Saturday, January 26
Tudor Fieldhouse
7 p.m.
Rice University
-813, 35 CUSA
86
vs
89
UAB
-147, 62 CUSA
1
2
F
UAB
40
49
89
Rice
39
47
86
Photo by: Maria Lysaker
Comeback Falls Short as Rice Drops Hard-Fought Game to UAB
1/26/2019 10:49:00 PM | Men's Basketball
HOUSTON — Ako Adams' last second three-point attempt bounced off the rim and Rice's comeback attempt came up just short in an 89-86 defeat to UAB, Saturday night at Tudor Fieldhouse.
What Scott Pera Had to Say
"Give UAB all the credit. They came out in the second half and got their offense going. We had a hard time stopping them when they increased the lead. But, I'm really proud of our guys and how they fought back. We really believed that once we got (the deficit) down to one point that we were going to have a chance to win it. But, (UAB) kept making plays. We have to guard better down the stretch. I thought we handled the end of the game very well to give ourselves a chance at the end. But, give the credit to UAB."
The Story
The first half was a back-and-forth affair that saw Rice jump out to a 10-4 lead just four minutes in. UAB rattled off seven straight points to take its first lead of the game, 11-10, 1:12 later. But, Trey Murphy III scored the first 10 points in a 14-6 Rice run as the Owls took its largest lead of the game, 24-16, with 10:37 to play in the half. After trading three-pointers, Rice turned the ball over on three straight possessions as the Blazers scored seven straight points. Rice pushed its lead to four, but UAB scored eight of 10 points to take a 36-34 lead. Rice tied the game and after exchanging free throws, the Blazers hit a three with 35 seconds to play. However, Josh Parrish's driving layup pulled Rice within 40-39 at the half. Rice made just four of its first 12 shots in the second half as UAB opened up a 64-51 lead through the first 10 minutes. But the Owls came storming back. Parrish made three-of-four free throws and Chris Mullins converted a three-point play to pull within seven. After two UAB free throws, Murphy scored 10 of Rice's next 12 points, including three, three-pointers to pull Rice within 70-69 with 6:02 to play. UAB hit a three, but a Quentin Millora-Brown free throw followed by a Mullins jumper brought it back to one. However, five straight Blazer points pushed their lead to six with 3:44 to play and Rice could get no closer than three points the rest of the way.
The Stats
Rice shot 51.9% from the field and 44.4% from three. UAB shot 47.6% from the floor and 47.6% from three. Rice also outrebounded the Blazers, 36-to-29. However, UAB scored 19 points off 13 Rice turnovers while committing just three turnovers.
Notes
• Rice fell to 8-13 on the year and 3-5 in Conference USA.
• Rice is 1-14 all-time against UAB and 1-7 in games played in Houston.
• Rice connected on 12 three-pointers, the eighth time this year it made at least 10 three-pointers.
• Rice placed five players in double-figures for the second time this year (Nov. 17 vs. Northwestern State).
• Trey Murphy III set a career-high with 24 points and five three-pointers, while going a career-best nine-for-nine from the free throw line. It was his first career 20-point game.
• He also tied a career-high with six rebounds.
• Murphy III now has 41 three-pointers on the year, passing Connor Frizzelle (2008-09) and Marvin Moore (1989-90) for seventh on the Rice freshman list.
• Chris Mullins scored 16 points, grabbed five rebounds and had a game-high four assists.
• Mullins has 73 made free throws on the year, passing Frizzelle, Kenny Austin (1979-80) and Anthony DeCello (1977-78) for eighth-place on the Rice freshman list.
• Ako Adams scored 12 points on four three-pointers.
• Quentin Millora-Brown recorded 11 points, a game-high eight rebounds and three blocks.
• Millora-Brown now has 24 blocks on the year, tying him for fifth-place on the school freshman list.
• Robert Martin added 10 points.
• Jack Williams added a game-high eight rebounds.
Next Up
Rice goes back on the road next Thursday, Jan. 31, when it travels to Charlotte. Tip-off is scheduled for 6 p.m. CT and the game will be livestreamed by CUSAtv.
What Scott Pera Had to Say
"Give UAB all the credit. They came out in the second half and got their offense going. We had a hard time stopping them when they increased the lead. But, I'm really proud of our guys and how they fought back. We really believed that once we got (the deficit) down to one point that we were going to have a chance to win it. But, (UAB) kept making plays. We have to guard better down the stretch. I thought we handled the end of the game very well to give ourselves a chance at the end. But, give the credit to UAB."
The Story
The first half was a back-and-forth affair that saw Rice jump out to a 10-4 lead just four minutes in. UAB rattled off seven straight points to take its first lead of the game, 11-10, 1:12 later. But, Trey Murphy III scored the first 10 points in a 14-6 Rice run as the Owls took its largest lead of the game, 24-16, with 10:37 to play in the half. After trading three-pointers, Rice turned the ball over on three straight possessions as the Blazers scored seven straight points. Rice pushed its lead to four, but UAB scored eight of 10 points to take a 36-34 lead. Rice tied the game and after exchanging free throws, the Blazers hit a three with 35 seconds to play. However, Josh Parrish's driving layup pulled Rice within 40-39 at the half. Rice made just four of its first 12 shots in the second half as UAB opened up a 64-51 lead through the first 10 minutes. But the Owls came storming back. Parrish made three-of-four free throws and Chris Mullins converted a three-point play to pull within seven. After two UAB free throws, Murphy scored 10 of Rice's next 12 points, including three, three-pointers to pull Rice within 70-69 with 6:02 to play. UAB hit a three, but a Quentin Millora-Brown free throw followed by a Mullins jumper brought it back to one. However, five straight Blazer points pushed their lead to six with 3:44 to play and Rice could get no closer than three points the rest of the way.
The Stats
Rice shot 51.9% from the field and 44.4% from three. UAB shot 47.6% from the floor and 47.6% from three. Rice also outrebounded the Blazers, 36-to-29. However, UAB scored 19 points off 13 Rice turnovers while committing just three turnovers.
Notes
• Rice fell to 8-13 on the year and 3-5 in Conference USA.
• Rice is 1-14 all-time against UAB and 1-7 in games played in Houston.
• Rice connected on 12 three-pointers, the eighth time this year it made at least 10 three-pointers.
• Rice placed five players in double-figures for the second time this year (Nov. 17 vs. Northwestern State).
• Trey Murphy III set a career-high with 24 points and five three-pointers, while going a career-best nine-for-nine from the free throw line. It was his first career 20-point game.
• He also tied a career-high with six rebounds.
• Murphy III now has 41 three-pointers on the year, passing Connor Frizzelle (2008-09) and Marvin Moore (1989-90) for seventh on the Rice freshman list.
• Chris Mullins scored 16 points, grabbed five rebounds and had a game-high four assists.
• Mullins has 73 made free throws on the year, passing Frizzelle, Kenny Austin (1979-80) and Anthony DeCello (1977-78) for eighth-place on the Rice freshman list.
• Ako Adams scored 12 points on four three-pointers.
• Quentin Millora-Brown recorded 11 points, a game-high eight rebounds and three blocks.
• Millora-Brown now has 24 blocks on the year, tying him for fifth-place on the school freshman list.
• Robert Martin added 10 points.
• Jack Williams added a game-high eight rebounds.
Next Up
Rice goes back on the road next Thursday, Jan. 31, when it travels to Charlotte. Tip-off is scheduled for 6 p.m. CT and the game will be livestreamed by CUSAtv.
Team Stats
UAB
RICE
FG%
.476
.519
3FG%
.476
.444
FT%
.792
.667
RB
29
36
TO
3
13
STL
7
0
Game Leaders
Pts
24
FGM
5
3FGM
5
FTM
9
Pts
16
FGM
6
3FGM
0
FTM
4
Pts
11
FGM
5
3FGM
0
FTM
1
Players Mentioned
F
/ Men's BasketballF
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's Basketball
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/ Men's Basketball
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