PREVIEW: #5/5 Men’s Basketball Meets Colorado on Saturday

BOULDER, Colo. – For the first time in school history, the #5/5 University of Houston Men's Basketball program will meet Colorado as Big 12 Conference rivals when it tips off at 3 p.m. (CST) inside CU Events Center on Saturday.

Saturday's game marks the first time the Cougars will face the Buffaloes on the hardwood since the 1995-96 season.

Houston (18-4 • 10-1 Big 12) enters this weekend's game following a 72-63 win over Oklahoma State inside Fertitta Center on Tuesday, its 14^th win in the last 15 games.

Graduate guard LJ Cryer led all players with 18 points and four 3-pointers while graduate forward J'Wan Roberts totaled 14 points and a game-high 10 rebounds for his second double-double of the season. Junior point guard Milos Uzan added 17 points with five assists and no turnovers while sophomore guard Terrance Arceneaux led all players with a career-high six assists and added 10 points in the win.

Fans can view Saturday's digital game program by clicking here.

TUNE IN
• Fans can watch Saturday's game at Colorado on ESPN+ with Pete Sousa (play-by-play) and Scott Williams (analyst) calling.
• Fans can hear Saturday's game on 950 AM KPRC and the Varsity Network app with Jeremy Branham (play-by-play) calling. The pregame show begins at 2:45 p.m. (CST), Saturday.
• Fans can follow live stats from Saturday's game by visiting StatBroadcast.com and following the appropriate links or by clicking here.

BOUNCING BACK
• Under Head Coach Kelvin Sampson's leadership, the Cougars have posted a 31-2 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 18.7 points per game (616 points in 33 games).
• In their most recent game following a regular-season loss, the Cougars took a 72-63 win over Oklahoma State inside Fertitta Center in Houston on Feb. 4. That victory came after an 82-81 loss in overtime to Texas Tech inside Fertitta Center on Feb. 1
• 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. 5, Houston leads the nation in scoring defense (56.9 ppg), ranks fourth in field goal percentage defense (.374) and fourth in turnovers per game (9.2). 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 eighth in the nation in 3-point field goal percentage at .393 and rank sixth in turnover margin (+5.3).
• Junior point guard Milos Uzan leads the Big 12 and ranks third in the nation with a 3.89 assist-turnover ratio.
• Sophomore forward Joseph Tugler ranks 14^th in the nation and third in the Big 12 with 2.3 blocked shots per game. The Monroe, La., native has recorded 15 games with multiple blocks.

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 99^th 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.

ABOUT COLORADO
• Colorado brings a 9-13 overall record and 0-11 mark in Big 12 Conference play into Saturday's game.
• The Buffaloes rank 16th in the Big 12 standings through Feb. 7.
• Colorado is 8-5 in home games this season.
• The Buffaloes have lost their last 11 games with a 79-55 win over Bellarmine in Boulder, Colo, on Dec. 21, 2024, being their last win.
• In its most recent action, Colorado dropped a 72-59 decision at Utah in Salt Lake City on Wednesday night.
• Against Utah, junior guard Javon Ruffin came off the bench to post 13 points with two rebounds, three assists and a steal to lead the Buffaloes. Sophomore forward Bangot Dak and sophomore forward Assane Diop added 11 points apiece with graduate forward Trevor Baskin finishing with a game-high seven assists, including four offensive boards.
• This season, senior guard Julian Hammond III leads Colorado with 13.3 points and 3.3 assists per game and is tied with Baskin for the team lead with 1.2 steals per contest. Graduate forward Andrej Jakimovski is second on the squad with 10.0 points per game. Baskin leads the Buffaloes with 5.6 rebounds per game while Dak is tops with 1.5 blocks per game.
• Head Coach Tad Boyle is in his 15th season at Colorado and his 19th year and as a collegiate head coach.
• Boyle has built an 363-262 record during his career and is 307-196 at Colorado.
• Boyle previously compiled a 56-66 record at Northern Colorado (2006-10)
• Saturday's game will be the first time that Boyle has faced Houston during his career.
• Saturday's game will be the first time that Boyle has faced Houston Head Coach Kelvin Sampson during their careers.
• 1985 graduate of Kansas.

SERIES HISTORY vs. COLORADO
• The series against Colorado is tied at 3-3
• Saturday's game marks the first time the two schools will play as Big 12 Conference members.
• Saturday's game will be the first time the two schools have played since the 1995-96 season.
• Colorado has won the last two meetings against Houston, including a 77-74 victory in Boulder, Colo., on Dec. 9, 1995, in the most recent encounter.
• Houston's last win against Colorado was a 77-71 victory in Boulder, Colo., on Dec. 4, 1972.
• In the first meeting against Colorado, the Buffaloes took a 72-61 win in Boulder, Colo, on Dec. 12, 1963.
on Road: Colorado holds a 2-1 lead in games played in Boulder, Colo., during the series history.
• Saturday's game will be the first time Houston has faced Colorado in Boulder, Colo., as Big 12 rivals.
• The schools have alternated wins and losses over three games with Colorado taking a 77-74 win on Dec. 9, 1995, in the most recent encounter in Boulder, Colo.

UP NEXT
• Following Saturday's game, Houston returns 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 #20/20 Arizona at 1 p.m. (CST), Saturday, Feb. 15, inside McKale Center in Tucson, Ariz. That game will air on ESPN or ESPN2.
• The Cougars continue their road swing out west when they meet Arizona State at 8 p.m. (CST), Tuesday, Feb. 18, inside Desert Financial Arena. 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
Limited tickets for Monday's 8 p.m., Big 12 showdown vs. rv/rv Baylor inside Fertitta Center are available now by clicking here. Fans are encouraged to purchase their tickets now before supplies are out.

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.

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