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The Troy Trojans (5-3) will hit the road on Tuesday for their final road game of the 2024 portion of the basketball schedule against the No. 15-ranked Houston Cougars (5-3).

Houston came into 2024-2025 as one of the top-ranked teams in the country and last season, finished the season as the No. 3 team, Big 12 Champions and made it all the way to the Sweet Sixteen. This season, Houston holds wins over Butler, Notre Dame, Texas A&M, Jackson State, Louisiana and Hofstra. The State of Alabama, however, has been an Achilles’ Heel for the Cougars, with both Alabama and Auburn handing Houston losses this season. Houston also lost to San Diego State on Nov. 30.

Meanwhile, Troy holds wins over Toledo, New Orleans, West Georgia, UTSA and Eastern Kentucky, with losses to Merrimack, Arkansas and Oregon.

Troy and Houston have played just one time on the hardwood, a 93-85 Houston win on Dec. 14, 2009. Troy’s Houston connection in that game extends to the bench as assistant coach Kelvin Lewis scored 24 points for the Cougars against Troy in that game.

Houston comes into the matchup with Troy averaging 78.9 points per game and giving up just 58.3 points per game, while out-rebounding opponents 309-260. Troy, on the other hand, is averaging 74.3 points per game, while is opponents average 70.6 points per game. The Trojans have out-rebounded their opponents 278-243 but have turned the ball over an average of 16.8 times per game, compared to forcing 14.8 turnovers per game.

Houston’s leading scorer is CJ Cryer, averaging 15.3 points per game, while Emanuel Sharp averages 14.6 points per game. Leading rebounder J’Wan Robers is averaging 6.9 rebounds per game, while Milo Uzan is averaging five assists per game.

For Troy, Myles Rigsby averages 14 points, two steals, 1.5 assists and four rebounds per game. Tayton Conerway is averaging 10 points, three steals and five assists per game, while Jackson Fields is averaging 8.8 points and Jerrell Bellamy is averaging 8.6 points per game. Dothan sophomore Thomas Dowd is also averaging eight points, five rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.3 steals per game.

The Trojans come into the contest against Houston shooting 47.1 percent from the field, the second best number in the Sun Belt. Troy’s 10.1 steals per game ranks best in the Sun Belt and 14th in the entire country.

Troy is coming off a 84-74 win over Eastern Kentucky, while Houston is coming off a 79-51 win over Butler in the Big 12-Big East Battle last weekend.

Troy and Houston will tipoff at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 10, in a game that will stream live on ESPN+.