KANSAS CITY, Mo. (Interstat) — A high-stakes rematch between two teams sharing the Cougars nickname will tip off Thursday at the T-Mobile Center when BYU faces fifth-ranked Houston in a men’s NCAA Division I basketball clash.

Houston (26-5), the tournament’s top seed, enters as a heavy favorite, having defeated BYU 77-66 in Provo just over a month ago on Feb. 7. Interstat’s ELO system gives Houston an 81.8% probability to win, and oddsmakers have installed the home-team Cougars as an 8.5-point favorite with an over/under of 147.5.

BYU (22-10) arrives with momentum from a 68-48 road victory at West Virginia on Wednesday, led by star freshman AJ Dybantsa’s 27 points. Dybantsa has been on a torrid scoring pace, averaging 28.1 points over his last nine games, including a 40-point outburst against Kansas State on March 10. His play will be critical for BYU’s hopes of an upset.

Houston, which last played on March 7 in an 82-75 win at Oklahoma State, counters with its trademark stifling defense. Guard Chase McCarty provided a spark off the bench in that contest, scoring 20 points in 22 minutes. His recent scoring surge, including double-figure outings in two of his last three games, adds another weapon to a deep Houston roster that features consistent contributors like Joseph Tugler and Kingston Flemings.

The game is a contrast in styles: BYU’s high-powered offense, which has topped 100 points twice in March, against Houston’s elite, physically demanding defense. BYU will need to solve Houston’s pressure and limit turnovers, a task it failed in the February meeting. For Houston, containing Dybantsa while exploiting its interior advantages will be key.

Tipoff is set for Thursday, March 12, at T-Mobile Center in Kansas City.