#1 Men’s Hoops Hosts Norfolk State on Tuesday Night

HOUSTON – Winners of its first six games to open the season, the University of Houston Men's Basketball program plays host to Norfolk State at 7 p.m., Tuesday, inside the Fertitta Center.

The top-ranked Cougars will face the Spartans in basketball for the first time in school history.

Houston enters Tuesday's game following a gritty 49-44 win against Kent State on Saturday afternoon. With Houston trailing by a point and less than a minute left, junior point guard Jamal Shead drove the lane and drained a short jumper with 48 seconds left to give the Cougars the lead for good.

On Kent State's ensuing possession, freshman forward Jarace Walked blocked the field goal attempt, and junior forward J/Wan Roberts snared the rebound. Senior guard Marcus Sasser then drained all four free throw tries in the final 28 seconds to ice the win.

It marked only the sixth time in school history that the Cougars started a season as winners of their first six games.

Sasser, who was the American Athletic Conference Preseason Player of the Year, leads the Cougars and ranks sixth in the American Athletic Conference with 17.0 points per game. The Dallas native also stands second on the team with 2.2 steals per game and needs only 44 more points to become the 50^th 1,000-point scorer in Houston career history.

Walker, who was named The American Rookie of the Year, stands second on the team with 10.5 points and 6.8 rebounds per game while Roberts took over the team lead with 7,2 rebounds per contest after snaring a game-high 14 boards in Saturday's win over Kent State for his team-leading second-double of the season.

IN the NATIONAL RANKINGS
For the first time since March 1983, the Cougars stand as the #1 team in both national polls released Monday

The Cougars held 45 first-place votes and 1,534 points to lead the Associated Press poll and collected 23 first-place votes on the way to 782 points for the top spot in the USA TODAY Sports Coaches poll.

Houston has not been ranked that high nationally since coming in at #1 in the final polls of the 1982-83 season (AP, March 14, 1983; Coaches, March 15, 1983).

The 2022-23 Cougars became the third team in school history to hold a #1 ranking during the season. They joined the 1967-68 and 1982-83 teams.

Houston has spent a combined total of 11 weeks at #1 in the AP poll during the 1982-83 and 1967-68 seasons.

This also marked the first time that Houston Head Coach Kelvin Sampson has led a team to the #1 ranking during his award-winning career.

Houston is 22-3 when playing as the #1 (AP) team during its history. In its most recent appearance at #1 (AP), the Cougars dropped a 54-52 decision to #16 NC State in the NCAA Tournament National Championship Game in Albuquerque, N.M., on April 4, 1983.

Tuesday's game marks the Cougars' first regular-season game as the #1 (AP) team since a 93-64 win at Baylor in Waco, Texas, on March 5, 1983.

Tuesday's game also marks the Cougars first regular-season home game as the #1 AP team since a 120-79 win over Virginia Tech inside Hofheinz Pavilion on March 2, 1968.

With Monday's rankings, the Cougars extended their school record with their 49th consecutive week ranked among the AP Top 25. The previous mark was 35 straight weeks in the poll from 1967 to 1969. The Jan. 13, 2020, poll was the last time Houston did not appear in the AP Top 25.

Houston has appeared in the Coaches poll for 41 consecutive weeks, dating back to March 2, 2020.

BUY 2022-23 TICKETS
Fans may purchase single-game tickets for the Cougars' 18 regular-season home games inside the Fertitta Center. Supplies are limited, and fans are encouraged to purchase soon before they run out.

To purchase single-game tickets, fans may call the Athletics Ticket Office at 713-GO-COOGS (462-6647) during regular business hours or click here any time.

For the third straight season, the Cougars sold out of their season tickets for home games inside the Fertitta Center.

Fans who were unable to purchase season tickets in 2022-23 are invited to join the team's 2023-24 Wait List as the Cougars prepare to enter the Big 12 Conference. To join the 2023-24 season tickets Wait List, fans can click here.

ABOUT NORFOLK STATE
• Norfolk State brings a 5-2 record in 2022-23 into Tuesday's game. The Spartans are 1-2 in road games this season.
• In its most recent action, Norfolk State took a 91-41 home win over St. Mary's (Md.) on Nov. 22. The Spartans jumped out to a 53-10 lead at halftime and never looked back.
• Norfolk State has won its last three games entering Tuesday's contest. Only an 86-56 loss at UCLA on Nov. 14 prevents a longer winning streak.
• Against St. Mary's (Md.), senior forward Dana Tate, graduate forward Kris Bankston and junior guard Daryl Anderson scored 15 points apiece to lead five Spartans in double digits. Tate led Norfolk State with three 3-pointers and five assists, while Bankston added 15 points, six rebounds and two steals. Fifth-year guard Joe Bryant totaled 12 points with four rebounds and four assists while sophomore guard Terrance Jones came off the bench to pout in 10 minutes with a game-high three steals. Sophomore forward Jack Doumbia grabbed 10 rebounds, including seven offensive boards, to lead all players.
• This season, Carry leads Kent State with 19.3 points and 6.0 assists per game. Jacobs stands second with 13.2 points per contest and leads the team with 4.2 steals per game. Thomas averages 12.5 points per game to rank third, and Santiago adds 10.8 points per contest. Hornbeak's 6.8 rebounds per game leads the Golden Flashes.
• Head Coach Robert Jones is in his 10th season at Norfolk State and as a collegiate head coach.
• Jones has compiled a 171-128 record during his career.
• Tuesday's game will be the first time Senderoff has faced Houston or Houston Head Coach Kelvin Sampson during his career.
• 2002 graduate of SUNY New Paltz.

SERIES HISTORY vs. NORFOLK STATE
• Tuesday's game will be the first time Houston has faced Norfolk State in Men's Basketball.

TUNE IN
• Fans can watch Tuesday's game on ESPN+ with Matt Pedersen (play-by-play) and Houston great Reid Gettys (analyst) calling the action.
• Fans can hear Tuesday's game on 950 AM KPRC or The Varsity Network app with Jeremy Branham (play-by-play) and Houston Hall of Famer Elvin Hayes (analyst) calling the action. The pregame show begins at 6:45 p.m.
• Fans can follow live stats by visiting StatBroadcast.com and following the appropriate links or by clicking here.

UP NEXT
• Following Tuesday's game, the Cougars travel north on Interstate 45 to meet rv/rv Saint Mary's (Calif.) at 8:30 p.m., Saturday, in The Battleground 2K22 inside Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas. That game will air on ESPN2.
• The Cougars then return to the Fertitta Center for three straight home games against North Florida (Dec. 6), #18/18 Alabama (Dec. 10) and North Carolina A&T (Dec. 13).
• All Houston Men's Basketball games can be heard on 950 AM KPRC.

SUPPORT HOUSTON RISE
Join Houston Rise, a $150 million fundraising campaign for Houston Athletics dedicated to championship success in the Big 12 Conference.

Every Houston Rise contribution prepares our Cougars to compete and win when we start Big 12 competition in July 2023. Click here to rise and be counted.

JOIN the 50-50-CLUB
Fans are invited to join the 50-50 Club to support Houston Men's Basketball. 50-50 Club members help fund program necessities and enhance the experience for our student-athletes.

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.

For more information or to sign up, fans may visit uhcougars.com/5050club or click here. To join the 50-50 Club, fans may call Cougar Pride at 713-743-GoUH (4687).

STAY CONNECTED
Fans can receive updates by following @UHCougarMBK on 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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