Monday, November 12
Tudor Fieldhouse
7 p.m.
Rice University
2-1
73
vs
59
Alabama A&M
0-3
1
2
F
Alabama A&M
26
33
59
Rice
36
37
73
Photo by: Maria Lysaker-Rice Athletics
Ako Adams Leads Rice Past Alabama A&M, 73-59
11/12/2018 10:46:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Adams sets career-highs with 22 points and seven rebounds
HOUSTON — Sophomore Ako Adams set career-highs with 22 points and seven rebounds to lead Rice past Alabama A&M in the opening game of the Men Against Breast Cancer Main Event.
What Scott Pera Had to Say
"I'm really, really proud of how we finished that game. This team is showing signs now through these first three games that they are handling things better with a lead down the stretch. (We were) really locked in defensively and I'm proud of our defensive effort tonight. (Alabama A&M shot) 35.9% from the floor and 20.0% from three and held them to 59 points. If you do that, no matter what happens on offense, you're going to have a chance to win."
The Story
Rice got off to a strong start, making five of its first seven shots to get out to a 13-4 lead four minutes into the game. Alabama A&M pulled within four points, but a 10-3 run extended Rice's lead to 25-14. The Owls took its largest lead of the first half at 32-19 with 3:49 to play before entering halftime with a 36-26 lead.
The Turning Point
The Bulldogs started the second half strong, hitting eight of their first 11 shots to pull within 47-44. Rice pushed its lead to eight. But a 7-2 Alabama A&M run cut the lead to 58-55 with 6:28 to play. After Adams hit a three and AAMU's Jalen Reeder made a layup, the Owls clamped down on defense, allowing just a pair of free throws over the final six minutes to put the game away.
The Stats
Graduate transfer Jack Williams scored 13 points and grabbed six rebounds. Junior Robert Martin scored 13 points and pulled down five rebounds.
Notes
• Rice improved to 2-1 on the year.
• This was the first-ever meeting between Rice and Alabama A&M.
• Rice improved to 24-3 all-time against the Southwestern Athletic Conference.
• Ako Adams set career-highs with 22 points and seven rebounds while tying his career-high with seven field goals and five three-pointers.
• Jack Williams scored 13 points for the third straight game while grabbing six rebounds.
• Robert Martin scored 13 points and grabbed five rebounds.
• Drew Peterson pulled down a game-high seven rebounds.
• Josh Parrish became the first Rice player with five blocks since Marquez Letcher-Ellis had five at Houston Baptist on Dec. 3, 2015.
• Rice shot 56.8% from the field, its highest since connecting on 58.3% at Southern Miss on Jan. 18, 2018.
• Rice made 10 three-pointers, its most since making 10 against UTEP on Mar. 1, 2018.
• Rice allowed Alabama A&M to hit just 20.0% (5-of-25) from three, its lowest allowed since San Francisco hit just 18.9% (7-of-37) in the first round of the College Basketball Invitational on Mar. 15, 2017.
Next Up
Rice will play the second game of the Men Against Breast Cancer Cougar Cup this Wednesday, Nov. 14, when it faces Houston at H&PE Arena on the campus of Texas Southern. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. and the game will be livestreamed by ESPN3.
What Scott Pera Had to Say
"I'm really, really proud of how we finished that game. This team is showing signs now through these first three games that they are handling things better with a lead down the stretch. (We were) really locked in defensively and I'm proud of our defensive effort tonight. (Alabama A&M shot) 35.9% from the floor and 20.0% from three and held them to 59 points. If you do that, no matter what happens on offense, you're going to have a chance to win."
The Story
Rice got off to a strong start, making five of its first seven shots to get out to a 13-4 lead four minutes into the game. Alabama A&M pulled within four points, but a 10-3 run extended Rice's lead to 25-14. The Owls took its largest lead of the first half at 32-19 with 3:49 to play before entering halftime with a 36-26 lead.
The Turning Point
The Bulldogs started the second half strong, hitting eight of their first 11 shots to pull within 47-44. Rice pushed its lead to eight. But a 7-2 Alabama A&M run cut the lead to 58-55 with 6:28 to play. After Adams hit a three and AAMU's Jalen Reeder made a layup, the Owls clamped down on defense, allowing just a pair of free throws over the final six minutes to put the game away.
The Stats
Graduate transfer Jack Williams scored 13 points and grabbed six rebounds. Junior Robert Martin scored 13 points and pulled down five rebounds.
Notes
• Rice improved to 2-1 on the year.
• This was the first-ever meeting between Rice and Alabama A&M.
• Rice improved to 24-3 all-time against the Southwestern Athletic Conference.
• Ako Adams set career-highs with 22 points and seven rebounds while tying his career-high with seven field goals and five three-pointers.
• Jack Williams scored 13 points for the third straight game while grabbing six rebounds.
• Robert Martin scored 13 points and grabbed five rebounds.
• Drew Peterson pulled down a game-high seven rebounds.
• Josh Parrish became the first Rice player with five blocks since Marquez Letcher-Ellis had five at Houston Baptist on Dec. 3, 2015.
• Rice shot 56.8% from the field, its highest since connecting on 58.3% at Southern Miss on Jan. 18, 2018.
• Rice made 10 three-pointers, its most since making 10 against UTEP on Mar. 1, 2018.
• Rice allowed Alabama A&M to hit just 20.0% (5-of-25) from three, its lowest allowed since San Francisco hit just 18.9% (7-of-37) in the first round of the College Basketball Invitational on Mar. 15, 2017.
Next Up
Rice will play the second game of the Men Against Breast Cancer Cougar Cup this Wednesday, Nov. 14, when it faces Houston at H&PE Arena on the campus of Texas Southern. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. and the game will be livestreamed by ESPN3.
Team Stats
AAMU
RICE
FG%
.359
.568
3FG%
.200
.400
FT%
.615
.591
RB
30
36
TO
10
18
STL
9
6
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
13
FGM
2
3FGM
2
FTM
7
Pts
13
FGM
6
3FGM
1
FTM
0
Pts
8
FGM
3
3FGM
1
FTM
1
Players Mentioned
F
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's Basketball
G/F
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