PREVIEW: #3/3 Men’s Basketball Returns to Fertitta Center

Saturday, February 14

Houston

3 p.m.

University of Houston

Kansas State

Buy Tickets

PREVIEW: #3/3 Men’s Basketball Returns to Fertitta Center

2/13/2026 1:40:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Preview – Coach Kelvin Sampson (YouTube)Watch (Peacock)Listen (950 AM KPRC)Varsity Network app Listen (SiriusXM Ch. 117 or Ch. 198)Live Stats (StatBroadcast)ONE PIECE Information Houston Game Notes (PDF)Kansas State Game Notes (PDF)Big 12 Notes (PDF)

Cougars play host to Big 12 Conference rival Kansas State at 3 p.m., Saturday

Emanuel Sharp preparing to shoot a basketball

HOUSTON – The #3/3 University of Houston Men's Basketball program returns to the friendly confines of Fertitta Center to play host to Big 12 Conference-rival Kansas State at 3 p.m., Saturday, in a game presented by Bud Light.

Fans should note Saturday's 3 p.m., starting time, as it was recently changed from earlier published schedules.

The Cougars, who are winners of their last five and 16 of their last 17 games, enter this weekend's contest following a 66-52 win at Utah on Tuesday night.

Senior guard Emanuel Sharp etched his name into the Houston records book in impressive fashion, draining six straight 3-point field goals early on the way to a game-high eight treys and 27 points.

He became only the eighth Cougar in school history to bury 8+ 3-point field goals in a game, joining guard Cameron Tyson (twice), guard Robert McKiver (four times), guard Quentin Grimes, guard Marcus Sasser, guard Corey Davis Jr., guard Jherrod Stiggers and guard Andre Owens.

With that impressive performance, Sharp moved past Sasser and now owns the Houston career record with 277 3-pointers. The Tampa, Fla., native ranks 12^th in Houston career history with 1,521 points and fourth in wins (117).

Under the leadership of Head Coach and Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Finalist Kelvin Sampson, the Cougars have won their last 17 games for the nation's eighth-longest active home winning streak and 50 of the last 51 contests inside Fertitta Center.

PROMOTIONS
• Saturday's game is presented by Bud Light
• Fans can view Saturday's digital game program by clicking here.
• Prior to the game, Sarah Grace will perform the national anthem.
• Prior to tipoff, Olympic legend, Hall of Famer and Cougar great Carl Lewis will lead fans in the Whose House chant.

One Piece graphic

ONE PIECE GIVEAWAYS
• Prior to the game, approximately 1,000 ONE PIECE t-shirts will be given away to CURRENT University of Houston students.
• Beginning at the Under-4 timeout of the second half, 7,000 limited-edition posters and 7,000 unique trading cards will be given out with one trading card and one poster per person at the Cullen Boulevard / Holman Street and Marrs Club exits while supplies last.
• This game will feature a ONE PIECE Halftime Show with a limited-edition T-shirt toss and a performance of We Are by the Spirit of Houston Band and Cheer team.
• For more information about the collaboration with ONE PIECE and the giveaways, fans can visit UHCougars.com/onepiece.

NOTES
• With Tuesday's win at Utah, the 2025-26 Cougars became the 24^th team in school history to record 22+ wins in a season. Head Coach Kelvin Sampson recorded the 23^rd 22-win season of his award-winning career.
• With Monday's rankings, Houston has been ranked in the last 120 Associated Press polls for the nation's longest active streak. The Cougars' 25 straight weeks in the AP Top 10 is the nation's second-longest current streak.

TUNE IN
• Fans can watch Saturday's game on Peacock with James Westling (play-by-play) and Jordan Cornette (analyst).
• Fans can hear Saturday's game on 950 AM KPRC, the Varsity Network app and SiriusXM Ch. 117 or Ch. 198 with Jeremy Branham (play-by-play) and Elvin Hayes (analyst). The pregame show begins at 2:45 p.m., Saturday.
• Fans can follow live stats from Saturday's game on StatBroadcast.

BUY TICKETS
Single-game home tickets for all games inside Fertitta Center are now on sale, and fans are encouraged to purchase quickly while supplies last. The two-time defending Big 12 Conference Champions, Houston will play host to three more conference games in 2025-26.

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.

ABOUT KANSAS STATE
• Kansas State enters Saturday's game with a 10-14 overall record. The Wildcats are 1-10 in Big 12 Conference play to tie for 15th with Utah.
• The Wildcats have lost their last five games and 10 of its last 11. Only an 81-78 home win over Utah in Manhattan, Kan., on January 20 prevents a longer streak
• Kansas State is 1-6 in road games this season.
• In its most recent action, Kansas State dropped a 91-62 decision to Cincinnati in Manhattan, Kan., on Wednesday.
• Against Utah, junior guard PJ Haggerty led the Wildcats with 24 points on 11-of-18 shooting and added a pair of steals. Junior wing Taj Manning totaled nine rebounds with four assists, two steals and a pair of blocks to lead Kansas State.
• This season, Haggerty leads Kansas State with 23.3 points and 5.1 rebounds and is second on the team with 4.1 assists and 1.1 steals per game. Junior guard Abdi Bashir Jr is second with 13.2 points per game while sophomore wing David Castillo stands third with 11.5 points per contest. Senior guard Nate Johnson is the fourth Wildcat averaging double-digit points 11.1 per game.
• Head Coach Jerome Tang is in his fourth full season at Kansas State and his fifth as a collegiate head coach.
• Tang has built a 71-56 record with Kansas State and is 73-56 during his career.
• He previous built a 2-0 record as an interim head coach at Baylor during the 2012-13 season.
• Tang has posted an 0-2 record against Houston during his career with both previous meetings coming during his Kansas State tenure.
• Tang has compiled an 0-2 record against Houston Head Coach Kelvin Sampson during their Kansas State and Houston careers, respectively.
• Tang is a 2007 graduate of Kansas State.

SERIES HISTORY vs. KANSAS STATE
• The series against Kansas State is tied at 5-5.
• Saturday's game will be the lone regular-season meeting against Kansas State during the 2025-26 season.
• This marks the third straight season in which the two schools will square off as Big 12 Conference rivals.
• In the most recent meeting, #12/11 Houston took an 87-57 win over Kansas State inside Bramlage Coliseum in Manhattan, Kan., on January 11, 2025.
• In the series' first meeting, the Cougars enjoyed an 86-79 win in Houston on December 21, 1955.
at Home: The Cougars have posted a 3-1 record in home games played in Houston during the series history.
• Houston has won two of its last three home games in the series. Only a 91-90 loss inside Hofheinz Pavilion on December 21, 1974, prevents a longer streak.
• In the most recent home meeting, the #4/4 Cougars took a 74-52 win over the rv/rv Wildcats inside Fertitta Center on January 27, 2024.
• In the first home meeting, the Cougars enjoyed an 86-79 win in Houston on December 21, 1955.
in Fertitta Center: The Cougars have posted a 1-0 record against Kansas State in home games played inside Fertitta Center during the series history.
• In the most recent meeting in Fertitta Center, the #4/4 Cougars took a 74-52 win over the rv/rv Wildcats on January 27, 2024.

UP NEXT
• Following Saturday's game, the Cougars take on #5/4 Iowa State at 8 p.m., Monday, February 16, inside Hilton Coliseum in Ames, Iowa. That game will air on ESPN.
• Houston then plays host to #1/1 Arizona at 2 p.m., Saturday, February 21, inside Fertitta Center. That game will air on ESPN.
• From there, the Cougars meet #9/9 Kansas at 8 p.m., Monday, February 23, inside Allen Fieldhouse in Lawrence, Kan. That game will air on ESPN.
• All Houston Men's Basketball games can be heard on 950 AM KPRC, the Varsity Network app and Sirius XM Radio.

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 –