PREVIEW: #3/3 Men’s Hoops Hosts Penn in Fertitta Center on Saturday

Saturday, December 30

Houston, Texas

6 p.m.

University of Houston

Penn

PREVIEW: #3/3 Men’s Hoops Hosts Penn in Fertitta Center on Saturday

12/28/2023 3:08:00 PM | Men's Basketball

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Cougars tip off in first meeting against Quakers at 6 p.m., Saturday

HOUSTON – The University of Houston Men's Basketball program closes the year 2023 and its non-conference schedule when it meets Penn for the first time in school history at 6 p.m., Saturday, inside Fertitta Center.

The Cougars enter this weekend's non-conference finale as winners of each of their first 12 games to open the season. The 2023-24 team is the third in school history to accomplish that feat (2018-19; 1967-68) and the second under Head Coach Kelvin Sampson.

The 2023-24 Cougars are currently tied with the 1954-55 squad for the second-most regular-season non-conference wins in school single-season history (in seasons in which Houston competed as a conference member). Only the 2018-19 squad with 13 regular-season non-conference wins has more.

In its most recent action, #3/3 Houston took a 72-37 win over Texas State inside Fertitta Center on Dec. 21. It was the sixth time this season that the Cougars held an opponent under 50 points.

Against the Bobcats, sophomore guard Emanuel Sharp posted 17 points, thanks to a Fertitta Center-record 11-of-11 performance from the free throw line. The Tampa, Fla., native also grabbed three rebounds with a game-high four steals.

Sophomore forward Ja'Vier Francis totaled 13 points with five rebounds and two blocked shots while senior point guard Jamal Shead added 11 points with four rebounds, two assists and two steals.

Senior guard LJ Cryer finished with nine points and three assists against Texas State and needs only eight points against Penn to reach 1,000 points in his collegiate career. This season, Cryer leads the Cougars and ranks fifth in the Big 12 with 17.0 points per game.

Saturday's game will be part of a doubleheader with Houston Women's Basketball, which faces Texas Tech at 1 p.m., inside Fertitta Center in its inaugural Big 12 Conference game.

IN the RANKINGS
• With its #3 ranking in both national polls earlier this week, Houston appeared in the Associated Press Top 10 for the 27^th consecutive week.
• That streak stands as the second in Houston history and trails only the 33 straight weeks by the 1966-69 teams under legendary Coach Guy V. Lewis.
• The Cougars have appeared the AP Top 25 for 72 consecutive weeks, dating back to the 2019-20 season. That more than doubles the previous record of 35 consecutive weeks from 1967 to 1969.

GAME PROMOTIONS
• Fans receive a 20 percent discount on all Phi Slama Jama items in the Team Store throughout the game. The Team Store is located on the main concourse near the Holman Street doors.
• Current University of Houston students can receive up to two tickets through the claims process at UHCougars.com/Students.
• The North Houston Children's Choir will perform the national anthem before the game.
• Fans will enjoy the first Houston Cougars Men's Basketball Season Ticket Holder Baby Race on the court at halftime.

TUNE IN
• Fans can watch Saturday's game on Big 12 Now on ESPN+ with Matt Thomas (play-by-play), Houston great Reid Gettys (analyst) and Austyn Iven (reporter) calling the action.
• Fans can hear Saturday's game on 950 AM KPRC and the Varsity Network app with Jeremy Branham (play-by-play) and Hall of Famer Elvin Hayes calling the action. The pregame show begins at 5:45 p.m., Saturday.
• Fans can follow live stats by visiting StatBroadcast.com and following the appropriate links or by clicking here.

ABOUT PENN
• Penn brings an 8-5 record into Saturday's game inside the Fertitta Center.
• The Quakers are 1-2 in road games and 1-4 in non-home games during the 2023-24 season.
• Penn has won its last two games and three of its last four. Only an 81-66 loss to Kentucky inside Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia on Dec. 2 prevents a longer winning streak.
• In its most recent action, Penn knocked off Rider 77-73 in overtime in Lawrenceville, N.J., on Saturday night.
• Against Rider, junior forward Nick Spinoso finished with 19 points and a game-high 11 rebounds to lead the Quakers. Senior guard Clark Slajchert posted 14 points with six rebounds and a game-high three steals while freshman guard Sam Brown posted 14 points with eight rebounds and an assist.
• This season, Slajchert leads Penn with 18.8 points per game. Freshman guard Tyler Perkins stands second with 14.9 points and 6.1 rebounds per game but averages a team-high 1.6 steals per contest while Brown is third with 12.0 points per game. Spinoso is the fourth Quaker averaging double-digit points but leads Penn with 7.5 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game.
• Head Coach Steve Donahue is in his eighth season at Penn and his 22nd as a collegiate head coach.
• Donahue has posted a 120-98 record with Penn and a 320-312 mark during his career.
• Donahue previously built a 146-138 record at Cornell (2000-2010) and a 54-76 mark with Boston College (2010-2014).
• Saturday's game will be the first time Donahue has faced Houston during his career.
• Saturday's game will be the first time Donahue has faced Houston Head Coach Kelvin Sampson during their careers.
• 1984 graduate of Ursinus.

SERIES HISTORY vs. PENN
• Saturday's game will be the first Houston Men's Basketball has faced Penn.

UP NEXT
• Following Saturday's game, Houston opens Big 12 play and the year 2024 when it meets West Virginia at 1 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 6, inside Fertitta Center.
• That game will air on Big 12 Now on ESPN+
• The Cougars then open Big 12 road play when they face Iowa State inside Hilton Coliseum in Ames , Iowa, at 6 p.m., Tuesday. Jan. 9.
• That game will air on ESPN2.
• From there, Houston takes on TCU at 5 p.m., Jan. 13, in Fort Worth, Texas. Fans and media should note the 5 p.m., starting time from earlier published schedules.
• All Houston Men's Basketball games can be heard on 950 AM KPRC and the Varsity Network app.

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, giving to Houston Rise 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 –