Skip to main content
Team, Bench, Clap

Men’s Basketball Faces Rice on Friday in Fertitta Center

11/11/2021 4:00:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Preview, vs. RiceHOUSTON – Coming off a thrilling win in overtime to open the season, the University of Houston Men's Basketball program continues its homestand when it plays host to city rival Rice at 7 p.m. Friday, inside the Fertitta Center.
 
The Cougars (1-0) enter Friday's game following a come-from-behind 83-75 win in overtime against Hofstra on Tuesday. Trailing by as many as 13 points midway through the second half and by nine with less than four minutes remaining, the Cougars staged an epic comeback that was capped when graduate senior guard Taze Moore buried a baseline 3-pointer to knot the game at 69-69 with 24 seconds left.
 
In the extra period, the Cougars opened on a 7-2 run and never looked back in winning their 13th straight season opener.
 
Junior guard and Preseason All-American Athletic Conference First-Team selection honoree Marcus Sasser led the Cougars with 25 points thanks to three 3-pointers and added three assists and a pair of steals.

Making his Houston debut, senior guard Kyler Edwards grabbed 10 points with 11 rebounds for his first double-double as a Cougar, while sophomore forward J'Wan Roberts grabbed a career-high 15 rebounds to lead Houston.
 
Moore finished with 12 points after burying all four 3-point tries and added three assists and a steal.
 
Houston owns a 63-18 lead in the all-time series against Rice and has won the last six meetings and seven of the last eight. Friday's game will be the first meeting inside the Fertitta Center, where the Cougars have won their last 26 games for the nation's fourth-longest active streak.
 
Promotions, vs. Rice, Jamal Shead 
PROMOTIONS
• University of Houston students will enjoy the Dorm Challenge at Friday's game. The UH dormitory with the most residents in attendance will receive a free pizza party courtesy of Houston Men's Basketball during Finals Week.
• The first 100 fans who donate a clothing item at either the Cullen Boulevard or Holman Street entrances will receive a free #ForTheCity shirt.
Sticker Series Game No. 1: The first 500 UH students in attendance will receive a free and unique Houston Basketball laptop sticker.
• At halftime, fans will want to stay in their seats as Mariachi Pumas returns to the Fertitta Center for another dazzling performance.
• Junior Gordon will perform the national anthem.
 
BUY 2021-22 TICKETS
To purchase single-game tickets, fans may click here anytime or call 713-GO-COOGS (462-6647) during regular business hours.
 
HOOP HYPE XL TICKETS
Fans also have the opportunity to purchase tickets for the Cougars' Dec. 18 game against rv/rv Oklahoma State inside Dickies Arena in the Hoop Hype XL | College Basketball Showcase in Fort Worth, Texas. Tipoff is set for 6 p.m.
 
That game will be part of a doubleheader with Colorado State facing Tulsa at 2:30 p.m., Dec. 18. Tickets – which cover both games – begin at $70 plus fees with options for floor seating. Fans are encouraged to buy their tickets soon before supplies run out.
 
To purchase Hoop Hype XL tickets, fans can click here anytime or call the Athletics Ticket Office at 713-462-6647 during regular business hours.
 
2022-23 SEASON TICKETS PRIORITY WAIT LIST
Fans who were unable to secure 2021-22 season tickets may start preparing for next season by putting down a $75 deposit and placing their names on the 2022-23 Men's Basketball Season Ticket Priority Wait List by clicking here.
 
TUNE IN
• Fans can watch Friday's game on ESPN+ with Matt Pedersen and Houston great Reid Gettys calling the action.
• Fans can hear the game on 950 AM KPRC or on The Varsity Network with Jeremy Branham and Hall of Famer Elvin Hayes calling the action.
 
ABOUT RICE
• Like Houston, Rice enters Friday's game with a 1-0 record after opening the season Tuesday. The Owls claimed an 82-63 win over Pepperdine inside Tudor Fieldhouse.
• Sophomore guard Travis Evee led all player swith 24 points, thanks to 6-of-10 shooting from the 3-point line. Guard Carl Pierre finished with 13 points and a pair of 3-pointers, while Mylyjael Poteat added 10 points with seven rebounds off the bench. Sophomore forward Max Fiedler led the way with 13 rebounds, while graduate guard Damion McDowell totaled four assists to pace the Owls.
• Head Coach Scott Pera is in his fifth season at Rice and as a collegiate head coach.
• Pera has compiled a 51-73 record during his career and at Rice.
• Pera is 0-2 against Houston during his career.
• Pera is 0-2 against Houston Head Coach Kelvin Sampson during his career.
• 1989 graduate of Penn State-Harrisburg.
 
UP NEXT              
• Houston wraps up its homestand when it faces No. 25/25 Virginia at 7 p.m., Tuesday, inside the Fertitta Center.
• That game features two of the nation's Top-Three winningest teams since 2017-18... Cougars (112) and Cavaliers (107) trail only Gonzaga (128) during that stretch.
• Game will be shown on ESPN and can be heard on 950 AM KPRC.
• From there, the Cougars hit the road for the first time in 2021-22 to compete at the Maui Jim Maui Invitational in Las Vegas on Nov. 22-24. Houston opens that tournament at 3:30 p.m. (CST) Nov. 22 against Butler inside Michelob ULTRA Arena.
 
JOIN the 50-50-CLUB
Fans are invited to join the 50-50 Club to support Houston Men's Basketball. 50-50 Club members help fund program necessities and enhance the experience for our student-athletes.
 
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.
 
For more information or to sign up, fans may visit uhcougars.com/5050club or click here. To join the 50-50 Club, fans may call Cougar Pride at 713-743-GoUH (46874).
 
STAY CONNECTED
Fans can receive updates by following @UHCougarMBK on 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 –