Saturday, January 5
Tudor Fieldhouse
2 p.m.
Rice University
-79, 21 CUSA
78
vs
66
Louisiana Tech
-115, 12 CUSA
1
2
F
Louisiana Tech
33
33
66
Rice
30
48
78
Photo by: Maria Lysaker - Rice Athletics
Late Run Lifts Men's Hoops Past Louisiana Tech, 78-66
1/5/2019 5:33:00 PM | Men's Basketball
HOUSTON — Rice closed the final 4:26 on a 17-4 run to defeat Louisiana Tech, 78-66, Saturday afternoon at Tudor Fieldhouse.
What Scott Pera Had to Say
"One of the things that was a defining thing in this game was consistency, especially defensively. I'm just really proud of our kids how they dug in, again, in the second half. (Louisiana Tech) had the lead in the half. The zone messed us up a little bit toward the end of the half. We made adjustments at halftime (and) we executed tremendously. We got them out of the zone and back to playing man. We were very confident that we could score. But, it was just a complete team effort, from Jack (Williams') double-double, to Josh (Parrish's) huge rebounds and block shot, to Rob (Martin), Jack and Ako (Adams) all hitting a three late. It was just a total team effort. That's what it takes to win at this level and in this conference. This is a big win for us for many reasons and I'm very, very happy and proud of our guys."
The Story
Rice controlled the game early, jumping out to a quick 7-2 lead. The teams then traded baskets before the Owls went on an 8-3 run to take its largest lead of the half, 19-11, 6:24 into the game. They traded baskets with La Tech hitting a pair of three-pointers before Quentin Millora-Brown made a layup to push Rice's lead to 23-17 with 10:43 to play in the half. However, Rice was held scoreless over the next 5:40 as the Bulldogs went on an 8-0 run to take their first lead of the game at 25-23. The teams went back-and-forth over the next four minutes before La Tech went into halftime with a 33-30 lead. Rice began the second half on an 18-7 run to take a 48-40 lead six minutes in. However, Louisiana Tech responded, scoring 10 of the next 12 points to tie the game at 50 just four minutes later. The teams traded leads over the next eight minutes. But, with La Tech leading 62-61 with 4:26 to play, Jack Williams hit a three-pointer that gave Rice the lead for good as the Owls stepped up its defense. Ako Adams followed with a three of his own and after the Bulldogs hit two free throws to pull within five, Robert Martin connected on a three with 1:10 to play, sealing the game.
The Stats
Rice shot 41.5% from the field and 44.0% from three. Louisiana Tech shot 41.9% from the floor and just 23.1% from three. The Owls connected on a season-high 86.7% from the free throw line and outrebounded the Bulldogs, 45-to-32.
Notes
• Rice improved to 7-9 on the year and 2-1 in Conference USA.
• Rice is 7-15 all-time against Louisiana Tech and 4-7 in games played in Houston.
• Rice has won the last two home games against Louisiana Tech, the first time in the series that that has happened.
• Rice has won two straight games and two straight conference games for the first time since Feb. 23-Mar. 2, 2017.
• It is also the first time that Rice swept a home weekend since Feb. 23-25, 2017, also against Southern Miss and Louisiana Tech.
• The 12-point scoring margin was Rice's largest in conference since defeating UTSA, 80-68, on Feb. 16, 2017.
• The Owls connected on 11 three-pointers, the sixth time this year they hit double-figures.
• Rice outrebounded the Bulldogs by 13, its largest rebounding margin this season.
• Rice committed a season-low seven turnovers.
• Ako Adams led Rice with a team-high 16 points.
• Jack Williams recorded his second straight double-double and third of the year, scoring 15 points and grabbing a season-high 11 rebounds.
• It was also his fifth career double-double.
• Chris Mullins scored 15 points, grabbed five rebounds and set a career-high with six assists.
• It is his 10th straight game in double-figures.
• Robert Martin scored 11 points.
• Martin was four-of-four from the free throw line. He has now connected on 21 straight free throws, the longest streak since Egor Koulechov hit 23 straight from Feb. 25-Mar. 15, 2017.
Next Up
Rice begins a three-game road trip next Thursday, Jan. 10, when it travels to San Antonio to face UTSA. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. CT and the game will be livestreamed by ESPN+.
What Scott Pera Had to Say
"One of the things that was a defining thing in this game was consistency, especially defensively. I'm just really proud of our kids how they dug in, again, in the second half. (Louisiana Tech) had the lead in the half. The zone messed us up a little bit toward the end of the half. We made adjustments at halftime (and) we executed tremendously. We got them out of the zone and back to playing man. We were very confident that we could score. But, it was just a complete team effort, from Jack (Williams') double-double, to Josh (Parrish's) huge rebounds and block shot, to Rob (Martin), Jack and Ako (Adams) all hitting a three late. It was just a total team effort. That's what it takes to win at this level and in this conference. This is a big win for us for many reasons and I'm very, very happy and proud of our guys."
The Story
Rice controlled the game early, jumping out to a quick 7-2 lead. The teams then traded baskets before the Owls went on an 8-3 run to take its largest lead of the half, 19-11, 6:24 into the game. They traded baskets with La Tech hitting a pair of three-pointers before Quentin Millora-Brown made a layup to push Rice's lead to 23-17 with 10:43 to play in the half. However, Rice was held scoreless over the next 5:40 as the Bulldogs went on an 8-0 run to take their first lead of the game at 25-23. The teams went back-and-forth over the next four minutes before La Tech went into halftime with a 33-30 lead. Rice began the second half on an 18-7 run to take a 48-40 lead six minutes in. However, Louisiana Tech responded, scoring 10 of the next 12 points to tie the game at 50 just four minutes later. The teams traded leads over the next eight minutes. But, with La Tech leading 62-61 with 4:26 to play, Jack Williams hit a three-pointer that gave Rice the lead for good as the Owls stepped up its defense. Ako Adams followed with a three of his own and after the Bulldogs hit two free throws to pull within five, Robert Martin connected on a three with 1:10 to play, sealing the game.
The Stats
Rice shot 41.5% from the field and 44.0% from three. Louisiana Tech shot 41.9% from the floor and just 23.1% from three. The Owls connected on a season-high 86.7% from the free throw line and outrebounded the Bulldogs, 45-to-32.
Notes
• Rice improved to 7-9 on the year and 2-1 in Conference USA.
• Rice is 7-15 all-time against Louisiana Tech and 4-7 in games played in Houston.
• Rice has won the last two home games against Louisiana Tech, the first time in the series that that has happened.
• Rice has won two straight games and two straight conference games for the first time since Feb. 23-Mar. 2, 2017.
• It is also the first time that Rice swept a home weekend since Feb. 23-25, 2017, also against Southern Miss and Louisiana Tech.
• The 12-point scoring margin was Rice's largest in conference since defeating UTSA, 80-68, on Feb. 16, 2017.
• The Owls connected on 11 three-pointers, the sixth time this year they hit double-figures.
• Rice outrebounded the Bulldogs by 13, its largest rebounding margin this season.
• Rice committed a season-low seven turnovers.
• Ako Adams led Rice with a team-high 16 points.
• Jack Williams recorded his second straight double-double and third of the year, scoring 15 points and grabbing a season-high 11 rebounds.
• It was also his fifth career double-double.
• Chris Mullins scored 15 points, grabbed five rebounds and set a career-high with six assists.
• It is his 10th straight game in double-figures.
• Robert Martin scored 11 points.
• Martin was four-of-four from the free throw line. He has now connected on 21 straight free throws, the longest streak since Egor Koulechov hit 23 straight from Feb. 25-Mar. 15, 2017.
Next Up
Rice begins a three-game road trip next Thursday, Jan. 10, when it travels to San Antonio to face UTSA. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. CT and the game will be livestreamed by ESPN+.
Team Stats
TECH
RICE
FG%
.419
.415
3FG%
.231
.440
FT%
.615
.867
RB
32
45
TO
8
7
STL
1
4
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
15
FGM
5
3FGM
1
FTM
4
Pts
15
FGM
6
3FGM
3
FTM
0
Pts
11
FGM
3
3FGM
1
FTM
4
Players Mentioned
F
/ Men's Basketball
F
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's BasketballF
/ Men's BasketballWBB: Rice vs. Marshall Postgame Presser
Wednesday, March 09
VB: Rice-Texas Postgame Presser
Saturday, December 04
VB: Rice-San Diego Postgame Presser
Thursday, December 02