Thursday, December 13
Tudor Fieldhouse
11:15 a.m.
Rice University
4-6
78
vs
73
St. Edward's
1
2
F
St. Edward's
30
43
73
Rice
31
47
78
Photo by: Maria Lysaker - Rice Athletics
Mullins’ Career Day Leads Rice Past St. Edward’s on Kid’s Day
12/13/2018 2:57:00 PM | Men's Basketball
HOUSTON — Chris Mullins scored a career-high 24 points, including the game-winning free throws with less than a minute to play, as Rice defeated St. Edward's, 78-73, Thursday afternoon on its annual Kid's Day.
What Scott Pera Had to Say
"I'm really pleased with how we defended down the stretch. We got multiple stops when we had to have them. Our guys really dug in, in a situation where we had not played very good defense most of the second half. (St. Edward's) was really taking it to us and getting the shots they wanted. For our guys to really dig their heels in and get the stops they needed; obviously, Chris (Mullins) made a huge play. Jack (Williams) played great post defense at the end and made some big free throws. A lot of credit goes to them. They are a very good team. We knew that coming in so we're happy with the win."
The Story
St. Edward's scored the game's first seven points before Rice answered with seven straight of its own. A few minutes later, the Owls used an 8-0 run to take its first lead of the game at 17-14. After trading baskets, Rice went on a 10-1 run to take its largest lead of the game, 30-20. But, SEU closed the have on its own 10-1 run as Rice went into halftime leading, 31-30. With the game tied at 47 just over five minutes into the second half, St. Edward's went on a 9-2 run to take its largest lead of the game, 56-49, midway through the second half. But, Rice slowly began to chip away. It scored eight of the next nine points to pull within one. After an SEU three, Jack Williams made a pair of free throws. Another Hilltopper three pushed their lead to five. But, Rice scored five straight to tie the game at 64 with 5:30 to play. The teams traded baskets over the next three minutes. With SEU leading 73-71. Chris miss by Mullins tied the game with a layup and then gave Rice the lead for good with a pair of free throws. After a miss by St. Edward's, Mullins missed a jumper, but Williams got the tip-in with 10 seconds left to seal the victory.
The Stats
Rice shot just 44.6% from the field and 33.3% from three. St. Edward's hit 47.5% from the floor and 37.5% from three. Rice also outrebounded the Hilltoppers, 36-to-29.
Notes
• Rice improved to 4-6 on the year.
• Rice is 7-0 all-time against St. Edward's. All seven games have been played in Houston.
• Rice has won its last 10 games against non-Division I opponents.
• Rice connected on a season-high 80.8% from the free throw line. It was the first time shooting over 80.0% from the free throw line since connecting on 81.8% at FIU on Feb. 24, 2018.
• The Owls got 33 points from its bench. Their bench has outscored the opponents in eight of ten games this year.
• Rice committed just 13 fouls, its fewest of the year.
• Chris Mullins scored a career-high 24 points. It was his first career 20-point game.
• Jack Williams tied a career-high with 17 points, all of which came in the second half, and grabbed a team-high eight rebounds.
• Ako Adams scored 10 points and had four rebounds and three assists.
• Robert Martin added seven rebounds.
Next Up
Rice closes the homestand this Saturday, Dec. 15, when it hosts UC Santa Barbara. Tip-off is scheduled for 2 p.m. CT and the game will be livestreamed by ESPN+.
What Scott Pera Had to Say
"I'm really pleased with how we defended down the stretch. We got multiple stops when we had to have them. Our guys really dug in, in a situation where we had not played very good defense most of the second half. (St. Edward's) was really taking it to us and getting the shots they wanted. For our guys to really dig their heels in and get the stops they needed; obviously, Chris (Mullins) made a huge play. Jack (Williams) played great post defense at the end and made some big free throws. A lot of credit goes to them. They are a very good team. We knew that coming in so we're happy with the win."
The Story
St. Edward's scored the game's first seven points before Rice answered with seven straight of its own. A few minutes later, the Owls used an 8-0 run to take its first lead of the game at 17-14. After trading baskets, Rice went on a 10-1 run to take its largest lead of the game, 30-20. But, SEU closed the have on its own 10-1 run as Rice went into halftime leading, 31-30. With the game tied at 47 just over five minutes into the second half, St. Edward's went on a 9-2 run to take its largest lead of the game, 56-49, midway through the second half. But, Rice slowly began to chip away. It scored eight of the next nine points to pull within one. After an SEU three, Jack Williams made a pair of free throws. Another Hilltopper three pushed their lead to five. But, Rice scored five straight to tie the game at 64 with 5:30 to play. The teams traded baskets over the next three minutes. With SEU leading 73-71. Chris miss by Mullins tied the game with a layup and then gave Rice the lead for good with a pair of free throws. After a miss by St. Edward's, Mullins missed a jumper, but Williams got the tip-in with 10 seconds left to seal the victory.
The Stats
Rice shot just 44.6% from the field and 33.3% from three. St. Edward's hit 47.5% from the floor and 37.5% from three. Rice also outrebounded the Hilltoppers, 36-to-29.
Notes
• Rice improved to 4-6 on the year.
• Rice is 7-0 all-time against St. Edward's. All seven games have been played in Houston.
• Rice has won its last 10 games against non-Division I opponents.
• Rice connected on a season-high 80.8% from the free throw line. It was the first time shooting over 80.0% from the free throw line since connecting on 81.8% at FIU on Feb. 24, 2018.
• The Owls got 33 points from its bench. Their bench has outscored the opponents in eight of ten games this year.
• Rice committed just 13 fouls, its fewest of the year.
• Chris Mullins scored a career-high 24 points. It was his first career 20-point game.
• Jack Williams tied a career-high with 17 points, all of which came in the second half, and grabbed a team-high eight rebounds.
• Ako Adams scored 10 points and had four rebounds and three assists.
• Robert Martin added seven rebounds.
Next Up
Rice closes the homestand this Saturday, Dec. 15, when it hosts UC Santa Barbara. Tip-off is scheduled for 2 p.m. CT and the game will be livestreamed by ESPN+.
Team Stats
SEU
RICE
FG%
.475
.446
3FG%
.370
.333
FT%
.625
.808
RB
29
36
TO
14
13
STL
6
8
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
24
FGM
7
3FGM
2
FTM
8
Pts
17
FGM
6
3FGM
1
FTM
4
Pts
8
FGM
4
3FGM
0
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
F
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's BasketballF
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