Tuesday, November 19
Houston, TX
7 p.m.
Rice University
-42,00 CUSA
89
vs
97
Houston
2-1,0-0AAC
1
2
F
Houston
32
65
97
Rice
39
50
89
Photo by: © Maria Lysaker
Rice Drops Heartbreaker to Houston, 97-89
11/19/2019 11:26:00 PM | Men's Basketball
HOUSTON — Rice led for most of the game, but Houston used a 21-1 run late in the second half to turn a nine-point Rice lead into a 97-89 defeat, Tuesday night at Tudor Fieldhouse.
The Story
Trey Murphy III continued his strong play from last week, scoring the first eight points of the game. Houston scored six of the next nine points, but two Drew Peterson free throws followed by an Ako Adams three-point play gave Rice a 16-8 lead 7:28 into the game. The teams traded baskets over the next two and a half minutes before UH went on a 7-0 run to pull within two points. But the Owls didn't falter, going on a 13-0 run to take their largest lead of the game, 34-19, capped off by a pair of Robert Martin three-pointers. Houston cut it to six with a 9-0 run and the teams traded baskets the rest of the way as Rice went into halftime with a 39-32 lead. Houston came out hot, opening the second half on a 13-5 run to take its first lead of the game, 45-44. The teams then went back-and-forth, exchanging seven leads in the next seven minutes. With the score tied at 59, Peterson took over, connecting on four straight three-pointers to help Rice jump out to a 77-68 lead with 5:50 to play. However, Rice missed its next five shots from the floor and six-of-seven free throws as the Cougars took advantage, going on a 21-1 run over the next five minutes to take their largest lead of the game, 89-78. Rice pulled within six points but could get no closer.
The Stats
Rice shot 45.9% from the field and 41.9% from three. Houston connected on 49.3% from the floor and 50.0% from three. Houston outrebounded the Owls, 47-to-34 and scored 23 second chance points off 16 offensive rebounds.
What Scott Pera Had to Say
"I was really proud of our effort. I thought it was a heck of a college basketball game. But make no mistake. There's no moral victories in the program anymore. We're out here to try to win. We felt coming into the game that we had a chance to win. We played winning basketball for about 34 minutes. To (Houston's) credit, they played better down the stretch. They deserved to win and all the credit goes to them."
Notes
• Rice falls to 4-2 on the year.
• Rice falls to 18-64 against Houston.
• Rice scored at least 50 points in the second half for the second straight game.
• Rice's 11 turnovers were a season low.
• Robert Martin scored a team and season-high 23 points. It was his first 20-point game of the season and the fifth of his career.
• Drew Peterson scored a season-high 16 points on four-of-five three-pointers and grabbed five rebounds.
• Ako Adams scored 16 points.
• Adams connected on two three-pointers, giving him 158 in his career, tying Rodner Foster (2005-09) for 10th-place on Rice's all-time list.
• Chris Mullins tied a season-high with 12 points.
• Trey Murphy III scored 11 points.
• Max Fiedler grabbed a team-high seven rebounds.
Next Up
Rice heads to Nassau, Bahamas for three games at the Islands of the Bahamas Showcase. Rice begins the tournament this Friday, Nov. 22 when it faces Milwaukee. Tip-off is scheduled for 1 p.m. and the game will be livestreamed by FloHoops.
The Story
Trey Murphy III continued his strong play from last week, scoring the first eight points of the game. Houston scored six of the next nine points, but two Drew Peterson free throws followed by an Ako Adams three-point play gave Rice a 16-8 lead 7:28 into the game. The teams traded baskets over the next two and a half minutes before UH went on a 7-0 run to pull within two points. But the Owls didn't falter, going on a 13-0 run to take their largest lead of the game, 34-19, capped off by a pair of Robert Martin three-pointers. Houston cut it to six with a 9-0 run and the teams traded baskets the rest of the way as Rice went into halftime with a 39-32 lead. Houston came out hot, opening the second half on a 13-5 run to take its first lead of the game, 45-44. The teams then went back-and-forth, exchanging seven leads in the next seven minutes. With the score tied at 59, Peterson took over, connecting on four straight three-pointers to help Rice jump out to a 77-68 lead with 5:50 to play. However, Rice missed its next five shots from the floor and six-of-seven free throws as the Cougars took advantage, going on a 21-1 run over the next five minutes to take their largest lead of the game, 89-78. Rice pulled within six points but could get no closer.
The Stats
Rice shot 45.9% from the field and 41.9% from three. Houston connected on 49.3% from the floor and 50.0% from three. Houston outrebounded the Owls, 47-to-34 and scored 23 second chance points off 16 offensive rebounds.
What Scott Pera Had to Say
"I was really proud of our effort. I thought it was a heck of a college basketball game. But make no mistake. There's no moral victories in the program anymore. We're out here to try to win. We felt coming into the game that we had a chance to win. We played winning basketball for about 34 minutes. To (Houston's) credit, they played better down the stretch. They deserved to win and all the credit goes to them."
Notes
• Rice falls to 4-2 on the year.
• Rice falls to 18-64 against Houston.
• Rice scored at least 50 points in the second half for the second straight game.
• Rice's 11 turnovers were a season low.
• Robert Martin scored a team and season-high 23 points. It was his first 20-point game of the season and the fifth of his career.
• Drew Peterson scored a season-high 16 points on four-of-five three-pointers and grabbed five rebounds.
• Ako Adams scored 16 points.
• Adams connected on two three-pointers, giving him 158 in his career, tying Rodner Foster (2005-09) for 10th-place on Rice's all-time list.
• Chris Mullins tied a season-high with 12 points.
• Trey Murphy III scored 11 points.
• Max Fiedler grabbed a team-high seven rebounds.
Next Up
Rice heads to Nassau, Bahamas for three games at the Islands of the Bahamas Showcase. Rice begins the tournament this Friday, Nov. 22 when it faces Milwaukee. Tip-off is scheduled for 1 p.m. and the game will be livestreamed by FloHoops.
Team Stats
UH
RICE
FG%
.493
.459
3FG%
.500
.419
FT%
.643
.667
RB
47
34
TO
12
11
STL
6
7
Game Leaders
Pts
23
FGM
7
3FGM
4
FTM
5
Pts
16
FGM
4
3FGM
4
FTM
4
Pts
12
FGM
5
3FGM
1
FTM
1
Players Mentioned
F
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's BasketballG/F
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