Dec. 12, 2008

HOUSTON - The UMass at Houston men's basketball game on Tuesday, Dec. 30 has been moved to a 2 p.m. (ET) start time. It was to start at 8 p.m. (ET) previously. The move was made to allow for Cougars fans to fans attend a Cougar men's basketball game on Dec. 30 and the Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl in Fort Worth the next morning on Dec. 31. Additionally, Houston announced that the UMass men's basketball game will be Fan Appreciation Day with all fans being admitted free of charge.

UH director of athletics Dave Maggard announced Friday that the starting time for the men's basketball game against UMass in Hofheinz Pavilion was changed .

With the Cougar Football team competing against Air Force at Amon G. Carter Stadium on the TCU campus in Fort Worth at 11 a.m., Dec. 31, Maggard and UMass administrators agreed to move the starting time earlier to accommodate fans that wished to attend both events.

Additionally, Maggard announced that the UMass men's basketball game will be Fan Appreciation Day with all fans being admitted free of charge. Seating will be available in all seats that have not been sold to season-ticket holders.

"We always try to have the best interests of our fans at heart," Maggard said. "With men's basketball off to such a great start and football making its fourth straight bowl appearance, we wanted to give our fans a chance to see both teams in action. Hopefully, this game time change and Fan Appreciation Day will help them during a busy and exciting time of year."

This is not the first time that Cougar administrators have adjusted basketball game times to assist fans. The Cougars' men's basketball game against North Texas on Nov. 29 was moved back an hour to help fans attend the regular-season football finale at Conference USA-rival Rice.