Tuesday, November 12
Natchitoches, LA
6:30 p.m.
Rice University
-31,00 CUSA
80
at
74
Northwestern State
1-2,0-0Southlan
1
2
F
Rice
30
50
80
Northwestern St.
38
36
74
Second Half Surge Sends Rice to 80-74 Victory at Northwestern State
11/12/2019 9:42:00 PM | Men's Basketball
NATCHITOCHES, La. — Rice shot 48.3% in the second half and 56.3% from three as Rice turned an eight-point halftime deficit into an 80-74 victory, Tuesday night at Prather Coliseum.
The Story
Rice missed its first seven shots of the game as Northwestern State built an 8-0 lead. Drew Peterson got Rice on the board, converting a three-point play and sending Rice on a 7-0 run to cut the deficit to one. However, NSU responded with a 7-0 run of its own. After trading baskets, the Demons took a 10-point lead. But Rice scored seven of the next nine points off three-pointers by Trey Murphy III and Peterson to get the Owls within 25-21. Northwestern State, however, went on a 10-1 run to take its largest lead of the game, 35-22, with 4:46 to play in the half. Rice closed the half on an 8-3 run, trailing 38-30 at the break. Rice came out in the second half a different team, starting the half on a 14-4 run, capped off by Ako Adams' three-pointer to give Rice its first lead of the game, 43-42, 4:24 into the half. NSU scored eight of the next 12 points to take a three-point lead. But Murphy hit three free throws and then slammed home a putback dunk to give Rice the lead for good. Murphy and Payton Moore then heated up, combining for five three-pointers as Rice took a 10-point lead. The Demons pulled within four, but Murphy and Adams sealed it at the line, connecting on seven-of-eight free throws down the stretch.
The Stats
Rice shot 40.0% from both the field and from three. Northwestern State connected on 42.6% from the floor and 40.0% from three. Rice outrebounded NSU 37-to-36 and connected on 75.0% from the free throw line. Rice also scored 21 points off 14 Northwestern State turnovers.
What Scott Pera Had to Say
"I'm really proud of our guys. They showed tremendous resolve to deal with the adversity we dealt with in the first half. Things weren't going our way offensively. (Northwestern State) came out with a bounce in their step on their home floor. But to come back the way we did (and) get the lead, play with the lead and then handle it down the stretch the way we did. It was just a tremendous team road win for Rice tonight."
Notes
• Rice improves to 3-1 on the year.
• This was the fourth straight year that the teams have met and the ninth meeting all-time. Rice is 9-0 in the series.
• The 9-0 mark is Rice's longest active unbeaten streak without a loss against a Division I opponent.
• This was just the second meeting in Natchitoches. Rice has won both meetings.
• Rice recorded 18 assists on 24 made baskets.
• Rice's 14 three-pointers were the most since hitting 14 against Northwestern State on Nov. 17, 2018 and are tied for the sixth-most in school history.
• Rice's 10 steals are tied for the most under head coach Scott Pera.
• Trey Murphy III set a career-high with 25 points while tying his career-high with five three-pointers. He also grabbed six rebounds and had three steals.
• Drew Peterson scored 15 points, tied a career-high with eight rebounds and had three assists.
• Ako Adams scored 14 points and had a game-high five assists.
• Adams' five assists give him 238 in his career, passing Brent Scott (1989-93) for 17th-place in school history.
• Adams also hit three, three-pointers, giving him 155 in his career to move past Morris Almond (2003-07) and Marvin Moore (1989-93) for 11th-place in school history.
• Payton Moore tied a career-high with 10 points and set a career-high with three, three-pointers.
• Robert Martin added eight points and seven rebounds.
Next Up
Rice closes its road trip this Saturday, Nov. 16 when it travels to Santa Barbara, Calif., to UC Santa Barbara. Tip-off is scheduled for 4 p.m. and the game will be livestreamed by BigWest.tv.
The Story
Rice missed its first seven shots of the game as Northwestern State built an 8-0 lead. Drew Peterson got Rice on the board, converting a three-point play and sending Rice on a 7-0 run to cut the deficit to one. However, NSU responded with a 7-0 run of its own. After trading baskets, the Demons took a 10-point lead. But Rice scored seven of the next nine points off three-pointers by Trey Murphy III and Peterson to get the Owls within 25-21. Northwestern State, however, went on a 10-1 run to take its largest lead of the game, 35-22, with 4:46 to play in the half. Rice closed the half on an 8-3 run, trailing 38-30 at the break. Rice came out in the second half a different team, starting the half on a 14-4 run, capped off by Ako Adams' three-pointer to give Rice its first lead of the game, 43-42, 4:24 into the half. NSU scored eight of the next 12 points to take a three-point lead. But Murphy hit three free throws and then slammed home a putback dunk to give Rice the lead for good. Murphy and Payton Moore then heated up, combining for five three-pointers as Rice took a 10-point lead. The Demons pulled within four, but Murphy and Adams sealed it at the line, connecting on seven-of-eight free throws down the stretch.
The Stats
Rice shot 40.0% from both the field and from three. Northwestern State connected on 42.6% from the floor and 40.0% from three. Rice outrebounded NSU 37-to-36 and connected on 75.0% from the free throw line. Rice also scored 21 points off 14 Northwestern State turnovers.
What Scott Pera Had to Say
"I'm really proud of our guys. They showed tremendous resolve to deal with the adversity we dealt with in the first half. Things weren't going our way offensively. (Northwestern State) came out with a bounce in their step on their home floor. But to come back the way we did (and) get the lead, play with the lead and then handle it down the stretch the way we did. It was just a tremendous team road win for Rice tonight."
Notes
• Rice improves to 3-1 on the year.
• This was the fourth straight year that the teams have met and the ninth meeting all-time. Rice is 9-0 in the series.
• The 9-0 mark is Rice's longest active unbeaten streak without a loss against a Division I opponent.
• This was just the second meeting in Natchitoches. Rice has won both meetings.
• Rice recorded 18 assists on 24 made baskets.
• Rice's 14 three-pointers were the most since hitting 14 against Northwestern State on Nov. 17, 2018 and are tied for the sixth-most in school history.
• Rice's 10 steals are tied for the most under head coach Scott Pera.
• Trey Murphy III set a career-high with 25 points while tying his career-high with five three-pointers. He also grabbed six rebounds and had three steals.
• Drew Peterson scored 15 points, tied a career-high with eight rebounds and had three assists.
• Ako Adams scored 14 points and had a game-high five assists.
• Adams' five assists give him 238 in his career, passing Brent Scott (1989-93) for 17th-place in school history.
• Adams also hit three, three-pointers, giving him 155 in his career to move past Morris Almond (2003-07) and Marvin Moore (1989-93) for 11th-place in school history.
• Payton Moore tied a career-high with 10 points and set a career-high with three, three-pointers.
• Robert Martin added eight points and seven rebounds.
Next Up
Rice closes its road trip this Saturday, Nov. 16 when it travels to Santa Barbara, Calif., to UC Santa Barbara. Tip-off is scheduled for 4 p.m. and the game will be livestreamed by BigWest.tv.
Team Stats
RICE
NW
FG%
.400
.426
3FG%
.400
.400
FT%
.750
.833
RB
37
36
TO
12
14
STL
10
5
Game Leaders
Pts
25
FGM
7
3FGM
5
FTM
6
Pts
15
FGM
6
3FGM
1
FTM
2
Pts
10
FGM
3
3FGM
3
FTM
1
Players Mentioned
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