Thursday, December 19
Houston, TX
11:15 a.m.
Rice University
-84,00 CUSA
103
vs
70
St. Thomas (TX)
4-0,0-0SCAC
1
2
F
St. Thomas (TX)
30
40
70
Rice
47
56
103
Photo by: Maria Lysaker
Rice Dominates St. Thomas, 103-70
12/19/2019 2:49:00 PM | Men's Basketball
HOUSTON — Twelve of 15 players scored as Rice dominated from the opening tip in a 103-70 victory over St. Thomas, Thursday morning at Tudor Fieldhouse.
How it Happened
Ako Adams scored the first six points of the game as Rice jumped out to an 8-0 lead. The teams went back-and-forth over the next five minutes before a 13-5 Rice run, capped off by a Robert Martin three-pointer, gave the Owls a 30-16 lead with 8:30 to play. Five straight UST points cut the deficit to 30-21. But a 14-3 Rice run, capped off by a Trey Murphy III three-pointer gave Rice its largest lead of the half, 44-24. St. Thomas hit back-to-back-threes to pull within 14 points, but another Murphy three right before the half sent Rice into the break with a 47-30 lead.
The second half began with the teams trading baskets over the first three minutes. Payton Moore scored five straight points to push Rice's lead to 60-36, but a 7-0 UST run cut the deficit to 17 points with a minute and a half later. However, a Quincy Olivari three-pointer sent Rice on a 23-6 run over the next six minutes and the Owls never looked back.
The Stats
Rice connected on 52.8% from the field and 36.8% from three. St Thomas was held to 37.0% from the floor 31.0% from three. Rice outrebounded the Celts, 51-34 and outscored them in the paint, 44-to-28.
What Scott Pera Had to Say
"I'm really proud of our guys. I've used the analogy that last year, we played (St. Thomas) and beat them by 14. It was a two-point game at the half. This year, we're kind of showing our growth and maturity. Our approach was terrific for this game today. We were locked in and obviously, we got the big 17-point halftime lead. We really executed the end of the half well to make it 17 by Trey (Murphy III) hitting a three off of Tommy (McCarthy's) pass. In the second half, we just slowly increased the lead. We ran away with it, which also made me happy to give some of those guys time in who contribute to this program in ways that people don't see. So, it ended on a really good note for me personally."
Notes
• Rice improved to 8-4 on the year.
• Rice improved to 8-1 all-time against St. Thomas. All nine games have been played at Tudor Fieldhouse.
• Rice is 28-2 against non-Division I teams since 2000 and has won its last 12.
• The Owls set or tied season-highs for points (103), points at the half (47), field goals made (38), three-pointers made (14), rebounds (51), assists (24), second chance points (18), fast break points (16) and bench points (55).
• The 103 points are the most since scoring a school record 118 against Paul Quinn on Nov. 11, 2006.
• The 34-point win was Rice's largest since defeating New Orleans, 83-49, in the 2011-12 season opener.
• The 17-point halftime lead was Rice's largest of the year.
• Rice connected on 14 three-pointers, the seventh time this year it hit at least 10 three-pointers in a game.
• Rice's 24 assists are the most since having 26 against Northwestern State on Nov. 17, 2018.
• Trey Murphy III recorded his first career double-double, scoring 21 points grabbing a career-high 10 rebounds.
• With 21 points, Murphy III recorded his second 20-point game of the year and third of his career.
• Murphy III also tied a career-high with five three-pointers.
• Robert Martin scored 16 points and grabbed seven rebounds.
• Chris Mullins tied a season-high with 13 points.
• Quincy Olivari tied a season-high with 10 points.
• Drew Peterson had seven rebounds and a game-high six assists.
• Tommy McCarthy added a season-high five assists.
Next Up
Rice will have more than a week off before closing its non-conference schedule on Sunday, Dec. 29, when it hosts Sam Houston State. Tip-off is scheduled for 2 p.m. CT and the game will be livestreamed by the CUSAtv.
How it Happened
Ako Adams scored the first six points of the game as Rice jumped out to an 8-0 lead. The teams went back-and-forth over the next five minutes before a 13-5 Rice run, capped off by a Robert Martin three-pointer, gave the Owls a 30-16 lead with 8:30 to play. Five straight UST points cut the deficit to 30-21. But a 14-3 Rice run, capped off by a Trey Murphy III three-pointer gave Rice its largest lead of the half, 44-24. St. Thomas hit back-to-back-threes to pull within 14 points, but another Murphy three right before the half sent Rice into the break with a 47-30 lead.
The second half began with the teams trading baskets over the first three minutes. Payton Moore scored five straight points to push Rice's lead to 60-36, but a 7-0 UST run cut the deficit to 17 points with a minute and a half later. However, a Quincy Olivari three-pointer sent Rice on a 23-6 run over the next six minutes and the Owls never looked back.
The Stats
Rice connected on 52.8% from the field and 36.8% from three. St Thomas was held to 37.0% from the floor 31.0% from three. Rice outrebounded the Celts, 51-34 and outscored them in the paint, 44-to-28.
What Scott Pera Had to Say
"I'm really proud of our guys. I've used the analogy that last year, we played (St. Thomas) and beat them by 14. It was a two-point game at the half. This year, we're kind of showing our growth and maturity. Our approach was terrific for this game today. We were locked in and obviously, we got the big 17-point halftime lead. We really executed the end of the half well to make it 17 by Trey (Murphy III) hitting a three off of Tommy (McCarthy's) pass. In the second half, we just slowly increased the lead. We ran away with it, which also made me happy to give some of those guys time in who contribute to this program in ways that people don't see. So, it ended on a really good note for me personally."
Notes
• Rice improved to 8-4 on the year.
• Rice improved to 8-1 all-time against St. Thomas. All nine games have been played at Tudor Fieldhouse.
• Rice is 28-2 against non-Division I teams since 2000 and has won its last 12.
• The Owls set or tied season-highs for points (103), points at the half (47), field goals made (38), three-pointers made (14), rebounds (51), assists (24), second chance points (18), fast break points (16) and bench points (55).
• The 103 points are the most since scoring a school record 118 against Paul Quinn on Nov. 11, 2006.
• The 34-point win was Rice's largest since defeating New Orleans, 83-49, in the 2011-12 season opener.
• The 17-point halftime lead was Rice's largest of the year.
• Rice connected on 14 three-pointers, the seventh time this year it hit at least 10 three-pointers in a game.
• Rice's 24 assists are the most since having 26 against Northwestern State on Nov. 17, 2018.
• Trey Murphy III recorded his first career double-double, scoring 21 points grabbing a career-high 10 rebounds.
• With 21 points, Murphy III recorded his second 20-point game of the year and third of his career.
• Murphy III also tied a career-high with five three-pointers.
• Robert Martin scored 16 points and grabbed seven rebounds.
• Chris Mullins tied a season-high with 13 points.
• Quincy Olivari tied a season-high with 10 points.
• Drew Peterson had seven rebounds and a game-high six assists.
• Tommy McCarthy added a season-high five assists.
Next Up
Rice will have more than a week off before closing its non-conference schedule on Sunday, Dec. 29, when it hosts Sam Houston State. Tip-off is scheduled for 2 p.m. CT and the game will be livestreamed by the CUSAtv.
Team Stats
UST
RICE
FG%
.370
.528
3FG%
.310
.368
FT%
.778
.619
RB
34
51
TO
11
10
STL
8
8
Game Leaders
Pts
21
FGM
8
3FGM
5
FTM
0
Pts
16
FGM
6
3FGM
3
FTM
1
Pts
13
FGM
4
3FGM
2
FTM
3
Pts
10
FGM
3
3FGM
2
FTM
2
Players Mentioned
G
/ Men's Basketball
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/ Men's Basketball
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/ Men's Basketball
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/ Men's Basketball
G/F
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