Dec. 22, 2008

HOUSTON - After posting his first career double-double, University of Houston junior guard Aubrey Coleman was honored Monday as the Conference USA Rookie of the Week.

It was the second time this season that Coleman grabbed the league's weekly award.

The Houston native displayed his versatility in the Cougars' 71-63 win at Toledo on Saturday. Besides scoring 15 points and grabbing a career-high 13 rebounds, Coleman also added seven steals and a pair of assists in a career-high 38 minutes.

With the Cougars leading late, Coleman scored four of the team's final eight points to ice the win.

He ranks second on the team with 16.4 points and 7.0 rebounds per game and is one of only six players in Conference USA to rank among the league's top-15 individual leaders in both categories.

UTEP senior guard Stefon Jackson was honored as the C-USA Player of the Week.

UP NEXT FOR HOUSTON
Coleman and his Cougar teammates return to action at 5 p.m. (CST), Sunday, when they play host to Big 12 Conference member Iowa State. That game also will be a doubleheader with the UH Women's Basketball team, which plays host to Akron, at 2 p.m., Sunday.

One ticket will give fans admission to both games on that day.

Fans can hear the men's basketball game live on 790 AM The Sports Animal with Tom Franklin calling the play-by-play action. The pregame show is slated to begin 10 minutes before tip-off.

Fans always can follow live stats of both games at UHCougars.com by clicking on the GameTracker link.

Iowa State snapped a two-game losing streak with a 66-60 win over Jacksonville State on Saturday and currently owns a 7-3 record. The Cyclones face South Dakota State in Ames, Iowa, on Dec. 23, before traveling to Houston.

MASSACHUSETTS • FAN APPRECIATION DAY
UH director of athletics Dave Maggard announced that the Cougar men's basketball game against Massachusetts was moved to 1 p.m., on Dec. 30, to better assist fans who wished to watch the Cougar Football team face Air Force in the Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl in Fort Worth on the morning of Dec. 31.

In addition, Maggard said that the Cougars' game against UMass would be part of Fan Appreciation Day with FREE admission to all fans. Seating will be available in all areas in which season-ticket holders have not purchased tickets.

UMass has posted a 4-6 record this season as of Dec. 22, including a 61-60 upset at No. 25/23 Kansas on Dec. 13. The Minutemen recently enjoyed a 97-81 win over Hofstra on Saturday and play host to IUPUI on Saturday before facing the Cougars.

HOLIDAY HOOPS AT HOFHEINZ
The Iowa State game and the Cougars' game against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi on Jan. 6 also are a part of "Holiday Hoops at Hofheinz".

For only $2, students of Houston-area ISDs can receive one ticket to either of those games. Students must present a valid ISD ID on game day for the discount.

Tickets also are available in advance at the UH Athletics Tickets Office.