Sunday, November 8
Tahoe Blue Event Center – Lake Tahoe, Nev.
7:30 p.m. CT
University of Houston
vs
California
11/6/2026 8:11:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Preview – Coach Kelvin Sampson (YouTube)Buy Caesars Lake Tahoe Classic TicketsDigital Game ProgramWatch (CW)Listen (950 AM KPRC)Listen (Varsity Network app)Live Stats (StatBroadcast)
Cougars face Golden Bears at Caesars Lake Tahoe Classic inside Tahoe Blue Event Center
LAKE TAHOE, Nev. – Fresh off a dominating season-opening win, the #10/8 University of Houston Men's Basketball program continues its schedule when it meets California at 7:30 p.m. (CST) Sunday, during the Caesars Lake Tahoe Classic inside Tahoe Blue Event Center.
The Cougars enter this weekend's contest following a 94-55 win over La Salle inside Fertitta Center on Monday. Making his Houston debut, senior point guard Dedan Thomas Jr. led all players with 16 points, thanks to 11-of-14 shooting from the free throw line, and five assists.
Also competing in his first game in the Scarlet and White, graduate forward Delrecco Gillespie posted 13 points and tied with junior guard Mercy Miller for game-high honors with seven rebounds. Gillespie now needs only three points to reach 1,000 in his collegiate career after scoring 984 points in his first four seasons at Kent State.
The Cougars won their 18th straight season opener, including their 13th consecutive under Head Coach Kelvin Sampson, while limiting the Explorers to only 25.0 percent (15-of-60) shooting from the field. It was the lowest field goal percentage allowed in a season opener by a Big 12 school since Baylor limited McNeese to 21.0 percent (13-of-62) to open the 2014-15 season.
Fans can view Sunday's digital game program by clicking here.
BUY CAESARS LAKE TAHOE CLASSIC TICKETS
• Fans can purchase Caesars Lake Tahoe Classic tickets by clicking here.
TUNE IN
• Fans can watch Sunday's game on CW with Chris Fisher (play-by-play), Matt Muehlebach (analyst) and Heidi Watney (reporter) calling.
• Fans can hear Sunday's game on 950 AM KPRC, the Varsity Network app, SiriusXM Ch. 84 or SiriuxSM app Ch. 94 with Jeremy Branham (play-by-play). The pregame show begins at 7:15 p.m. (CST), Sunday.
• Fans can follow live stats from Sunday's game on StatBroadcast.
ABOUT CALIFORNIA
• California owns a 2-0 overall record this season entering Sunday's game.
• In its most recent action, the Golden Bears took an 84-70 win over Adams State inside Haas Pavilion in Berkeley, Calif, on Wednesday night.
• Against Radford, junior guard Nojus Indrusaitis drilled six 3-pointers on the way to a game-high 30 point and added five rebounds, two assists and two steals. Sophomore guard Michael Cooper came off the bench to post 16 points with four treys, three rebounds and three assists while sophomore forward Jake Wilkins totaled 13 points and tied with junior forward Sammie Yeanay for team-high honors with six rebounds. Senior guard Jordan Ross led the Golden Bears with seven assists.
• This season, Indrusaitis leads California with 25.0 points per game. Cooper stands second with 20.0 points per game while Wilkins is third at 12.5 points to go with a team-best 6.5 rebounds per contest. Yeanay ranks fourth with 12.0 points per game. Ross averages 10.0 points and a team-high 8.0 assists per game.
• Head Coach Mark Madsen is in his fourth season at California and his eighth year as a collegiate head coach.
• Madsen has built a 51-50 record with California and is 121-101 during his career.
• He previously compiled a 70-51 record at Utah Valley (2019-23).
• Sunday's game will be the first time that Madsen has faced Houston during his career.
• Sunday's game will be the first time that Madsen has faced Houston Head Coach Kelvin Sampson during their careers.
• Madsen is a 2000 graduate of Stanford.
SERIES HISTORY vs. CALIFORNIA
• Houston owns a 4-3 lead against California in the series, which began during the 1971-72 season.
• California has won each of the last two meetings, including a 95-70 victory during the Top of the World Classic inside Carlson Center in Fairbanks, Alaska, on Nov. 20, 1999, during the most recent encounter.
• Those two wins ended Houston's four-game winning streak against the Golden Bears.
• The Cougars have not defeated California since a 54-51 win inside Hofheinz Pavilion in Houston on Dec. 9, 1997.
• In the series' first game, the seventh-ranked Cougars dropped an 82-81 decision in double overtime in Berkeley, Calif., on Dec. 2, 1971.
at Neutral Site: California owns a 1-0 lead in games played at a neutral site during the series history.
• In the lone previous meeting California took a 95-70 victory during the Top of the World Classic inside Carlson Center in Fairbanks, Alaska, on Nov. 20, 1999.
BUY REGULAR-SEASON TICKETS
Regular-season single-game home tickets for all games inside Fertitta Center are on sale now, and fans are encouraged to purchase quickly while supplies last. Houston will play host to 15 regular-season home games inside Fertitta Center with six in non-conference play and nine in Big 12 action in 2026-27.
Fans interested in purchasing group tickets may complete this form to be contacted by a member of the Houston Athletics Tickets Sales staff.
Non-season ticket holders interested in purchasing season tickets are invited to place their names on the Season Ticket Wait List by clicking here.
UP NEXT
• Following Sunday's game, Houston returns to Fertitta Center to play host to Jacksonville State at 7 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 11.
• That game can be seen on ESPN+.
• From there, the Cougars hit the road again to compete at the Players Era 8 Championship inside Michelob ULTRA Arena in Las Vegas on Nov. 17-19.
• Houston opens that event at 1 p.m. (CST), Tuesday, Nov. 17, against Rutgers before facing the winner/loser from Florida/Notre Dame on Wednesday, Nov. 18.
• Houston's final-day opponent will come from Auburn/West Virginia/Kansas/UNLV and be played at a time to be determined on Thursday, Nov. 19.
• All Houston Men's Basketball games can be heard on 950 AM KPRC, SiriusXM and the SiriusXM app and the Varsity Network.
SUPPORT YOUR COOGS
Fans can make a direct impact on the success of Houston Men's Basketball by providing NIL opportunities 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.
The Cougars enter this weekend's contest following a 94-55 win over La Salle inside Fertitta Center on Monday. Making his Houston debut, senior point guard Dedan Thomas Jr. led all players with 16 points, thanks to 11-of-14 shooting from the free throw line, and five assists.
Also competing in his first game in the Scarlet and White, graduate forward Delrecco Gillespie posted 13 points and tied with junior guard Mercy Miller for game-high honors with seven rebounds. Gillespie now needs only three points to reach 1,000 in his collegiate career after scoring 984 points in his first four seasons at Kent State.
The Cougars won their 18th straight season opener, including their 13th consecutive under Head Coach Kelvin Sampson, while limiting the Explorers to only 25.0 percent (15-of-60) shooting from the field. It was the lowest field goal percentage allowed in a season opener by a Big 12 school since Baylor limited McNeese to 21.0 percent (13-of-62) to open the 2014-15 season.
Fans can view Sunday's digital game program by clicking here.
BUY CAESARS LAKE TAHOE CLASSIC TICKETS
• Fans can purchase Caesars Lake Tahoe Classic tickets by clicking here.
TUNE IN
• Fans can watch Sunday's game on CW with Chris Fisher (play-by-play), Matt Muehlebach (analyst) and Heidi Watney (reporter) calling.
• Fans can hear Sunday's game on 950 AM KPRC, the Varsity Network app, SiriusXM Ch. 84 or SiriuxSM app Ch. 94 with Jeremy Branham (play-by-play). The pregame show begins at 7:15 p.m. (CST), Sunday.
• Fans can follow live stats from Sunday's game on StatBroadcast.
ABOUT CALIFORNIA
• California owns a 2-0 overall record this season entering Sunday's game.
• In its most recent action, the Golden Bears took an 84-70 win over Adams State inside Haas Pavilion in Berkeley, Calif, on Wednesday night.
• Against Radford, junior guard Nojus Indrusaitis drilled six 3-pointers on the way to a game-high 30 point and added five rebounds, two assists and two steals. Sophomore guard Michael Cooper came off the bench to post 16 points with four treys, three rebounds and three assists while sophomore forward Jake Wilkins totaled 13 points and tied with junior forward Sammie Yeanay for team-high honors with six rebounds. Senior guard Jordan Ross led the Golden Bears with seven assists.
• This season, Indrusaitis leads California with 25.0 points per game. Cooper stands second with 20.0 points per game while Wilkins is third at 12.5 points to go with a team-best 6.5 rebounds per contest. Yeanay ranks fourth with 12.0 points per game. Ross averages 10.0 points and a team-high 8.0 assists per game.
• Head Coach Mark Madsen is in his fourth season at California and his eighth year as a collegiate head coach.
• Madsen has built a 51-50 record with California and is 121-101 during his career.
• He previously compiled a 70-51 record at Utah Valley (2019-23).
• Sunday's game will be the first time that Madsen has faced Houston during his career.
• Sunday's game will be the first time that Madsen has faced Houston Head Coach Kelvin Sampson during their careers.
• Madsen is a 2000 graduate of Stanford.
SERIES HISTORY vs. CALIFORNIA
• Houston owns a 4-3 lead against California in the series, which began during the 1971-72 season.
• California has won each of the last two meetings, including a 95-70 victory during the Top of the World Classic inside Carlson Center in Fairbanks, Alaska, on Nov. 20, 1999, during the most recent encounter.
• Those two wins ended Houston's four-game winning streak against the Golden Bears.
• The Cougars have not defeated California since a 54-51 win inside Hofheinz Pavilion in Houston on Dec. 9, 1997.
• In the series' first game, the seventh-ranked Cougars dropped an 82-81 decision in double overtime in Berkeley, Calif., on Dec. 2, 1971.
at Neutral Site: California owns a 1-0 lead in games played at a neutral site during the series history.
• In the lone previous meeting California took a 95-70 victory during the Top of the World Classic inside Carlson Center in Fairbanks, Alaska, on Nov. 20, 1999.
BUY REGULAR-SEASON TICKETS
Regular-season single-game home tickets for all games inside Fertitta Center are on sale now, and fans are encouraged to purchase quickly while supplies last. Houston will play host to 15 regular-season home games inside Fertitta Center with six in non-conference play and nine in Big 12 action in 2026-27.
Fans interested in purchasing group tickets may complete this form to be contacted by a member of the Houston Athletics Tickets Sales staff.
Non-season ticket holders interested in purchasing season tickets are invited to place their names on the Season Ticket Wait List by clicking here.
UP NEXT
• Following Sunday's game, Houston returns to Fertitta Center to play host to Jacksonville State at 7 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 11.
• That game can be seen on ESPN+.
• From there, the Cougars hit the road again to compete at the Players Era 8 Championship inside Michelob ULTRA Arena in Las Vegas on Nov. 17-19.
• Houston opens that event at 1 p.m. (CST), Tuesday, Nov. 17, against Rutgers before facing the winner/loser from Florida/Notre Dame on Wednesday, Nov. 18.
• Houston's final-day opponent will come from Auburn/West Virginia/Kansas/UNLV and be played at a time to be determined on Thursday, Nov. 19.
• All Houston Men's Basketball games can be heard on 950 AM KPRC, SiriusXM and the SiriusXM app and the Varsity Network.
SUPPORT YOUR COOGS
Fans can make a direct impact on the success of Houston Men's Basketball by providing NIL opportunities 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 –
Players Mentioned
F
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's BasketballThursday, November 05
Wednesday, November 04
Monday, November 02
Thursday, October 29