BYU Set for Showdown with No. 8 Houston in Top-25 Clash at the Marriott Center
PROVO, Utah - Another week, another heavyweight bout for No. 16 BYU.
This Saturday night, the Cougars welcome No. 8 Houston to the Marriott Center in a marquee Big 12 matchup that promises high stakes and high energy.
Tipoff is set for 8:30 p.m. MT, with ESPN’s Jon “Boog” Sciambi and Fran Fraschilla on the call.
This will be the 12th meeting all-time between BYU and Houston, and just the second time the Coogs have made the trip to Provo since joining the Big 12. Historically, Houston has had the upper hand in this series, holding an 8-3 advantage, including a 3-1 mark on BYU’s home floor.
The last time these two teams squared off was in the Big 12 Championship semifinals last season - a game BYU would like to forget. Houston came out locked in and rolled to a 74-54 win, eventually riding that momentum all the way to the National Championship game.
Despite the loss, BYU had a few bright spots: Keba Keita posted a strong double-double with 14 points and 12 rebounds, showing his ability to battle in the paint against elite competition. Dawson Baker came off the bench and gave the Cougars a spark with 11 points, including two of BYU’s six made threes.
Richie Saunders also chipped in with 10 points, six boards, and a steal, rounding out a trio of double-figure scorers for the Cougars.
If BYU is going to flip the script this time around, they’ll need more of that kind of production - and then some. Houston’s calling card is defense, and they bring it every night. The Cougs will have to be sharp, disciplined, and ready to match Houston’s physicality from the opening tip.
Historically, BYU’s lone home win over Houston came way back on December 4, 1965 - and it was a memorable one. Dick Nemelka lit up the scoreboard for 39 points on an eye-popping 18-of-23 shooting performance, leading BYU to a 111-82 win. The Cougars shot 57% from the field that night, a number that would be tough to replicate against this year’s Houston defense, but the blueprint is there: efficient shooting, aggressive play, and a little Marriott Center magic.
Saturday’s game is more than just a battle between two ranked teams - it’s a chance for BYU to make a statement in their new conference home. They’ve already shown they belong in the Big 12 conversation. A win over a top-10 opponent like Houston would take that conversation to another level.