Sunday, November 10
Houston, TX
4 p.m.
Rice University
-21,00 CUSA
65
vs
40
Wayland Baptist
0-1
1
2
F
Wayland Baptist
19
21
40
Rice
32
33
65
Photo by: © Maria Lysaker
Defensive Play Leads Rice to 65-40 Victory Over Wayland Baptist
11/10/2019 7:42:00 PM | Men's Basketball
HOUSTON — Rice began strong and never looked back, defeating Wayland Baptist, the No. 3 team in NAIA, 65-40, Sunday afternoon at Tudor Fieldhouse.
The Story
Rice started the game strong defensively, holding the Pioneers to just two points over the first 7:49 as it outscored them, 16-2, including a 12-0 run that was led by three-pointers from Drew Peterson and Chris Mullins. The teams traded baskets over the next four minutes before back-to-back baskets by WBU cut the Rice lead to 10 with 5:44 to play in the half. The teams again traded baskets, but a three-point play by Mullins followed by a Zach Crisler layup pushed Rice's lead to 32-17 before a WBU layup sent Rice into halftime with a 32-19 lead. The second half started off slow with neither team gaining much ground. However, with Rice leading 36-27, it went on a 10-1 run to take a 46-27 lead midway through the second half. Wayland Baptist would not go away, scoring nine straight points to pull within 10 with eight minutes remaining. But the Owls answered, going on a 12-0 run over the next three minutes to take a 58-36 lead and put the game away.
The Stats
Rice shot 41.9% from the field and 26.9% from three. Wayland Baptist was held to just 28.6% from the floor and 18.8% from three. Rice outrebounded the Pioneers, 51-34, and connected on 75.0% from the free throw line.
What Scott Pera Had to Say
"I'm really proud of our guy's defensive intensity today. From the minute they walked into the building this morning until the buzzer sounded, we came with a defensive mentality. That is something that we've been trying to build. You're starting to see more of it. The nights that you don't shoot the ball well, you have to guard. Tonight, we guarded and got just enough of a burst there to run away with it."
Notes
• Rice improves to 2-1 on the year.
• This was the fourth meeting all-time between the Owls and Quakers and the first since 1978. Rice is 4-0 in the series.
• All four have been played in Houston.
• Rice has won its last 11 over non-Division I opponents.
• Rice's 51 rebounds were the most since recording 53 at Marshall on Mar. 2, 2017.
• Trey Murphy III led Rice with 16 points, six rebounds and a career-high four blocks.
• Quincy Olivari scored 10 points.
• Max Fiedler recorded eight points and 12 rebounds. He is the first freshman with back-to-back double-digit rebound games since Sean Obi in 2013-14.
• Robert Martin scored seven points and grabbed 10 rebounds. It is his first double-digit rebound game of the year and the fifth of his career.
• Drew Peterson tied a career-high with four assists.
Next Up
Rice plays the first of two straight road games this Tuesday, Nov. 12 when it travels to Natchitoches, La., to face Northwestern State. Tip-off is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. and the game will be livestreamed by DemonTV.
The Story
Rice started the game strong defensively, holding the Pioneers to just two points over the first 7:49 as it outscored them, 16-2, including a 12-0 run that was led by three-pointers from Drew Peterson and Chris Mullins. The teams traded baskets over the next four minutes before back-to-back baskets by WBU cut the Rice lead to 10 with 5:44 to play in the half. The teams again traded baskets, but a three-point play by Mullins followed by a Zach Crisler layup pushed Rice's lead to 32-17 before a WBU layup sent Rice into halftime with a 32-19 lead. The second half started off slow with neither team gaining much ground. However, with Rice leading 36-27, it went on a 10-1 run to take a 46-27 lead midway through the second half. Wayland Baptist would not go away, scoring nine straight points to pull within 10 with eight minutes remaining. But the Owls answered, going on a 12-0 run over the next three minutes to take a 58-36 lead and put the game away.
The Stats
Rice shot 41.9% from the field and 26.9% from three. Wayland Baptist was held to just 28.6% from the floor and 18.8% from three. Rice outrebounded the Pioneers, 51-34, and connected on 75.0% from the free throw line.
What Scott Pera Had to Say
"I'm really proud of our guy's defensive intensity today. From the minute they walked into the building this morning until the buzzer sounded, we came with a defensive mentality. That is something that we've been trying to build. You're starting to see more of it. The nights that you don't shoot the ball well, you have to guard. Tonight, we guarded and got just enough of a burst there to run away with it."
Notes
• Rice improves to 2-1 on the year.
• This was the fourth meeting all-time between the Owls and Quakers and the first since 1978. Rice is 4-0 in the series.
• All four have been played in Houston.
• Rice has won its last 11 over non-Division I opponents.
• Rice's 51 rebounds were the most since recording 53 at Marshall on Mar. 2, 2017.
• Trey Murphy III led Rice with 16 points, six rebounds and a career-high four blocks.
• Quincy Olivari scored 10 points.
• Max Fiedler recorded eight points and 12 rebounds. He is the first freshman with back-to-back double-digit rebound games since Sean Obi in 2013-14.
• Robert Martin scored seven points and grabbed 10 rebounds. It is his first double-digit rebound game of the year and the fifth of his career.
• Drew Peterson tied a career-high with four assists.
Next Up
Rice plays the first of two straight road games this Tuesday, Nov. 12 when it travels to Natchitoches, La., to face Northwestern State. Tip-off is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. and the game will be livestreamed by DemonTV.
Team Stats
WB
RICE
FG%
.286
.419
3FG%
.188
.269
FT%
.200
.750
RB
34
51
TO
12
15
STL
6
8
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
16
FGM
7
3FGM
2
FTM
0
Pts
10
FGM
4
3FGM
2
FTM
0
Pts
9
FGM
3
3FGM
1
FTM
2
Pts
8
FGM
2
3FGM
0
FTM
4
Players Mentioned
F
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's Basketball
G/F
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