Thursday, January 31
Charlotte, NC
6 p.m.
Rice University
-913, 45 CUSA
65
at
61
Charlotte
-516, 28 CUSA
1
2
F
Rice
37
28
65
Charlotte
26
35
61
Photo by: Maria Lysaker - Rice
Late Run Fuels Rice to 65-61 Victory at Charlotte
1/31/2019 10:05:00 PM | Men's Basketball
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Rice closed the game on a 12-3 run to turn a five-point deficit into a 65-61 victory at Charlotte, Thursday night at Halton Arena.
What Scott Pera Had to Say
"Any win is a good win, obviously. A lot of credit goes to Charlotte for responding at the start of the second half. But, I'm really proud of our kids' response down the stretch. That's where we have struggled before. I'm going to say it for the third time. Our point guard played at the end of the game and what a difference it made. Defensively, we really locked down. Boy, that's a heck of a win for us and I'm thrilled."
The Story
Rice started the game hitting four of its first five three-pointers. With Charlotte leading 10-6, the Owls went on a 15-3 run to take a 21-13 lead, eight minutes into the game. Charlotte pulled within three-points, but Rice pushed its lead out to 28-20. After back-to-back baskets by the 49ers, Rice went on a 7-0 run to take its largest lead of the half, 35-24, with 2:52 to play in the half. The teams then traded a pair of free throws to close the half as Rice took a 37-26 lead at the break. The teams traded baskets in the first three minutes of the second half. However, Charlotte went on a 19-4 run to take its largest lead of the game, 50-45, with 8:14 to play. After the teams traded a pair of free throws, Trey Murphy III and Robert Martin hit back-to-back threes to give Rice a 53-52. The 49ers scored six straight to take a 58-53 lead with 3:41 to play. But, that's when the Rice defense clamped down. Ako Adams made one-of-two free throws and after a Jon Davis. Adams and Josh Parrish then tied the game with layups around a Jon Davis turnover. Charlotte missed another three, but Adams didn't, giving Rice the lead for good with 1:14 to play. Martin and Adams each made a pair of free throws to close it out.
The Stats
Rice shot just 38.5% from the field but was 11-of-22 (50.0%) from three. Charlotte shot 46.0% from the floor but was held to just 24.0% from three. Rice also outrebounded the 49ers, 36-to-28 while connecting on 73.7% from the free throw line.
Notes
• Rice improved to 9-13 on the year and 4-5 in Conference USA.
• Rice is 6-4 all-time against Charlotte and 3-1 in games played in Charlotte.
• The Owls have won the last four games in the series, the longest streak in the series.
• The 11-point halftime lead was Rice's largest of the season.
• Rice connected on 11 three-pointers, the ninth time this year it made at least 10 three-pointers.
• Ako Adams led Rice with 16 points and a team-leading four assists.
• Robert Martin scored 15 points and grabbed seven rebounds.
• Trey Murphy 12 points on four-of-five three-pointers and recorded a career-high three steals.
• Murphy III now has 45 three-pointers on the year, passing Max Guercy (2012-12) and tying him with Connor Cashaw (2015-16) for fifth on the Rice freshman list.
• Jack Williams added a game-high 10 rebounds.
Next Up
Rice closes its road trip this Saturday, Feb. 2, when it travels to Norfolk, Va., to face Old Dominion. Tip-off is scheduled for 6 p.m. CT and the game will be livestreamed by ESPN+.
What Scott Pera Had to Say
"Any win is a good win, obviously. A lot of credit goes to Charlotte for responding at the start of the second half. But, I'm really proud of our kids' response down the stretch. That's where we have struggled before. I'm going to say it for the third time. Our point guard played at the end of the game and what a difference it made. Defensively, we really locked down. Boy, that's a heck of a win for us and I'm thrilled."
The Story
Rice started the game hitting four of its first five three-pointers. With Charlotte leading 10-6, the Owls went on a 15-3 run to take a 21-13 lead, eight minutes into the game. Charlotte pulled within three-points, but Rice pushed its lead out to 28-20. After back-to-back baskets by the 49ers, Rice went on a 7-0 run to take its largest lead of the half, 35-24, with 2:52 to play in the half. The teams then traded a pair of free throws to close the half as Rice took a 37-26 lead at the break. The teams traded baskets in the first three minutes of the second half. However, Charlotte went on a 19-4 run to take its largest lead of the game, 50-45, with 8:14 to play. After the teams traded a pair of free throws, Trey Murphy III and Robert Martin hit back-to-back threes to give Rice a 53-52. The 49ers scored six straight to take a 58-53 lead with 3:41 to play. But, that's when the Rice defense clamped down. Ako Adams made one-of-two free throws and after a Jon Davis. Adams and Josh Parrish then tied the game with layups around a Jon Davis turnover. Charlotte missed another three, but Adams didn't, giving Rice the lead for good with 1:14 to play. Martin and Adams each made a pair of free throws to close it out.
The Stats
Rice shot just 38.5% from the field but was 11-of-22 (50.0%) from three. Charlotte shot 46.0% from the floor but was held to just 24.0% from three. Rice also outrebounded the 49ers, 36-to-28 while connecting on 73.7% from the free throw line.
Notes
• Rice improved to 9-13 on the year and 4-5 in Conference USA.
• Rice is 6-4 all-time against Charlotte and 3-1 in games played in Charlotte.
• The Owls have won the last four games in the series, the longest streak in the series.
• The 11-point halftime lead was Rice's largest of the season.
• Rice connected on 11 three-pointers, the ninth time this year it made at least 10 three-pointers.
• Ako Adams led Rice with 16 points and a team-leading four assists.
• Robert Martin scored 15 points and grabbed seven rebounds.
• Trey Murphy 12 points on four-of-five three-pointers and recorded a career-high three steals.
• Murphy III now has 45 three-pointers on the year, passing Max Guercy (2012-12) and tying him with Connor Cashaw (2015-16) for fifth on the Rice freshman list.
• Jack Williams added a game-high 10 rebounds.
Next Up
Rice closes its road trip this Saturday, Feb. 2, when it travels to Norfolk, Va., to face Old Dominion. Tip-off is scheduled for 6 p.m. CT and the game will be livestreamed by ESPN+.
Team Stats
RICE
CHA
FG%
.385
.460
3FG%
.500
.240
FT%
.737
.750
RB
36
28
TO
15
13
STL
6
5
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
15
FGM
5
3FGM
3
FTM
2
Pts
12
FGM
4
3FGM
4
FTM
0
Pts
9
FGM
3
3FGM
0
FTM
3
Players Mentioned
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