Saturday, February 23
El Paso, TX
8:00 P.M
Rice University
-1117, 69 CUSA
85
at
81
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UTEP
-818, 312 CUSA
1
2
OT 1
OT 2
F
Rice
20
43
10
12
85
UTEP
37
26
10
8
81
Martin, Mullins Lead Rice to Double-Overtime, Comeback Victory over UTEP
2/24/2019 12:53:00 AM | Men's Basketball
EL PASO, Texas — Robert Martin and Chris Mullins scored 19 of Rice's 22 overtime points to lead the Owls to a 20-point second half comeback over UTEP, 85-81, Saturday night at Don Haskins Center.
What Head Coach Scott Pera Had to Say
"A lot when into us coming out with the win. This game showed growth on our part. We had a halftime meeting where we drew a line in the sand and said 'That's not who we are. That's not what this program is going to be about and that's not how we're going to play basketball.' Obviously, I was upset at halftime. For the team to respond like that, it just shows maturity. It shows mental toughness that we've really been preaching. I'm just really proud of the guys. I'm really happy for everybody. This was a big win for us in many ways."
The Story
Rice trailed by 20 points, 43-23, just three minutes into the second half. Rice went on a 17-5 run to cut the deficit to eight. UTEP pushed its lead back to 13 points, but an 11-0 Rice run got the Owls within 53-51. After the Miners hit a pair of free throws, Trey Murphy hit a three and Drew Peterson got steal and layup to give Rice its first lead of the game, 56-55, with 4:14 to play in regulation. After trading baskets, UTEP scored five straight points to take a four-point lead. Rice made five of six free throws to take a 63-62 lead with 55 seconds to play, but Jordan Lathon made one-of-two free throws to send the game to overtime. UTEP scored seven of the first nine points in overtime to take a five-point lead midway through the overtime period. The Owls, though, went on an 8-0 run, capped off by Robert Martin's three-pointer that gave them the lead. However, UTEP answered with a three of its own to send the game to double-overtime. UTEP immediately opened the scoring in double-overtime. Rice tied the game, but the Miners hit a pair of free throws. Martin made one-of two free throws and Murphy III hit his third three-pointer of the game to give Rice the lead for good. UTEP made one of two free throws but Chris Mullins made a layup and four of six free throws to seal the game.
The Stats
Rice connected on 39.4% from the field and 45.5% from three. UTEP shot 39.4% from the floor and 40.6% from three. Rice outrebounded the Miners, 49-to-47 and outscored them 20-to-11 off turnovers.
Notes
• Rice improved to 11-17 on the year and 6-9 in Conference USA.
• Rice is 13-24 all-time against UTEP and 4-15 in games played in El Paso.
• Rice came back from 20 points down in the second half. It tied the second largest comeback in school history.
• Rice connected on 10 three-pointers, the 12th time this year it connected on at least 10 three-pointers.
• Rice tied a season-high with 10 steals.
• Robert Martin recorded his third double-double of the season, scoring a team-high 23 points while grabbing a career-high 13 rebounds.
• Martin now has four 20-point games this year.
• Chris Mullins scored 19 points, tied a career-high with six steals and had four rebounds.
• Mullins now has 350 points on the year, passing Sean Obi (2013-14), Kenneth Roarke (1988-89) and Tamir Jackson (2009-10) for seventh on the Rice freshman list.
• Mullins connected on 10-of-13 from the free throw line, which are both career-highs. He now has 96 made free throws, passing Tamir Jackson (2009-10) and Brent Scott (1989-90) for fourth on the Rice freshman list.
• Trey Murphy III scored 14 points and tied a career-high with six rebounds.
• Quentin Millora-Brown scored 10 points and grabbed eight rebounds.
• Josh Parrish pulled down a career-high nine rebounds.
Next Up
Rice will have a week off before returning to the hardwood next Sunday, Mar. 3, when it hosts Middle Tennessee. Tip-off is scheduled for 2 p.m. and the game will be streamed live by CUSAtv.
What Head Coach Scott Pera Had to Say
"A lot when into us coming out with the win. This game showed growth on our part. We had a halftime meeting where we drew a line in the sand and said 'That's not who we are. That's not what this program is going to be about and that's not how we're going to play basketball.' Obviously, I was upset at halftime. For the team to respond like that, it just shows maturity. It shows mental toughness that we've really been preaching. I'm just really proud of the guys. I'm really happy for everybody. This was a big win for us in many ways."
The Story
Rice trailed by 20 points, 43-23, just three minutes into the second half. Rice went on a 17-5 run to cut the deficit to eight. UTEP pushed its lead back to 13 points, but an 11-0 Rice run got the Owls within 53-51. After the Miners hit a pair of free throws, Trey Murphy hit a three and Drew Peterson got steal and layup to give Rice its first lead of the game, 56-55, with 4:14 to play in regulation. After trading baskets, UTEP scored five straight points to take a four-point lead. Rice made five of six free throws to take a 63-62 lead with 55 seconds to play, but Jordan Lathon made one-of-two free throws to send the game to overtime. UTEP scored seven of the first nine points in overtime to take a five-point lead midway through the overtime period. The Owls, though, went on an 8-0 run, capped off by Robert Martin's three-pointer that gave them the lead. However, UTEP answered with a three of its own to send the game to double-overtime. UTEP immediately opened the scoring in double-overtime. Rice tied the game, but the Miners hit a pair of free throws. Martin made one-of two free throws and Murphy III hit his third three-pointer of the game to give Rice the lead for good. UTEP made one of two free throws but Chris Mullins made a layup and four of six free throws to seal the game.
The Stats
Rice connected on 39.4% from the field and 45.5% from three. UTEP shot 39.4% from the floor and 40.6% from three. Rice outrebounded the Miners, 49-to-47 and outscored them 20-to-11 off turnovers.
Notes
• Rice improved to 11-17 on the year and 6-9 in Conference USA.
• Rice is 13-24 all-time against UTEP and 4-15 in games played in El Paso.
• Rice came back from 20 points down in the second half. It tied the second largest comeback in school history.
• Rice connected on 10 three-pointers, the 12th time this year it connected on at least 10 three-pointers.
• Rice tied a season-high with 10 steals.
• Robert Martin recorded his third double-double of the season, scoring a team-high 23 points while grabbing a career-high 13 rebounds.
• Martin now has four 20-point games this year.
• Chris Mullins scored 19 points, tied a career-high with six steals and had four rebounds.
• Mullins now has 350 points on the year, passing Sean Obi (2013-14), Kenneth Roarke (1988-89) and Tamir Jackson (2009-10) for seventh on the Rice freshman list.
• Mullins connected on 10-of-13 from the free throw line, which are both career-highs. He now has 96 made free throws, passing Tamir Jackson (2009-10) and Brent Scott (1989-90) for fourth on the Rice freshman list.
• Trey Murphy III scored 14 points and tied a career-high with six rebounds.
• Quentin Millora-Brown scored 10 points and grabbed eight rebounds.
• Josh Parrish pulled down a career-high nine rebounds.
Next Up
Rice will have a week off before returning to the hardwood next Sunday, Mar. 3, when it hosts Middle Tennessee. Tip-off is scheduled for 2 p.m. and the game will be streamed live by CUSAtv.
Team Stats
RICE
UTEP
FG%
.394
.394
3FG%
.455
.406
FT%
.590
.615
RB
49
47
TO
12
16
STL
10
2
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
23
FGM
7
3FGM
2
FTM
7
Pts
19
FGM
4
3FGM
1
FTM
10
Pts
14
FGM
4
3FGM
3
FTM
3
Pts
10
FGM
4
3FGM
0
FTM
2
Players Mentioned
F
/ Men's BasketballF
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's Basketball
G/F
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