oklahoma State on Tuesday
2/3/2025 7:00:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Preview – Coach Kelvin Sampson (YouTube)Digital Game ProgramWatch (ESPN+)Listen (950 AM KPRC)Listen (Varsity Network app)Live Stats (StatBroadcast)Houston Game Notes (PDF)Oklahoma State Game Notes (PDF)Big 12 Notes (PDF)
Cougars meet Cowboys for second time in 2024-25 at 7 p.m., Tuesday, inside Fertitta Center
HOUSTON – The #5/5 University of Houston Men's Basketball program looks to rebound when it plays host to Big 12 Conference rival Oklahoma State at 7 p.m., Tuesday, inside Fertitta Center.
The Cougars looks to sweep the regular-season series against the Cowboys after taking a 60-47 win inside Gallagher-Iba Arena in Stillwater, Okla., in the Big 12 opener for both teams on Dec. 30, 2024.
Houston enters this week's game following a tough 82-81 loss in overtime to #22/19 Texas Tech inside Fertitta Center on Saturday.
Graduate guard LJ Cryer led the Cougars with 22 points and three 3-pointers while graduate forward J'Wan Roberts finished with 18 points and seven rebounds.
PROMOTIONS
• Tuesday's game is presented by University of Houston Alumni Association
• Fans can view Tuesday's digital game program by clicking here.
• Tuesday's game will be Greek Night in Fertitta Center. The UH Greek organization which has the most members sign in at the Student Entrance off Cullen Boulevard will receive a $500 Visa gift card.
• Prior to the game, Daniel Mata perform the national anthem with assistance from UH ASL
• At halftime, members of Sigma Phi Epsilon and Alpha Sigma Phi fraternities will square off during the Battle of Bayou Oaks Scrimmage on the Fertitta Center floor.
BOUNCING BACK
• Under Head Coach Kelvin Sampson's leadership, the Cougars have posted a 30-2 record, including 23 straight wins at one point, in games following a regular-season loss since Feb. 1, 2017.
• The Cougars have won handily in those games, winning by an average of 19.0 points per game (607 points in 32 games).
• In their most recent game following a regular-season loss, the Cougars enjoyed a 79-51 win over Butler during the Big 12-Big East Battle inside Fertitta Center on Dec. 7. That victory came after a 73-70 loss in overtime to San Diego during the Third-Place Game of Players Era Festival inside MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Nov. 30.
• Houston has lost consecutive games only twice since Feb. 1, 2017.
• In the most recent losing streak during the 2023-24 season, the Cougars fell 57-53 at Iowa State (Jan. 9, 2024) and lost at TCU, 68-67 (Jan. 13, 2024).
• Houston went on to win 14 of its next 15 Big 12 Conference games to capture the regular-season championship in its first year in the league.
HOUSTON in NCAA STATISTICAL LEADERS
• Through games of Feb. 1, Houston leads the nation in scoring defense (56.6 ppg) and ranks fourth in field goal percentage defense (.367) and third in turnovers per game (9.1). The Cougars have led the nation in field goal percentage defense in each of the last four full seasons and topped the country in scoring defense a year ago.
• The Cougars rank seventh in the nation in 3-point field goal percentage at .393 and rank sixth in turnover margin (+5.5).
• Junior point guard Milos Uzan leads the Big 12 and ranks fifth in the nation with a 3.70 assist-turnover ratio.
• Sophomore forward Joseph Tugler ranks 14th in the nation and third in the Big 12 with 2.4 blocked shots per game. The Monroe, La., native has recorded 11 games with multiple blocks.
• Junior guard Emanuel Sharp leads the Big 12 and is sixth nationally with his 93.2 free throw percentage.
NATIONAL POLLS
• The Cougars rose to #5 in the Associated Press poll and stayed steady at #5 in the USA TODAY Sports Coaches poll released Monday.
• This marked the 99th consecutive week in which Houston was ranked, the nation's longest active streak and extending its school record.
• Houston is 20-5 when playing as the #5 (AP) team and has won its last seven games at #5 during its history
• This marks the first week in which Houston will compete as the #5 (AP) and the third straight week as #5 (Coaches) during the 2024-25 season.
• This also marks the eighth in which the Cougars will compete as an AP Top-10 team during the 2024-25 season.
TUNE IN
• Fans can watch Tuesday's game on ESPN+ with James Westling (play-by-play) and Bryndon Manzer (analyst) calling.
• Fans can hear Tuesday's game on 950 AM KPRC and the Varsity Network app with Jeremy Branham (play-by-play) and Elvin Hayes (analyst) calling. The pregame show begins at 6:45 p.m., Tuesday.
• Fans can follow live stats from Tuesday's game by visiting StatBroadcast.com and following the appropriate links or by clicking here.
ABOUT OKLAHOMA STATE
• Oklahoma State brings an 11-10 overall record and 3-7 mark in Big 12 Conference play into Saturday's game.
• The Cowboys are tied with Arizona State for 13th in the Big 12 standings through Feb. 1.
• Oklahoma State is 2-5 in road games and 3-8 in non-home games during the 2024-25 season.
• In its most recent action, the Cowboys claimed an 81-72 win over Utah in Stillwater, Okla., on Feb. 1. That win snapped a season-long three-game losing streak.
• Against Utah, graduate guard Bryce Thompson led Oklahoma State with 20 points on 6-of-10 shooting from the field, including 4-of-4 from the arc. Fifth-year forward Marchelus "Chi Chi" Avery came off the bench to post 17 points on 5-of-10 shooting. Fifth-year forward Abou Ousmane led all players with eight rebounds while guard junior guard Arturo Dean dished out a game-high seven assists and three steals.
• This season, Avery leads Oklahoma State with 12.7 points per game. Thompson stands second with 11.81 points per game while Ousmane is a close third with 11.75 points per contest but averages a team-high 6.0 rebounds and 1.0 blocks per game. Dean paces the Cowboys with 3.0 assists per game.
• Head Coach Steve Lutz is in his first season at Oklahoma State and his fourth year and as a collegiate head coach.
• Lutz has built an 80-45 record during his career and his 10-10 at Oklahoma State.
• Lutz previously compiled a 22-12 record at Western Kentucky (2023-24) and a 47-23 mark at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (2021-23).
• Lutz has posted an 0-1 record against Houston during his career with the lone previous meeting coming during his Oklahoma State tenure.
• Lutz has posted an 0-1 record Houston Head Coach Kelvin Sampson during their Oklahoma State and Houston careers, respectively.
• 1995 graduate of Texas Lutheran.
SERIES HISTORY vs. OKLAHOMA STATE
• Oklahoma State owns a 13-11 lead against Houston in the series, which began during the 1950-61 season.
• This marks the second straight season in which the two schools will meet as Big 12 Conference rivals.
• The two schools met at least once every year from 1950-51 through the 1957-58 seasons with the first seven seasons as Missouri Valley Conference rivals.
• Monday's game is the second of two regular-season meetings against Oklahoma State during the 2024-25 season. The Cougars claimed a 60-47 win inside Gallagher-Iba Arena in Stillwater, Okla., during the Big 12 Conference opener for both teams on Dec. 30, 2024.
• Houston has won the last three and four of the last five games against Oklahoma State. Only a 61-55 loss to the Cowboys inside Fertitta Center on Dec. 15, 2019, prevents a longer streak.
at Home: Houston owns a 7-4 lead against Oklahoma State in the series during games played on the Cougars' home court.
• This marks the second straight season in which Oklahoma State will visit Fertitta Center.
• The Cougars won the most recent meeting and have won six of the last seven games against Oklahoma State in Houston. Only a 61-55 Oklahoma State win on Dec. 15, 2019, in Fertitta Center prevents a longer winning streak.
in Fertitta Center: Oklahoma State owns a 1-0 lead against Houston in games played inside Fertitta Center during the series history
• In the lone previous meeting against the Cowboys in Fertitta Center, Oklahoma State took a 61-55 win on Dec. 15, 2019.
• Oklahoma State is one of only seven schools to defeat the Cougars inside Fertitta Center, joining UCF, BYU, Alabama, Temple and Texas Tech.
UP NEXT
• Following Tuesday's game, Houston meets Colorado for the first time as Big 12 rivals inside CU Events Center in Boulder, Colo., at 3 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 8. That game will air on ESPN+.
• From there, the Cougars return to Fertitta Center to play host to rv/rv Baylor at 8 p.m., Monday, Feb. 10. That game will air on ESPN
• Houston hits the road again to take on rv/rv Arizona at 1 p.m. (CST), Saturday, Feb. 15, inside McKale Center in Tucson, Ariz. That game will air on ESPN or 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.
The Cougars looks to sweep the regular-season series against the Cowboys after taking a 60-47 win inside Gallagher-Iba Arena in Stillwater, Okla., in the Big 12 opener for both teams on Dec. 30, 2024.
Houston enters this week's game following a tough 82-81 loss in overtime to #22/19 Texas Tech inside Fertitta Center on Saturday.
Graduate guard LJ Cryer led the Cougars with 22 points and three 3-pointers while graduate forward J'Wan Roberts finished with 18 points and seven rebounds.
PROMOTIONS
• Tuesday's game is presented by University of Houston Alumni Association
• Fans can view Tuesday's digital game program by clicking here.
• Tuesday's game will be Greek Night in Fertitta Center. The UH Greek organization which has the most members sign in at the Student Entrance off Cullen Boulevard will receive a $500 Visa gift card.
• Prior to the game, Daniel Mata perform the national anthem with assistance from UH ASL
• At halftime, members of Sigma Phi Epsilon and Alpha Sigma Phi fraternities will square off during the Battle of Bayou Oaks Scrimmage on the Fertitta Center floor.
BOUNCING BACK
• Under Head Coach Kelvin Sampson's leadership, the Cougars have posted a 30-2 record, including 23 straight wins at one point, in games following a regular-season loss since Feb. 1, 2017.
• The Cougars have won handily in those games, winning by an average of 19.0 points per game (607 points in 32 games).
• In their most recent game following a regular-season loss, the Cougars enjoyed a 79-51 win over Butler during the Big 12-Big East Battle inside Fertitta Center on Dec. 7. That victory came after a 73-70 loss in overtime to San Diego during the Third-Place Game of Players Era Festival inside MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Nov. 30.
• Houston has lost consecutive games only twice since Feb. 1, 2017.
• In the most recent losing streak during the 2023-24 season, the Cougars fell 57-53 at Iowa State (Jan. 9, 2024) and lost at TCU, 68-67 (Jan. 13, 2024).
• Houston went on to win 14 of its next 15 Big 12 Conference games to capture the regular-season championship in its first year in the league.
HOUSTON in NCAA STATISTICAL LEADERS
• Through games of Feb. 1, Houston leads the nation in scoring defense (56.6 ppg) and ranks fourth in field goal percentage defense (.367) and third in turnovers per game (9.1). The Cougars have led the nation in field goal percentage defense in each of the last four full seasons and topped the country in scoring defense a year ago.
• The Cougars rank seventh in the nation in 3-point field goal percentage at .393 and rank sixth in turnover margin (+5.5).
• Junior point guard Milos Uzan leads the Big 12 and ranks fifth in the nation with a 3.70 assist-turnover ratio.
• Sophomore forward Joseph Tugler ranks 14th in the nation and third in the Big 12 with 2.4 blocked shots per game. The Monroe, La., native has recorded 11 games with multiple blocks.
• Junior guard Emanuel Sharp leads the Big 12 and is sixth nationally with his 93.2 free throw percentage.
NATIONAL POLLS
• The Cougars rose to #5 in the Associated Press poll and stayed steady at #5 in the USA TODAY Sports Coaches poll released Monday.
• This marked the 99th consecutive week in which Houston was ranked, the nation's longest active streak and extending its school record.
• Houston is 20-5 when playing as the #5 (AP) team and has won its last seven games at #5 during its history
• This marks the first week in which Houston will compete as the #5 (AP) and the third straight week as #5 (Coaches) during the 2024-25 season.
• This also marks the eighth in which the Cougars will compete as an AP Top-10 team during the 2024-25 season.
TUNE IN
• Fans can watch Tuesday's game on ESPN+ with James Westling (play-by-play) and Bryndon Manzer (analyst) calling.
• Fans can hear Tuesday's game on 950 AM KPRC and the Varsity Network app with Jeremy Branham (play-by-play) and Elvin Hayes (analyst) calling. The pregame show begins at 6:45 p.m., Tuesday.
• Fans can follow live stats from Tuesday's game by visiting StatBroadcast.com and following the appropriate links or by clicking here.
ABOUT OKLAHOMA STATE
• Oklahoma State brings an 11-10 overall record and 3-7 mark in Big 12 Conference play into Saturday's game.
• The Cowboys are tied with Arizona State for 13th in the Big 12 standings through Feb. 1.
• Oklahoma State is 2-5 in road games and 3-8 in non-home games during the 2024-25 season.
• In its most recent action, the Cowboys claimed an 81-72 win over Utah in Stillwater, Okla., on Feb. 1. That win snapped a season-long three-game losing streak.
• Against Utah, graduate guard Bryce Thompson led Oklahoma State with 20 points on 6-of-10 shooting from the field, including 4-of-4 from the arc. Fifth-year forward Marchelus "Chi Chi" Avery came off the bench to post 17 points on 5-of-10 shooting. Fifth-year forward Abou Ousmane led all players with eight rebounds while guard junior guard Arturo Dean dished out a game-high seven assists and three steals.
• This season, Avery leads Oklahoma State with 12.7 points per game. Thompson stands second with 11.81 points per game while Ousmane is a close third with 11.75 points per contest but averages a team-high 6.0 rebounds and 1.0 blocks per game. Dean paces the Cowboys with 3.0 assists per game.
• Head Coach Steve Lutz is in his first season at Oklahoma State and his fourth year and as a collegiate head coach.
• Lutz has built an 80-45 record during his career and his 10-10 at Oklahoma State.
• Lutz previously compiled a 22-12 record at Western Kentucky (2023-24) and a 47-23 mark at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (2021-23).
• Lutz has posted an 0-1 record against Houston during his career with the lone previous meeting coming during his Oklahoma State tenure.
• Lutz has posted an 0-1 record Houston Head Coach Kelvin Sampson during their Oklahoma State and Houston careers, respectively.
• 1995 graduate of Texas Lutheran.
SERIES HISTORY vs. OKLAHOMA STATE
• Oklahoma State owns a 13-11 lead against Houston in the series, which began during the 1950-61 season.
• This marks the second straight season in which the two schools will meet as Big 12 Conference rivals.
• The two schools met at least once every year from 1950-51 through the 1957-58 seasons with the first seven seasons as Missouri Valley Conference rivals.
• Monday's game is the second of two regular-season meetings against Oklahoma State during the 2024-25 season. The Cougars claimed a 60-47 win inside Gallagher-Iba Arena in Stillwater, Okla., during the Big 12 Conference opener for both teams on Dec. 30, 2024.
• Houston has won the last three and four of the last five games against Oklahoma State. Only a 61-55 loss to the Cowboys inside Fertitta Center on Dec. 15, 2019, prevents a longer streak.
at Home: Houston owns a 7-4 lead against Oklahoma State in the series during games played on the Cougars' home court.
• This marks the second straight season in which Oklahoma State will visit Fertitta Center.
• The Cougars won the most recent meeting and have won six of the last seven games against Oklahoma State in Houston. Only a 61-55 Oklahoma State win on Dec. 15, 2019, in Fertitta Center prevents a longer winning streak.
in Fertitta Center: Oklahoma State owns a 1-0 lead against Houston in games played inside Fertitta Center during the series history
• In the lone previous meeting against the Cowboys in Fertitta Center, Oklahoma State took a 61-55 win on Dec. 15, 2019.
• Oklahoma State is one of only seven schools to defeat the Cougars inside Fertitta Center, joining UCF, BYU, Alabama, Temple and Texas Tech.
UP NEXT
• Following Tuesday's game, Houston meets Colorado for the first time as Big 12 rivals inside CU Events Center in Boulder, Colo., at 3 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 8. That game will air on ESPN+.
• From there, the Cougars return to Fertitta Center to play host to rv/rv Baylor at 8 p.m., Monday, Feb. 10. That game will air on ESPN
• Houston hits the road again to take on rv/rv Arizona at 1 p.m. (CST), Saturday, Feb. 15, inside McKale Center in Tucson, Ariz. That game will air on ESPN or 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.
– UHCougars.com –
Players Mentioned
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