Saturday, December 16
Houston, Texas – Toyota Center
1:30 p.m.
University of Houston
vs
rv/rv Texas A&M
Photo by: For Houston Athletics
PREVIEW: #4/3 Men’s Hoops Meets rv/rv Texas A&M on Saturday
12/14/2023 2:46:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Watch (ESPN2)Listen (950 AM KPRC)Listen (Varsity Network app)Live Stats (StatBroadcast)Preview – Coach Kelvin Sampson (YouTube)Digital Game ProgramHouston Game Notes (PDF)Texas A&M Game Notes (PDF)Big 12 Notes (PDF)2023-24 ScheduleSupport Linking CoogsSupport Houston RiseJoin 50-50 Club
Cougars tip off at 1:30 p.m., Saturday, inside Toyota Center at The Halal Guys Showcase.
HOUSTON – Winners of 10 straight games to open the season, the #4/3 University of Houston Men's Basketball program heads to the Toyota Center in downtown Houston to face rv/rv Texas A&M in the finale of The Halal Guys Showcase at 1:30 p.m., Saturday.
Saturday's game will be the first time the Cougars have faced the Aggies on the hardwood since a 74-57 loss in College Station, Texas, on Dec. 4, 2013. Houston looks to snap a three-game losing streak to Texas A&M.
With a 10-0 start, the 2023-24 Cougars are only the third team in school history to win each of their first 10 games to open a season. Only the 2018-19 team (also under Head Coach Kelvin Sampson) and the 1967-68 squad accomplished that feat.
Senior guard LJ Cryer continues to lead the Cougars and ranks fourth in the Big 12 Conference with 17.8 points per game and leads the league with 3.5 3-pointers per contest. The Katy, Texas, native and Morton Ranch High product has scored double-digit points in nine straight games with 20-point efforts in three of the last four.
Senior point guard Jamal Shead stands third in the Big 12 in assists (6.2 apg, 3rd) and steals (2.6 spg, 3rd) and is the only student-athlete to rank among the nation's Top-17 leaders in both categories.
Sophomore guard Terrance Arceneaux has become a rebounding leader in recent games, snaring 9+ boards in three of the last four contests, including a career-high 10 rebounds against Jackson State inside the Fertitta Center on Saturday.
TUNE IN
• Fans can watch Saturday's game on ESPN2 with Jon Sciambi (play-by-play) and Jimmy Dykes (analyst) 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 1:15 p.m., Saturday.
• Fans can follow live stats by visiting StatBroadcast.com and following the appropriate links or by clicking here.
ABOUT TEXAS A&M
• Texas A&M brings a 7-3 record into Saturday's game at The Halal Guys Showcase.
• The Aggies are 2-1 in neutral-site games and 4-2 in non-home games during the 2023-24 season.
• Texas A&M has alternated wins and losses in each of its last six games.
• In its most recent action, Texas A&M dropped an 81-75 decision to Memphis in College Station, Texas, on Sunday afternoon.
• Against Memphis, junior guard Manny Obaseki came off the bench to lead with 21 points on 7-of-13 shooting from the field and 5-of-6 from the free throw line. He was the only Aggie to reach double-digit points.
• Junior guard Wade Taylor IV finished with nine points and team highs of eight assists and four steals while senior forward Andersson Garcia led all players with 14 rebounds, including seven offensive.
• This season, Taylor leads Texas A&M with 17.1 points, 4.9 assists and 2.2 steals per game. Senior forward Henry Coleman III stands second with 13.3 points per game but leads the Aggies with 8.8 rebounds per contest. Graduate guard Tyrece Radford stands third on the team with 12.3 points per game.
• Head Coach Buzz Williams is in his fifth season at Texas A&M and his 17th as a collegiate head coach.
• Williams has posted an 81-50 record with Texas A&M and is 334 -205 during his career.
• Previously built a 100-69 record at Virginia Tech (2014-19), a 139-69 mark at Marquette (2008-14) and a 14-17 mark at New Orleans (2006-07).
• Saturday's game will be the first time Williams has faced Houston during his career.
• Saturday's game will be the first time Williams has faced Houston Head Coach Kelvin Sampson during their careers.
• 1994 graduate of Oklahoma City.
SERIES HISTORY vs. TEXAS A&M
• Houston owns a 53-32 lead against Texas A&M in the series, which began during the 1946-47 season.
• At 85 games, Texas A&M is the second-most played opponent in school history. Only SMU's 92 games (Houston leads 58-34) ranks higher. Rice is a close third with 84 games (Houston leads 66-18).
• Texas A&M has won the last three meetings, including a 74-57 win in College Station, Texas, on Dec. 4, 2013, in the most recent encounter.
• Houston has not defeated the Aggies since a 70-61 win in overtime inside Hofheinz Pavilion in Houston on Dec. 27, 2003.
• The two schools met at least twice a year every season from 1975-76 through 1995-96 as Southwest Conference members. The Cougars and Aggies also met at least once a year every season from 1950-51 through 1965-66.
at Neutral Site: Houston owns a 5-1 lead against Texas A&M in games played at neutral sites.
• In the most recent meeting, Houston claimed an 84-68 at the Southwest Conference Tournament inside Reunion Arena in Dallas on March 12, 1993.
• In the first meeting against the Aggies at a neutral site, Houston enjoyed a 59-49 win in the Bluebonnet Classic inside Rice Gym in Houston on Dec. 17, 1964.
• Texas A&M's lone win at a neutral site was an 82-70 decision at the Southwest Conference Tournament inside Reunion Arena in Dallas on March 10, 1989.
at Toyota Center: Saturday's game will be the first time Houston has faced Texas A&M inside Toyota Center.
UP NEXT
• Following Saturday's game, Houston faces Texas State at 7 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 21, inside Fertitta Center in a game airing on Big 12 Now on ESPN+.
• From there, the Cougars close out the year 2023 when they meet Penn at 6 p.m., Dec. 30, inside Fertitta Center. That game will air on Big 12 Now on ESPN+.
• Houston then opens Big 12 play 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+
• 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.
Saturday's game will be the first time the Cougars have faced the Aggies on the hardwood since a 74-57 loss in College Station, Texas, on Dec. 4, 2013. Houston looks to snap a three-game losing streak to Texas A&M.
With a 10-0 start, the 2023-24 Cougars are only the third team in school history to win each of their first 10 games to open a season. Only the 2018-19 team (also under Head Coach Kelvin Sampson) and the 1967-68 squad accomplished that feat.
Senior guard LJ Cryer continues to lead the Cougars and ranks fourth in the Big 12 Conference with 17.8 points per game and leads the league with 3.5 3-pointers per contest. The Katy, Texas, native and Morton Ranch High product has scored double-digit points in nine straight games with 20-point efforts in three of the last four.
Senior point guard Jamal Shead stands third in the Big 12 in assists (6.2 apg, 3rd) and steals (2.6 spg, 3rd) and is the only student-athlete to rank among the nation's Top-17 leaders in both categories.
Sophomore guard Terrance Arceneaux has become a rebounding leader in recent games, snaring 9+ boards in three of the last four contests, including a career-high 10 rebounds against Jackson State inside the Fertitta Center on Saturday.
TUNE IN
• Fans can watch Saturday's game on ESPN2 with Jon Sciambi (play-by-play) and Jimmy Dykes (analyst) 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 1:15 p.m., Saturday.
• Fans can follow live stats by visiting StatBroadcast.com and following the appropriate links or by clicking here.
ABOUT TEXAS A&M
• Texas A&M brings a 7-3 record into Saturday's game at The Halal Guys Showcase.
• The Aggies are 2-1 in neutral-site games and 4-2 in non-home games during the 2023-24 season.
• Texas A&M has alternated wins and losses in each of its last six games.
• In its most recent action, Texas A&M dropped an 81-75 decision to Memphis in College Station, Texas, on Sunday afternoon.
• Against Memphis, junior guard Manny Obaseki came off the bench to lead with 21 points on 7-of-13 shooting from the field and 5-of-6 from the free throw line. He was the only Aggie to reach double-digit points.
• Junior guard Wade Taylor IV finished with nine points and team highs of eight assists and four steals while senior forward Andersson Garcia led all players with 14 rebounds, including seven offensive.
• This season, Taylor leads Texas A&M with 17.1 points, 4.9 assists and 2.2 steals per game. Senior forward Henry Coleman III stands second with 13.3 points per game but leads the Aggies with 8.8 rebounds per contest. Graduate guard Tyrece Radford stands third on the team with 12.3 points per game.
• Head Coach Buzz Williams is in his fifth season at Texas A&M and his 17th as a collegiate head coach.
• Williams has posted an 81-50 record with Texas A&M and is 334 -205 during his career.
• Previously built a 100-69 record at Virginia Tech (2014-19), a 139-69 mark at Marquette (2008-14) and a 14-17 mark at New Orleans (2006-07).
• Saturday's game will be the first time Williams has faced Houston during his career.
• Saturday's game will be the first time Williams has faced Houston Head Coach Kelvin Sampson during their careers.
• 1994 graduate of Oklahoma City.
SERIES HISTORY vs. TEXAS A&M
• Houston owns a 53-32 lead against Texas A&M in the series, which began during the 1946-47 season.
• At 85 games, Texas A&M is the second-most played opponent in school history. Only SMU's 92 games (Houston leads 58-34) ranks higher. Rice is a close third with 84 games (Houston leads 66-18).
• Texas A&M has won the last three meetings, including a 74-57 win in College Station, Texas, on Dec. 4, 2013, in the most recent encounter.
• Houston has not defeated the Aggies since a 70-61 win in overtime inside Hofheinz Pavilion in Houston on Dec. 27, 2003.
• The two schools met at least twice a year every season from 1975-76 through 1995-96 as Southwest Conference members. The Cougars and Aggies also met at least once a year every season from 1950-51 through 1965-66.
at Neutral Site: Houston owns a 5-1 lead against Texas A&M in games played at neutral sites.
• In the most recent meeting, Houston claimed an 84-68 at the Southwest Conference Tournament inside Reunion Arena in Dallas on March 12, 1993.
• In the first meeting against the Aggies at a neutral site, Houston enjoyed a 59-49 win in the Bluebonnet Classic inside Rice Gym in Houston on Dec. 17, 1964.
• Texas A&M's lone win at a neutral site was an 82-70 decision at the Southwest Conference Tournament inside Reunion Arena in Dallas on March 10, 1989.
at Toyota Center: Saturday's game will be the first time Houston has faced Texas A&M inside Toyota Center.
UP NEXT
• Following Saturday's game, Houston faces Texas State at 7 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 21, inside Fertitta Center in a game airing on Big 12 Now on ESPN+.
• From there, the Cougars close out the year 2023 when they meet Penn at 6 p.m., Dec. 30, inside Fertitta Center. That game will air on Big 12 Now on ESPN+.
• Houston then opens Big 12 play 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+
• 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 –