{"id":846986,"date":"2026-08-07T16:50:16","date_gmt":"2026-08-07T16:50:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/846986\/"},"modified":"2026-08-07T16:50:16","modified_gmt":"2026-08-07T16:50:16","slug":"mens-basketball-meets-alabama-in-jimmy-v-classic-on-december-8","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/846986\/","title":{"rendered":"Men\u2019s Basketball Meets Alabama in Jimmy V Classic on December 8"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"JosephHOUSTON \u2013 The University of Houston Men’s Basketball program will face Alabama inside Madison Square Garden on December 8 during the Jimmy V Classic, event organizers recently announced.
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\nThe Cougars’ showdown against the Crimson Tide will be part of a doubleheader with Duke facing Georgia. It also highlights Jimmy V Week, a week-long initiative across multiple ESPN platforms and programs featuring special content to help raise funds for cancer research.
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\nTickets information and broadcasting\u00a0network will be announced soon.
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\nSERIES HISTORY vs. ALABAMA
\nAlabama holds a 4-3 lead in the series history against the Cougars and has won the last three meetings with each of those games being decided by six or fewer points.<\/p>\n

In the most recent encounter, the Crimson Tide took an 85-80 win in overtime in a battle of two Top-10 teams inside MGM Grand Garden Arena during the first day of the Players Era Festival on November 26, 2024.

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\nThis will be the second meeting against Alabama in Madison Square Garden as the Cougars enjoyed an 82-76 win over the 11th-ranked Crimson Tide during the NIT Semifinals on March 17, 1977.

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\nABOUT the COUGARS

\nForward Joseph Tugler<\/a> 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.

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\nAfter 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\u00a0 Monroe, La., native also was named a finalist for the Naismith National Defensive Player of the Award for presented by MOLECULE and to the Big 12 All-Defensive Team, each for the second straight season.

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\nJunior guard Mercy Miller<\/a>, sophomore forward Chase McCarty<\/a> and sophomore guard Kordel Jefferson<\/a> 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.

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\nJefferson was sidelined by a knee injury early in the season but returns after successful surgery and rehabilitation.

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\nThat veteran group will be joined by an eight-man newcomer class with freshman guard Ikenna Aloze, freshman center Arafan Dian\u00e9, freshman center Djafar Silimana<\/a>, junior forward Braden East<\/a>, graduate guard Corey Hadnot II<\/a>, graduate forward Delrecco Gillespie<\/a>, senior guard Dedan Thomas Jr and freshman guard Tyus Thomas<\/a>.

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\nBUY TICKETS

\nNon-season ticket holders interested in purchasing season tickets are invited to place their names on the Season Ticket Wait List by clicking here.<\/a>

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\nSUPPORT YOUR COOGS

\nFans can make a direct impact on the success of Houston Men’s Basketball by providing NIL opportunities<\/a> and by joining the 50-50 Club<\/a>, which provides financial support directly to Houston Men’s Basketball for needs beyond its operating budget.

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\nFans 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.

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\nSTAY CONNECTED

\nFans can receive updates by following @UHCougarMBK<\/a> 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<\/a> or by visiting the team’s Instagram page at UHCougarMBK<\/a>.

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\u2013 UHCougars.com \u2013<\/p>\n