Men’s Basketball Unveils Venue for Players Era Championship

HOUSTON – The University of Houston Men's Basketball program will open its first two games at the Players Era Championship inside MGM Grand Garden Arena, tournament organizers released Monday.

In addition, tournament administrators announced an extension of its distribution partnership with TNT Sports, which will serve as the exclusive U.S. broadcast partner, airing games on TNT, truTV and HBO Max.

The Cougars open the prestigious event against Syracuse at 5 p.m. (CST), Monday, Nov. 24, before facing Tennessee at 5 p.m. (CST), Tuesday, Nov. 25.

Houston's final opponent will be determined by its results from the first two games and will come from Rutgers, Creighton, Notre Dame, St. John's, Iowa State, Oregon, Auburn, Alabama, Gonzaga, Michigan, San Diego State, Maryland, Kansas, Baylor or UNLV.

TICKETS INFORMATION
Players Era Championship tickets information was emailed to Cougar Pride members and season ticket holders last week. Cougar Pride members and season-ticket holders may request their ticket packages through their Houston Athletics online accounts.

Deadline to place a request is 5 p.m. (CT), July 24. Tickets go on sale to the general public at Noon (CT), July 25.

Tickets will include each session in which Houston plays plus other games in the session.

Seating will be based by Cougar Pride Priority Points and will be seated from lowest to rows with the UH allotment provided by MGM Grand Garden Arena.

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

PLAYERS ERA CHAMPIONSHIP FORMAT
Wednesday's championship-day matchups will be determined following the outcome of the first two days of competition.

Teams that win their first two games will be the first to qualify for Players Era Championship and Third-Place game matchups, followed by teams that go 1-1.

The Championship Game will tip off at 8:30 p.m. (CT) Wednesday, Nov. 26 inside MGM Grand Garden Arena.

As with last season's inaugural tournament, championship seeding and any tie breaks will be determined by point differential, points scored and points allowed.

PLAYERS ERA CHAMPIONSHIP SCHEDULE
MONDAY, NOV. 24

Game	Venue	Time (CT)
Tennessee vs. Rutgers	MGM Grand Garden Arena	Noon
Baylor vs. Creighton	Michelob Ultra Arena	1 p.m.
Kansas vs. Notre Dame	MGM Grand Garden Arena	2:30 p.m.
St. John's vs. Iowa State	Michelob Ultra Arena	3:30 p.m.
Houston vs. Syracuse	MGM Grand Garden Arena	5 p.m.
Oregon vs. Auburn	Michelob Ultra Arena	7 p.m.
Alabama vs. Gonzaga	MGM Grand Garden Arena	8:30 p.m.
Michigan vs. San Diego State	Michelob Ultra Arena	9:30 p.m.
Maryland vs. UNLV	MGM Grand Garden Arena	11 p.m.

TUESDAY, NOV. 25

Game	Venue	Time (CT)
Rutgers vs. Notre Dame	MGM Grand Garden Arena	Noon
Iowa State vs. Creighton	Michelob ULTRA Arena	1:30 p.m.
Kansas vs. Syracuse	MGM Grand Garden Arena	2:30 p.m.
St. John's vs. Baylor	Michelob ULTRA Arena	4 p.m.
Houston vs. Tennessee	MGM Grand Garden Arena	5 p.m.
Michigan vs. Auburn	Michelob ULTRA Arena	7:30 p.m.
Gonzaga vs. Maryland	MGM Grand Garden Arena	8:30 p.m.
Oregon vs. San Diego State	Michelob ULTRA Arena	10 p.m.
Alabama vs. UNLV	MGM Grand Garden Arena	11 p.m.

WEDNESDAY, Nov. 27

Game	Venue	Time (CT)
Third-Place Game	MGM Grand Garden Arena	7 p.m.
Championship Game	MGM Grand Garden Arena	8:30 p.m.

* – Other matchups will be determined following the first two days of competition

SERIES HISTORIES
Houston's series histories against both Syracuse and Tennessee are tied.

The Cougars' and the Orange's series stands at 1-1 while the series against the Volunteers is split after six games.

In the most recent meeting against Syracuse, Houston claimed a 62-46 win inside Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis in the NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 on March 27, 2021.

The Cougars took a 69-50 win over #6/6 (2) Tennessee inside Lucas Oil Stadium during the NCAA Tournament Midwest Regional Elite Eight on March 30 to advance to the seventh NCAA Final Four in program history.

That win snapped a two-game losing streak against the Volunteers.

ABOUT the COUGARS
In 2024-25, the Cougars set a school single-season record with 35 wins and advanced to the NCAA Tournament National Championship Game before falling to Florida inside Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas.

Houston, which finished #2 in both national polls, won 31 of its final 33 games to end the season and advanced to the NCAA Final Four for the seventh time in program history – and the second time under Sampson – with a resounding 69-50 win over #6/6 (2) Tennessee during the NCAA Elite Eight in Indianapolis on March 30.

The Cougars swept the Big 12 regular-season and tournament championships in their second year in the league and set school and league records with a 19-1 mark in conference games. Houston became the first school to join a major conference and win the regular-season title in each of its first two years in the league in more than 100 years.

Houston posted a perfect 10-0 record in road games in Big 12 play, becoming the first program in NCAA Division I history to accomplish that feat in a season, and enter the 2025-26 season with the nation's longest active road winning streak at 14 straight games.

Houston returns three starters and seven lettermen in 2025-26, including All-Big 12 Conference honoree and Phillips 66 Big 12 Championship All-Tournament Team member Milos Uzan, Phillips 66 Big12 Championship Most Outstanding Player and NCAA Midwest Regional Most Outstanding Player guard Emanuel Sharp and Naismith Awards National Defensive Player of the Year presented by MOLECULE finalist Joseph Tugler.

The Cougars will be boosted with the addition one of the nation's top recruiting classes with freshman forward Chris Cenac Jr., freshman guard Isiah Harwell, freshman point guard Kingston Flemings, freshman guard Bryce Jackson and senior forward Kalifa Sakho.

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 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 –

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