University of Houston Athletics
Game Times Released & Ticket Sales Set for Players Era 8 Championship
7/13/2026 11:13:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Cougars meet Rutgers at 1 p.m. (CT), November 17 inside Michelob ULTRA Arena in Las Vegas
HOUSTON – The University of Houston Men's Basketball program will face Rutgers at 1 p.m. (CT), November 17 during the first day of the Players Era Championship.
Tournament organizers announced game times and tickets information Monday. Tickets pre-sales begin at Noon, Thursday, with tickets on sale to the general public beginning at Noon, Friday.
All-Tournament passes, which provide access to 12 games, start at $510. Championship game tickets start at $50 and may be reserved separately.
Cougar Pride donors and Houston Men Basketball season-ticket holders should check their emails for information and links for Thursday's tickets pre-sale. ALL fans should check Houston Men's Basketball social media platforms (@UHCougarMBK) for the link to Friday's sale.
Following the November 17 game, Houston will face Florida State or Notre Dame at 1 p.m. or 3:30 p.m. (CT), November 18.
The Cougars close the Players Era 8 Championship West Virginia/Auburn/Kansas/UNLV on Thursday, November 19 with game-time possibilities of 1:30 p.m./4 p.m./7:30 p.m./10 p.m.
All games from the Players Era 8 Championship will be played inside Michelob ULTRA Arena at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas.
The Players Era 8 Championship will be played one week ahead of the Players Era 16 Championship. All 37 games across the two tournaments will be broadcast on the ESPN family of networks as part of a new multi-year broadcast agreement between Players Era and ESPN.
The Players Era 16 Championship will be played November 24-28 inside T-Mobile Arena and Michelob ULTRA Arena in Las Vegas and features Tennessee, Maryland, San Diego State, Iowa State, St. John's, Oregon, Louisville, Texas Tech, Gonzaga, Kansas State, Baylor, Alabama, Michigan, Creighton, TCU and Miami (Fla.).
PLAYERS ERA 8 CHAMPIONSHIP SCHEDULE
November 17-19 | Michelob ULTRA Arena | Las Vegas
All tip times are Central time, are approximate and are subject to change
Tuesday, Nov. 17
Wednesday, Nov. 18
Thursday, Nov. 19
ABOUT the COUGARS
Forward Joseph Tugler highlights four lettermen returning from the 2025-26 team, which went 30-7 and tied the NCAA Division I record with its fifth straight 30-win season.
After averaging 8.5 points, 5.3 rebounds and a team-high 1.8 blocks per game, Tugler earned Big 12 Conference All-Tournament Team honors and was named All-Big 12 Honorable Mention. The Monroe, La., native also was named to the league's All-Defensive Team for the second straight season.
Junior guard Mercy Miller, sophomore forward Chase McCarty and sophomore guard Kordel Jefferson also return for the Cougars. Miller scored a career-high 15 points in a home win over New Orleans and was named to the College Sports Communicators Academic All-District Team while McCarty scored a career-best 20 points with six 3-pointers in a Big 12 road win at Oklahoma State to cap the regular season.
Jefferson was sidelined by a knee injury early in the season but returns after successful surgery and rehabilitation.
That veteran group will be joined by an eight-man newcomer class with freshman guard Ikenna Aloze, freshman center Arafan Diané, freshman center Djafar Silimana, junior forward Braden East, graduate guard Corey Hadnot II, graduate guard Delrecco Gillespie, senior guard Dedan Thomas Jr and freshman guard Tyus Thomas.
BUY 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 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.
Tournament organizers announced game times and tickets information Monday. Tickets pre-sales begin at Noon, Thursday, with tickets on sale to the general public beginning at Noon, Friday.
All-Tournament passes, which provide access to 12 games, start at $510. Championship game tickets start at $50 and may be reserved separately.
Cougar Pride donors and Houston Men Basketball season-ticket holders should check their emails for information and links for Thursday's tickets pre-sale. ALL fans should check Houston Men's Basketball social media platforms (@UHCougarMBK) for the link to Friday's sale.
Following the November 17 game, Houston will face Florida State or Notre Dame at 1 p.m. or 3:30 p.m. (CT), November 18.
The Cougars close the Players Era 8 Championship West Virginia/Auburn/Kansas/UNLV on Thursday, November 19 with game-time possibilities of 1:30 p.m./4 p.m./7:30 p.m./10 p.m.
All games from the Players Era 8 Championship will be played inside Michelob ULTRA Arena at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas.
The Players Era 8 Championship will be played one week ahead of the Players Era 16 Championship. All 37 games across the two tournaments will be broadcast on the ESPN family of networks as part of a new multi-year broadcast agreement between Players Era and ESPN.
The Players Era 16 Championship will be played November 24-28 inside T-Mobile Arena and Michelob ULTRA Arena in Las Vegas and features Tennessee, Maryland, San Diego State, Iowa State, St. John's, Oregon, Louisville, Texas Tech, Gonzaga, Kansas State, Baylor, Alabama, Michigan, Creighton, TCU and Miami (Fla.).
PLAYERS ERA 8 CHAMPIONSHIP SCHEDULE
November 17-19 | Michelob ULTRA Arena | Las Vegas
All tip times are Central time, are approximate and are subject to change
Tuesday, Nov. 17
| Game | Time (CT) |
| Houston vs. Rutgers | 1 p.m. |
| Florida vs. Notre Dame | 3:30 p.m. |
| Kansas vs. UNLV | 8:30 p.m. |
| West Virginia vs. Auburn | 11 p.m. |
Wednesday, Nov. 18
| Game | Time (CT) |
| Consolation #1 | 1 p.m. |
| Semifinal #1 | 3:30 p.m. |
| Semifinal #2 | 6:30 p.m. |
| Consolation #2 | 9 p.m. |
Thursday, Nov. 19
| Game | Time (CT) |
| Third Place | 1:30 p.m. |
| Fifth Place | 4 p.m. |
| Seventh Place | 7:30 p.m. |
| Championship | 10 p.m. |
ABOUT the COUGARS
Forward Joseph Tugler highlights four lettermen returning from the 2025-26 team, which went 30-7 and tied the NCAA Division I record with its fifth straight 30-win season.
After averaging 8.5 points, 5.3 rebounds and a team-high 1.8 blocks per game, Tugler earned Big 12 Conference All-Tournament Team honors and was named All-Big 12 Honorable Mention. The Monroe, La., native also was named to the league's All-Defensive Team for the second straight season.
Junior guard Mercy Miller, sophomore forward Chase McCarty and sophomore guard Kordel Jefferson also return for the Cougars. Miller scored a career-high 15 points in a home win over New Orleans and was named to the College Sports Communicators Academic All-District Team while McCarty scored a career-best 20 points with six 3-pointers in a Big 12 road win at Oklahoma State to cap the regular season.
Jefferson was sidelined by a knee injury early in the season but returns after successful surgery and rehabilitation.
That veteran group will be joined by an eight-man newcomer class with freshman guard Ikenna Aloze, freshman center Arafan Diané, freshman center Djafar Silimana, junior forward Braden East, graduate guard Corey Hadnot II, graduate guard Delrecco Gillespie, senior guard Dedan Thomas Jr and freshman guard Tyus Thomas.
BUY 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 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 –
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