Men’s Basketball Meets Michigan in Exhibition Game on Oct. 25

HOUSTON – The University of Houston Men's Basketball program will meet defending national champion Michigan in an exhibition game during The Battleground 2k26 inside Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids, Michigan on Oct. 25, event organizers announced Tuesday.

Fans can purchase The Battleground 2k26 tickets starting Friday morning.

Game time and broadcasting network will be announced soon.

Graduate forward Delrecco Gillespie returns to his home state. The Benton Harbor, Mich., native, who joined the Cougars this summer following an award-winning four-year career at Kent State, will play only 80 miles from his hometown.

SERIES HISTORY vs. MICHIGAN
Michigan holds a 2-1 lead against Houston in the series history which began during the 1961-62 season.

The Wolverines won each of the first two games in the series before the fifth-ranked Cougars claimed a 91-65 win in Houston on Jan. 2, 1968

In the most recent encounter, Michigan took a 64-63 win on Jordan Poole's shot at the buzzer inside INTRUST Bank Arena in Wichita, Kan., on March 17, 2018, to advance to the NCAA Tournament Sweet 16.

ABOUT the COUGARS
Forward Joseph Tugler 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.

After 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 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.

Junior guard Mercy Miller, sophomore forward Chase McCarty and sophomore guard Kordel Jefferson 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.

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

That veteran group will be joined by an eight-man newcomer class with freshman guard Ikenna Aloze, freshman center Arafan Diané, freshman center Djafar Silimana, junior forward Braden East, graduate guard Corey Hadnot II, graduate forward Delrecco Gillespie, senior guard Dedan Thomas Jr., freshman guard Tyus Thomas and graduate guard Chendall Weaver.

BUY TICKETS
Non-season ticket holders interested in purchasing season tickets are invited to place their names on the Season Ticket Wait List by clicking here.

SUPPORT YOUR COOGS
Fans can make a direct impact on the success of Houston Men's Basketball by providing NIL opportunities and by joining the 50-50 Club, which provides financial support directly to Houston Men's Basketball for needs beyond its operating budget.

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.

STAY CONNECTED
Fans can receive updates by following @UHCougarMBK 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 or by visiting the team's Instagram page at UHCougarMBK.

– UHCougars.com –

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