Friday, December 21
Tudor Fieldhouse
7 p.m.
Rice University
5-8
66
vs
83
Nebraska-Omaha
6-7
1
2
F
Omaha
32
51
83
Rice
24
42
66
Photo by: Maria Lysaker - Rice Athletics
Rice Drops Non-Conference Finale to Omaha, 83-66
12/21/2018 9:56:00 PM | Men's Basketball
HOUSTON — Rice shot just 35.1% from the floor as the Owls fell to Omaha, 83-66, in their non-conference finale, Friday night at Tudor Fieldhouse.
What Scott Pera Had to Say
"Give all the credit to Omaha. They're a good offensive team. I thought we gave this away in the first half. We had every opportunity to have a lead at halftime. We just did not play well offensively. Defensively, we actually did play well. We got every shot we wanted. We just could not make a shot. Sometimes it's a make-or-miss game. But, it's a credit to them."
The Story
Rice started off fast, making its first two baskets. However, it made just one of its next eight shots as Omaha went on an 11-3 run to take an 11-7 lead, five minutes into the game. Rice answered, scoring seven of the next nine points to take a 14-13 lead. But, Omaha used a 9-3 lead to retake the lead. The teams then traded baskets. A pair of free throws by Chris Mullins cut the deficit to four, but two straight Mavericks baskets to close the half sent Rice into the break trailing 32-24. After Omaha pushed its lead to 11 in the second half, Rice began to come back. Ako Adams hit a three and Mullins hit a layup to pull within six. The teams then traded baskets over the next two minutes. With Rice trailing, 45-39, Robert Martin made a pair of free throws and Mullins made a layup to get within 45-43. But, Omaha went on a 24-8 run to take its largest lead of the game and put the game away.
The Stats
Rice shot just 35.1% from the field and 25.0% from three. Omaha shot 52.4% from the floor and just 29.4% from three. Omaha outrebounded the Owls, 42-to-33.
Notes
• Rice fell to 5-8 on the year.
• Rice is 1-1 all-time against Omaha. This was the first-ever meeting in Houston
• Rice is 1-4 all-time against the Summit League.
• Rice's 36 three-point attempts were a season-high.
• Chris Mullins led the Owls with 17 points. It was Mullins' seventh straight double-digit game.
• Ako Adams had 13 points and a game-high seven assists
• Robert Martin and Jack Williams both had 12 points and seven rebounds.
• Martin connected on 7-of-10 from the free throw line, tying a career-high.
Next Up
Rice begins Conference USA play next Saturday, Dec. 29, when it hosts North Texas. Tip-off is scheduled for 2 p.m. CT and the game will be livestreamed by the ESPN+.
What Scott Pera Had to Say
"Give all the credit to Omaha. They're a good offensive team. I thought we gave this away in the first half. We had every opportunity to have a lead at halftime. We just did not play well offensively. Defensively, we actually did play well. We got every shot we wanted. We just could not make a shot. Sometimes it's a make-or-miss game. But, it's a credit to them."
The Story
Rice started off fast, making its first two baskets. However, it made just one of its next eight shots as Omaha went on an 11-3 run to take an 11-7 lead, five minutes into the game. Rice answered, scoring seven of the next nine points to take a 14-13 lead. But, Omaha used a 9-3 lead to retake the lead. The teams then traded baskets. A pair of free throws by Chris Mullins cut the deficit to four, but two straight Mavericks baskets to close the half sent Rice into the break trailing 32-24. After Omaha pushed its lead to 11 in the second half, Rice began to come back. Ako Adams hit a three and Mullins hit a layup to pull within six. The teams then traded baskets over the next two minutes. With Rice trailing, 45-39, Robert Martin made a pair of free throws and Mullins made a layup to get within 45-43. But, Omaha went on a 24-8 run to take its largest lead of the game and put the game away.
The Stats
Rice shot just 35.1% from the field and 25.0% from three. Omaha shot 52.4% from the floor and just 29.4% from three. Omaha outrebounded the Owls, 42-to-33.
Notes
• Rice fell to 5-8 on the year.
• Rice is 1-1 all-time against Omaha. This was the first-ever meeting in Houston
• Rice is 1-4 all-time against the Summit League.
• Rice's 36 three-point attempts were a season-high.
• Chris Mullins led the Owls with 17 points. It was Mullins' seventh straight double-digit game.
• Ako Adams had 13 points and a game-high seven assists
• Robert Martin and Jack Williams both had 12 points and seven rebounds.
• Martin connected on 7-of-10 from the free throw line, tying a career-high.
Next Up
Rice begins Conference USA play next Saturday, Dec. 29, when it hosts North Texas. Tip-off is scheduled for 2 p.m. CT and the game will be livestreamed by the ESPN+.
Team Stats
OMAHA
RICE
FG%
.524
.351
3FG%
.294
.250
FT%
.750
.739
RB
42
33
TO
8
9
STL
0
4
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
17
FGM
5
3FGM
1
FTM
6
Pts
12
FGM
2
3FGM
1
FTM
7
Pts
12
FGM
4
3FGM
2
FTM
2
Players Mentioned
F
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