Home advantage, improved facilities helps UH athletics succeed

Fans across all sports have shown up for UH athletics in recent years. | Kathryn Lenihan/The CougarStudents, alumni and fans, totaling over 7,000, packed the virgin Fertitta Center on Dec. 1, 2018 to welcome a competitive basketball game for the first time since its renovation from Hofheinz Pavilion. Houston, then unranked, struck down the No. 18 Oregon Ducks 65-61.

The $60 million arena, which will be used by the basketball and volleyball teams, roared and shook in its inaugural game, spurring UH to its 23rd home win in a row at that time.

It would not be until March 2, 2019 that the Cougars would suffer their first loss in the refurbished arena 69-64 at the hands of UCF, ending the nation’s…