The Basics
Game One
Oral Roberts (1-1, 0-0) at #3 Houston (2-0, 0-0)
Game Date/Time: Monday, November 14, 2022 / 7 p.m.
Location: Fertitta Center / Houston, Texas
Video: ESPN+
Audio: ORU Sports Network
Stats: Houston Athletics

Game Two
Oral Roberts (1-1, 0-0) at Texas Southern (1-2, 0-0)
Game Date/Time: Tuesday, November 15, 2022 / 7 p.m.
Location: H&PE Arena / Houston, Texas
Video: YouTube
Audio: ORU Sports Network
Stats: Texas Southern Athletics

TULSA, Okla. – The Oral Roberts men's basketball team will participate in the Cougar Classic with a game at No. 3 Houston Monday, November 14 at 7 p.m. followed by a contest at Texas Southern Tuesday, November 15 at 7 p.m. both games in Houston, Texas.

Fans can tune in to listen to the game via the ORU Sports Network or by following along on Twitter @ORUMBB

Important Links
ORU Game Notes
Houston Game Notes
Texas Southern Game Notes
Summit League Notes

Quick Hits
• Max Abmas was named preseason Summit League Player of the Year and to the league's preseason First Team. Abmas earned a spot on the Naismith Player of the Year Watch List and the NABC Preseason Player of the Year Watch List as well as on the 2023 Bob Cousy Award Watch List. All for the second-straight season.

• For the first time since 2011-12, the Golden Eagles were picked No. 1 in the Summit League preseason rankings. ORU also sits at No. 12 in the preseason Mid-Major Poll.

• Abmas continues where he left off last season averaging 16 points through two games. Four other Golden Eagles average double-digits with Issac McBride and Connor Vanover each scoring 15 points per game. Kareem Thompson is scoring 12 ppg and Carlos Jurgens has 10.5 ppg.
 
• Vanover has totaled 14 blocks through two games. He currently leads the nation in total blocks and blocks per game. As a team, ORU is second in the nation in blocks.

• ORU is hitting 13.5 triples per game, which puts the team 10th in the nation. The team has totaled 27 three-point buckets this season. Extending from last season, ORU has now made 10-plus three-point buckets in 11 of its last 13 games.

• On the glass, ORU is 17th in the nation in defensive rebounds per game.

• The Golden Eagles are 11-56 all-time against AP Top 25 opponents and 1-2 against No. 3 ranked teams. ORU defeated No. 3 Kansas, 78-71, in Lawrence on November 15, 2006.

Scouting the Opponent

HOUSTON
• This will be the second all-time meeting between ORU and Houston. The Golden Eagles lead the series, 1-0. In the most recent meeting, ORU defeated UH, 118-108 (Dec. 28, 1973), in Oklahoma City in the All-College Classic.

• Houston is 2-0 on the season with wins over Northern Colorado and Saint Joseph.

• The Cougars have three double-digits scores with J'Wan Robers and Jarace Walker leading UH with 15.5 points per game. Marcus Sassers is averaging 14 ppg. Walker is averaging a double-double with 10 rebounds per game.
 
• Last season the Cougars were the No. 5 seed in the NCAA Tournament and made it to the Elite Eight before falling to No. 2 Villanova, 50-44. Houston defeated No. 12 UAB, 82-68, No. 4 Illinois, 68-53, and No. 1 Arizona, 72-60.
 
TEXAS SOUTHERN
• This will be the seventh all-time meeting between ORU and Texas Southern. The Golden Eagles lead the series, 5-1. In the most recent meeting, ORU fell to TSU, 103-80 (Feb. 17, 1993), in Houston, Texas.
 
• The Tigers are 1-2 on the season after losses at San Francisco, 90-77, and at Texas Tech, 78-54. In its most recent contest, TSU defeated Arizona State, 67-66, at home on Sunday.
 
• PJ Henry leads Texas Southern averaging 21.5 points per game. John Walker III is scoring 14 points per game and Zytarious Mortle is scoring 10 points per game.

• Texas Southern was picked to win the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC). Karl Nicholas was picked to the preseason All-SWAC First Team and Defensive Player of the Year. John Walker III was recognized on the second team.

For the latest information on ORU Men's Basketball, follow the Golden Eagles on Twitter and Instagram, or go to www.ORUAthletics.com. Fans can also receive updates on the team by downloading the ORU Athletics app from the App Store or Google Play Store.