PREVIEW: #6/5 Men’s Basketball Hosts #22/19 Texas Tech on Saturday

Saturday, February 1

Houston, Texas

5 p.m.

University of Houston

#22/19 Texas Tech

Tickets

PREVIEW: #6/5 Men’s Basketball Hosts #22/19 Texas Tech on Saturday

1/31/2025 10:19:00 AM | Men's Basketball

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Cougars to retire great Don Chaney’s #24 jersey in halftime ceremony; Team to wear Houston Blue uniforms for first time

By: Jeff Conrad

HOUSTON – Winners of its last 13 games overall and its last 33 home games, the #6/5 University of Houston Men's Basketball program returns to the Fertitta Center to play host to Big 12 Conference rival #22/19 Texas Tech at 5 p.m., Saturday, in a game presented by Little Woodrow's.

The game features two of the Top-Four teams in the latest Big 12 standings with Texas Tech tied for third with Iowa State and the Cougars leading the league with a 9-0 conference mark.

Houston enters this weekend's game following a 63-49 win at rv/rv West Virginia in Morgantown, W.Va., on Wednesday night. Graduate guard LJ Cryer led all players with 17 points while sophomore forward Joseph Tugler totaled 12 points with a game-high seven rebounds as the Cougar defense held all Mountaineer players under 10 points.

With Wednesday's win, the Cougars extended their winning streak in Big 12 games to 18 consecutive contests. That stands as the second longest winning streak in league history and trails only Kansas' 23 games from the 2000-01 to 2002-03 seasons.

BUSY DAY in FERTITTA CENTER
Saturday will be a busy day inside Fertitta Center, and all fans are invited to join the fun. Houston great Don Chaney's #24 jersey will be retired in a ceremony at halftime, and fans are encouraged to stay in their seats at intermission for this presentation.

For the first time, Houston Men's Basketball will wear its new Houston Blue uniforms. In 2024-25, Houston Athletics sport programs began paying homage to the city of Houston by wearing the color. Houston Football, Volleyball and Women's Golf wore Houston Blue during the Fall 2024 seasons.

Houston Men's Basketball will celebrate Coaches vs. Cancer Suits and Sneakers this week by wearing special pins on their shirts during Saturday's game.

PROMOTIONS
• Saturday's game is presented by Little Woodrow's.
• Fans can view Saturday's digital game program by clicking here.
• With the unveiling of the Cougars' Houston Blue uniforms, all fans are encouraged to wear their Houston Blue to the game.
• Prior to the game, Prior Harris will perform the national anthem.
• All fans will receive a commemorative newspaper celebrating Houston great Don Chaney's #24 jersey retirement at halftime and are encouraged to hold up his #24 at the end of the ceremony.

LONGEST WINNING STREAKS in BIG 12 CONFERENCE GAMES

Rk.	No.	School	Dates
1.	23	Kansas	Feb. 20, 2001 – Jan. 18, 2003
2.	18	Houston	Feb. 6, 2024 – present
t3.	17	Kansas	Feb. 3, 2016 – Jan. 21,
t3.	17	Kansas	Jan. 14, 2020 – Dec. 22, 2020
t5.	15	Kansas	Jan. 24, 1998 – Jan. 18, 1999
t5.	15	Kansas	Feb. 9, 2012 – Jan. 28, 2013

HOUSTON in NCAA STATISTICAL LEADERS
• Through games of Jan. 30, Houston leads the nation in scoring defense (55.3 ppg), scoring margin (+20.7) and rank in second field goal percentage defense (.364) and third in turnovers per game (9.0). 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 .394 and rank sixth in turnover margin (+5.7).
• Junior point guard Milos Uzan leads the Big 12 and ranks third in the nation with a 4.26 assist-turnover ratio. During the Cougars' current 13-game winning streak, Uzan has dished out 60 assists with only 10 giveaways, including 27 assists with only four turnovers in the last six games.
• Sophomore forward Joseph Tugler ranks 13^th in the nation and third in the Big 12 with 2.4 blocked shots per game. The Monroe, La., native has recorded 11 games with multiple blocks, including 11 of the last 13.
• Junior guard Emanuel Sharp leads the Big 12 and stands 15^th nationally with a .440 3-point percentage. In addition to his long-range shooting, the Tampa, Fla., leads the league and is seventh nationally with his 93.0 free throw percentage.

NATIONAL POLLS
• The Cougars rose to #6 in the Associated Press poll and remained steady at #5 in the USA TODAY Sports Coaches poll released Monday.
• This marked the 98^th consecutive week in which Houston was ranked, the nation's longest active streak and extending its school record.
• Houston is 31-7 when playing as the #6 (AP) team during its history.
• This marks the second week in which Houston will compete as the #6 (AP) during the 2024-25 season.
• This also marks the seventh week in which the Cougars will compete as an AP Top-10 team during the 2024-25 season.

TUNE IN
• Fans can watch Saturday's game on ESPN2 with Rich Hollenberg (play-by-play) and King McClure (analyst) calling.
• Fans can hear Saturday's game on 950 AM KPRC and the Varsity Network app with Jeremy Branham (play-by-play) and Elvin Hayes (analyst) calling. The pregame show begins at 4:45 p.m., Saturday.
• Fans can follow live stats from Saturday's game by visiting StatBroadcast.com and following the appropriate links or by clicking here.

ABOUT TEXAS TECH
• Texas Tech brings a 16-4 overall record and 7-2 mark in Big 12 Conference play into Saturday's game.
• Texas Tech is ranked #22 in the Associated Press poll and at #19 in the USA TODAY Sports Coaches polls, released Monday
• The Red Raiders are tied with Iowa State for third in the Big 12 standings through Jan. 29.
• Texas Tech is 4-0 in road games and 5-2 in non-home games during the 2024-25 season.
• The Red Raiders have won their last five games and seven of the last eight. Only an 85-84 loss in overtime to Iowa State prevents a longer streak.
• In its most recent action, Texas took a 71-57 win over TCU inside United Supermarkets Arena in Lubbock, Texas, on Wednesday.
• Against TCU, sophomore forward JT Toppin led all players with 18 points and 14 rebounds and added three assists, a block and steal. Senior guard Chance McMillian totaled 16 points with two rebounds, three assists and a blocked shot while senior guard Elijah Hawkins posted 13 points with four rebounds and a game-high five assists.
• This season, Toppin leads Texas Tech with 16.4 points, 8.9 rebounds and 1.2 blocks per game. McMillian stands second with 15.0 points per game while forward Darrion Williams ranks third among the Red Raiders with 14.7 points per game. Hawkins paces the team with 6.1 assists per contest.
• Head Coach Grant McCasland is in his second season at Texas Tech and his 11th season as a collegiate head coach.
• McCasland has built a 250-104 record during his career and is 39-15 during his career at Texas Tech.
• He previously compiled a 136-65 record at North Texas (2017-23), a 20-12 mark at Arkansas State (2016-17 and a 56-12 record at Midwestern State (2009-11).
• McCasland has an 0-2 record against Houston during his career with both previous meetings coming during his Texas Tech tenure.
• McCasland has an 0-2 record against Houston Head Coach Kelvin Sampson during their careers with both previous meetings coming during his Texas Tech and Sampson's Houston tenures.
• 1999 graduate of Baylor.

SERIES HISTORY vs. TEXAS TECH
• Houston owns a 31-27 lead against Texas Tech in the series, which began during the 1960-61 season.
• This marks the second straight season in which the two schools will meet as Big 12 Conference rivals.
• Saturday's game is the first of two regular-season meetings in 2024-25. The Cougars meet Texas Tech inside United Supermarkets Arena in Lubbock, Texas, on Feb. 24.
• Houston has won the last four meetings against the Red Raiders, including an 82-59 victory during the Phillips 66 Big 12 Championship Semifinals inside T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Mo., on March 15, 2024, in the most recent encounter,
• Texas Tech's last win against Houston was a 76-64 victory during the Progressive Legends Classic Championship Round inside Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y., on Nov. 26, 2013.
at Home: Houston owns an 18-6 lead against Texas Tech in the series in games played on the Cougars' home court.
• This marks the second straight season win which Texas Tech will visit Fertitta Center.
• Texas Tech has won two of the last three games in Houston. However, the Cougars can boast of the most recent success with a 77-54 win inside Fertitta Center on Jan. 17, 2024.
• Texas Tech's last road win at Houston was a 93-84 victory inside Hofheinz Pavilion on Feb. 17, 1996.
in Fertitta Center: Houston owns a 1-0 lead against Texas Tech inside Fertitta Center.
• In the lone previous meeting against the Red Raiders, the Cougars enjoyed a 77-54 win on Jan. 17, 2024.

UP NEXT
• Following Saturday's game, Houston continues its homestand as it meets Oklahoma State for the second time this season at 7 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 4, inside Fertitta Center. That game will air on ESPN+.
• The Cougars opened their 2024-25 Big 12 season with a 60-47 win over the Cowboys in Stillwater, Okla., on Dec. 30, 2024.
• From there, Houston meets Colorado for the first time as Big 12 rivals inside CU Events Center in Boulder, Colo., at 3 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 8.
• That game will air on ESPN+.
• All Houston Men's Basketball games can be heard on 950 AM KPRC and the Varsity Network app.

BUY 2024-25 TICKETS
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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