Houston Cougars: Elevating Excellence in Athletics

HOUSTON – Having secured victories in their last 10 contests, the #7/5 University of Houston Men’s Basketball team returns to Fertitta Center to face Big 12 Conference opponent Utah at 5 p.m., Wednesday, in a game sponsored by Icon Consultants.
 
Fans should be aware of the date and time alterations for the match against Utah compared to previously released schedules. This adjustment happened earlier this week due to the harsh winter conditions in the greater Houston region.
 
On Wednesday, the Fertitta Center will host a lively environment as Houston Women’s Basketball competes against Texas Tech at 1 p.m., as part of a Houston Basketball doubleheader.
 
Because of the severe winter conditions, staffing, concessions, and premium offerings within the Fertitta Center may be restricted.
 
The Cougars step into Wednesday’s matchup following a thrilling comeback 69-68 victory against UCF in Orlando, Fla., last Saturday. With just three seconds left and Houston down by a point, graduate forward J’Wan Roberts received the inbounds pass, spun, and executed a layup with 1.1 seconds on the clock to secure the win for the Cougars.
 
TICKET INFORMATION
There are no alterations to ticketing processes or access for Wednesday’s matches.
 
Ticket holders for the Women’s Basketball game against Texas Tech will gain free admission to the Men’s Basketball game facing Utah. Fans are encouraged to arrive early, exercise caution, and prioritize safety when arranging travel.
 
The Houston Athletics Ticket Office located at the northeast corner of TDECU Stadium will remain closed on Wednesday. Fans can engage with Ticket Office representatives in person starting at Noon on Wednesday, at the Fertitta Center’s Holman Street ticket office window. The Holman Street ticket windows and Cullen Boulevard ticket windows will open at 3 p.m., ahead of the Men’s Basketball contest.

PROMOTIONS

• Wednesday’s game is sponsored by Icon Consultants.

• Fans can access Wednesday’s digital game program by clicking here.

• The match on Wednesday is designated as a Black Out. The Cougars will don special black Jumpman uniforms, and all supporters are encouraged to wear black in Fertitta Center.

• The first 500 students attending Wednesday’s match will be awarded a FREE black Fear the Cage t-shirt.

• Prior to the game, Leyla Taghiyeva will perform the national anthem.

• Before the opening tip, Houston Track & Field All-American and Olympic Medalist Shaun Maswanganyi will lead the Whose House? Coogs House chant.

• Fans are urged to remain seated during halftime for a special announcement.

 

HOUSTON in NCAA STATISTICAL LEADERS

• Houston leads the country in field goal percentage defense (.356), scoring defense (55.0 ppg), and ranks second in scoring margin (+21.2). The Cougars have maintained the top position in field goal percentage defense for the past four full seasons and led the nation in scoring defense last year.

• The Cougars are fourth in the nation for 3-point field goal percentage at .405 and are also fourth with an average of only 9.2 turnovers per game. Additionally, Houston ranks seventh nationally with a +5.2 turnover margin.

• Junior point guard Milos Uzan is the leader in the Big 12 and stands third nationally with a 4.10 assist-to-turnover ratio. The Las Vegas native has achieved one or fewer turnovers in 11 games throughout the 2024-25 season.

• Sophomore forward Joseph Tugler is positioned 14^th in the nation and third in the Big 12 with an average of 2.4 blocked shots per game.

• Junior guard Emanuel Sharp leads the Big 12 and ranks eighth nationally with a .459 3-point shooting percentage. Beyond his perimeter scoring, the Tampa, Fla. native is second in the Big 12 and eighth nationally with a .927 free throw percentage.

 

MILESTONES ALERT

• With his team’s next victory in 2024-25, Houston Coach Kelvin Sampson will match Lou Henson for 19^th place in NCAA history (among coaches with 10+ years at the NCAA Division I level). Henson achieved 779 victories at Hardin-Simmons, New Mexico State, Illinois, and New Mexico State from 1962 to 2005.

• Graduate forward J’Wan Roberts became the 52nd member of Houston’s career 1,000-Point Club during its victory on Jan. 11 against Kansas State. Roberts currently has 1,050 points, tying him with forward David Marrs (1972-76) for 47^th in Houston’s history.

• Graduate forward J’Wan Roberts established the Houston career record by participating in his 150th game at Kansas State on Jan. 11, and he has now appeared in 152 games.

• With a free throw at 5:34 remaining in the first half of Saturday’s victory at UCF, graduate guard Mylik Wilson surpassed 1,000 points over his entire collegiate career. Wilson now has 1,004 points after accumulating 254 points with Houston (2022 – present); 81 points with Texas Tech (2021-22) and 669 points with Louisiana (2019-21).

 

NATIONAL POLLS

• The Cougars are ranked #7 in the Associated Press poll and #5 in the USA TODAY Sports Coaches poll released on Monday.

• This signifies the 97^th consecutive week that Houston has held a ranking, representing the nation’s longest active streak as well as extending its school record.

• Houston holds a record of 29-5 when competing as the #7 (AP) team throughout its history and has triumphed in its last 13 matches as the #7 (AP) team. The Cougars have not suffered a defeat as the #7 (AP) since losing 102-89 to Louisiana in the NCAA Tournament Midwest Region First Round in Wichita, Kan., on March 10, 1973.

• This marks the sixth week this season that Houston will compete as an AP Top-10 team during the 2024-25 campaign.

 

TUNE IN

• Fans can tune into Wednesday’s matchup on ESPN+, with Matt Pedersen (play-by-play), Reid Gettys (analyst), and Austyn Iven (reporter) providing coverage.

• Fans can listen to Wednesday’s game on 950 AM KPRC and the Varsity Network app, with Jeremy Branham (play-by-play) and Elvin Hayes (analyst) on commentary. The pregame show will commence at 4:45 p.m. on Wednesday.

• Fans can keep track of live stats from Wednesday’s game by visiting StatBroadcast.com and following the relevant links.links or by clicking here.

 

ABOUT UTAH

• Utah enters Tuesday’s matchup at Fertitta Center with an 11-6 overall record and a 3-3 standing in the Big 12 Conference.

• The Utes are currently tied with UCF for eighth place in the latest Big 12 standings.

• This season, Utah has a record of 1-2 in away games and 1-4 in contests that are not played at home.

• The Utes have claimed victory in their last three games, ending a streak of four consecutive losses.

• In their latest contest, Utah achieved a 73-72 victory in overtime in Salt Lake City on Saturday evening. Fifth-year guard Hunter Erickson made a pair of free throws with 13.2 seconds left to secure the win for the Utes.

• In their matchup against BYU, junior forward Ezra Ausar tallied 26 points on 11-of-15 shooting and collected six rebounds, along with two assists and two steals. Senior center Lawson Lovering contributed 13 points, seven rebounds, four assists, and three blocks, while sophomore forward Jake Wahlin led the team with nine rebounds.

• For this season, Gabe Madsen tops the Utes with an average of 15.8 points per game, while Ausar follows with 11.2 points per game. Lovering is third in scoring with 10.6 points per outing and leads the squad with 5.3 rebounds per game. Sophomore guard Miro Little leads in assists, averaging 4.1 per game.

• Head Coach Craig Smith is in his fourth year at Utah and his 14th as a collegiate head coach.

• Over his career, Smith has registered a 286-164 record and is 61-56 at Utah.

• He previously achieved a 74-24 mark at Utah State (2018-21), a 79-55 record at South Dakota (2014-18), and a 72-29 record at Mayville State (2004-07).

• Smith holds an 0-3 record against Houston during his coaching career, with an 0-1 record while at Utah.

• He also has an 0-3 record against Houston Head Coach Kelvin Sampson in their careers, with all prior contests occurring during his time at Utah, Utah State, South Dakota, and during Sampson’s coaching at Houston.

 

SERIES HISTORY vs. UTAH

• Houston leads the series 2-0 against Utah, which started in the 1982-83 season.

• The matchup on Tuesday marks the second consecutive season the two teams have faced off, but the first as Big 12 Conference foes.

• In their latest encounter, Houston secured a 76-66 victory during the Shriners Children’s Charleston Classic Semifinals at TD Arena in Charleston, S.C., on Nov. 17, 2023.

• During the initial matchup against Utah, the Cougars celebrated an 82-57 triumph at the Suntory Classic in Tokyo on Dec. 17, 1982.
at Home / in Fertitta Center: This will be the first occasion the Cougars confront Utah on their home ground / in Fertitta Center.

 

UP NEXT

• After Wednesday’s contest, Houston will head on the road to compete against Kansas in Phog Allen Fieldhouse in Lawrence, Kan., at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 25. This game will be broadcasted on ESPN.

• Houston will conclude January by playing West Virginia for the second time this season, this time at 6 p.m. (CST) on Wednesday, Jan. 29, inside WVU Coliseum in Morgantown, W.Va. This game will be available on ESPN+.

• Subsequently, the Cougars will begin February by hosting Texas Tech at 5 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 1. The game will be available on ESPN or ESPN2.

• All Houston Men’s Basketball games can be listened to on 950 AM KPRC and the Varsity Network app.

 

BUY 2024-25 TICKETS

Individuals without season tickets interested in acquiring tickets are encouraged to place their names on the Season Ticket Wait List by clicking here.

 

SUPPORT YOUR COOGS

Supporters can significantly influence the success of Houston Men’s Basketball by backing Linking Coogs – UH’s NIL collective – and by becoming a member of the 50-50 Club, which offers financial assistance directly to Houston Men’s Basketball for needs beyond what the operating budget provides.

 

Participants in the 50-50 Club will receive embroidered Jordan Brand team apparel, invitations to exclusive gatherings, regular updates regarding the program, and much more.

 

STAY CONNECTED

Fans can receive updates by following @UHCougarMBK on X, formerly known as Twitter, and stay informed on the latest news and updates about the team by clicking LIKE on the team’s Facebook page at UHCougarMBK or by visiting the team’s Instagram profile at UHCougarMBK.

 

– UHCougars.com –