Saturday, November 9
Houston, TX
3:30 p.m.
Rice University
-11,00 CUSA
80
vs
61
Penn
1-1,0-0Ivy Leag
1
2
F
Penn
29
32
61
Rice
41
39
80
Photo by: Maria Lysaker - Rice Athletics
Strong Play on Both Ends Leads Rice to 80-61 Win over Penn in Home Opener
11/9/2019 6:59:00 PM | Men's Basketball
HOUSTON — After a slow start that saw Penn score the first nine points of the game, Rice picked up its play on both ends of the floor as it cruised to an 80-61 victory in its 2019-20 home opener.
The Story
Rice started one-of-eight from the floor and Penn made its first six shots to jump out to a 13-4 lead. Rice then made four of its next five shots to pull within 20-17. Penn then scored five of the next eight points to push its lead to 25-20 midway through the first half. That's when Rice stepped up its play, as Trey Murphy III hit back-to-back three-pointers to send Rice on a 14-0 run to take a 34-25 lead. After a Penn basket, the Owls scored seven straight before a Quaker basket as Rice closed the final 9:51 on a 21-4 run to lead 41-29 at the half. The teams traded baskets through the first four minutes of the second half. However a 16-4 run aided by a pair of three-pointers from Ako Adams and one each from Robert Martin and Quincy Olivari gave Rice its largest lead of the game, 63-39, eight minutes into the half. Penn would get no closer than 16 points the rest of the way.
The Stats
Rice shot 44.6% from the field and 38.5% from three. Penn was held to 38.5% from the floor and 13.6% from three. Rice outrebounded the Quakers, 49-32, and connected on 85.7% from the free throw line.
What Scott Pera Had to Say
"It was a total team win. We got a complete, total effort by everybody. My biggest thing to the team over the last couple of days was, 'Who are we?' Because I know we're not that team that played Tuesday night. I've been around them long enough to know that. It was important that we reestablished who we were. We wanted to compete at a level that's expected every night. Once we settled down and got the lead, we were clicking on all cylinders. You saw us at our best. In my three years, that was probably the most complete game that we played on both ends."
Notes
• Rice is 74-31 all-time in home openers and has won its last two.
• This was the fourth meeting all-time between the Owls and Quakers. The series is tied at two.
• Rice has won both meetings in Houston.
• Rice is 10-10 all-time against the Ivy League.
• It was the first win over the Ivy League since 2008-09, snapping a five-game losing streak.
• Rice's eight blocks were the most since recording eight at Texas State on Nov. 28, 2018.
• Rice's +17-rebound margin was its largest since outrebounding Southern Miss, 41-27, on Mar. 8, 2017.
• Ako Adams led Rice with 17 points and a game-high four assists.
• Adams also played his 100th career game.
• Drew Peterson scored 13 points and tied his career-high with eight rebounds. He also had a career-high three blocks.
• Payton Moore set career-highs with 10 points and seven rebounds.
• Trey Murphy III scored 10 points and grabbed a career-high eight rebounds.
• Quincy Olivari scored 10 points.
• Max Fiedler had eight points, 11 rebounds, three blocks and three assists.
Next Up
Rice plays its second game in as many days when its hosts Wayland Baptist tomorrow. Tip-off is scheduled for 4 p.m. and the game will be livestreamed by CUSA.tv.
The Story
Rice started one-of-eight from the floor and Penn made its first six shots to jump out to a 13-4 lead. Rice then made four of its next five shots to pull within 20-17. Penn then scored five of the next eight points to push its lead to 25-20 midway through the first half. That's when Rice stepped up its play, as Trey Murphy III hit back-to-back three-pointers to send Rice on a 14-0 run to take a 34-25 lead. After a Penn basket, the Owls scored seven straight before a Quaker basket as Rice closed the final 9:51 on a 21-4 run to lead 41-29 at the half. The teams traded baskets through the first four minutes of the second half. However a 16-4 run aided by a pair of three-pointers from Ako Adams and one each from Robert Martin and Quincy Olivari gave Rice its largest lead of the game, 63-39, eight minutes into the half. Penn would get no closer than 16 points the rest of the way.
The Stats
Rice shot 44.6% from the field and 38.5% from three. Penn was held to 38.5% from the floor and 13.6% from three. Rice outrebounded the Quakers, 49-32, and connected on 85.7% from the free throw line.
What Scott Pera Had to Say
"It was a total team win. We got a complete, total effort by everybody. My biggest thing to the team over the last couple of days was, 'Who are we?' Because I know we're not that team that played Tuesday night. I've been around them long enough to know that. It was important that we reestablished who we were. We wanted to compete at a level that's expected every night. Once we settled down and got the lead, we were clicking on all cylinders. You saw us at our best. In my three years, that was probably the most complete game that we played on both ends."
Notes
• Rice is 74-31 all-time in home openers and has won its last two.
• This was the fourth meeting all-time between the Owls and Quakers. The series is tied at two.
• Rice has won both meetings in Houston.
• Rice is 10-10 all-time against the Ivy League.
• It was the first win over the Ivy League since 2008-09, snapping a five-game losing streak.
• Rice's eight blocks were the most since recording eight at Texas State on Nov. 28, 2018.
• Rice's +17-rebound margin was its largest since outrebounding Southern Miss, 41-27, on Mar. 8, 2017.
• Ako Adams led Rice with 17 points and a game-high four assists.
• Adams also played his 100th career game.
• Drew Peterson scored 13 points and tied his career-high with eight rebounds. He also had a career-high three blocks.
• Payton Moore set career-highs with 10 points and seven rebounds.
• Trey Murphy III scored 10 points and grabbed a career-high eight rebounds.
• Quincy Olivari scored 10 points.
• Max Fiedler had eight points, 11 rebounds, three blocks and three assists.
Next Up
Rice plays its second game in as many days when its hosts Wayland Baptist tomorrow. Tip-off is scheduled for 4 p.m. and the game will be livestreamed by CUSA.tv.
Team Stats
PENN
RICE
FG%
.385
.446
3FG%
.136
.385
FT%
.533
.857
RB
32
49
TO
9
13
STL
5
4
Game Leaders
Pts
13
FGM
4
3FGM
2
FTM
3
Pts
10
FGM
2
3FGM
2
FTM
4
Pts
10
FGM
5
3FGM
0
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
F
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