Monday, January 20
Denton, TX
7 p.m.
Rice University
-911,16 CUSA
59
at
79
North Texas
-128,61 CUSA
1
2
F
Rice
36
23
59
North Texas
44
35
79
Photo by: Bobby McDuffie
Slow Second Half Start Dooms Rice at North Texas
1/20/2020 9:44:00 PM | Men's Basketball
DENTON, Texas — North Texas started the second half on a 14-5 run to turn an eight-point Rice deficit into a 79-59 Mean Green victory, Monday night at the Super Pit.
How it Happened
Chris Mullins and Ako Adams got Rice off to a fast start with the game's first two baskets. But North Texas went on a 16-6 run to take a 16-10 lead eight minutes into the game. A three-pointer by Zach Crisler followed by a Trey Murphy III jumper cut the deficit to one. The teams then traded baskets over the next two minutes before the Mean Green went on an 8-2 run to take a 29-22 with 7:44 to play in the half. A three-pointer by Adams pulled Rice within four points, but UNT scored eight of the next 12 points to take its largest lead of the half, 37-29, with 3:26 to play. Crisler then made one-of-two free throws and followed it with a three-pointer to get Rice within four points. But North Texas scored seven of the final 10 points as Rice went into halftime trailing 44-36.
Umoja Gibson began the second half hitting back-to-back three-pointers as UNT opened the half on an 8-0 run. Josh Parrish got Rice on the board with a layup. After North Texas basket, Drew Peterson connected on a three-pointer. But a three followed by a free throw gave the Mean Green a 58-41 lead, seven minutes into the second half. Rice began to chip away as a Peterson jumper followed by an Adams three-pointer cut the deficit to 12. After a North Texas basket, Parrish converted a three-point play. The teams then traded three-pointers and Peterson made one-of-two free throws to make it a 10-point game. However, Rice made just one of its final 12 shots in the last 8:39 as the Mean Green pulled away.
The Stats
Rice connected on 40.7% from the field and 36.8% from three. North Texas connected on 54.0% from the floor and 44.4% from behind the arc. The Owls also made 72.7% from the free throw line. Rice also outrebounded the Mean Green, 33-to-28.
Notes
• Rice fell to 9-11 on the year and 1-6 in Conference USA.
• Rice fell to 7-17 all-time against North Texas and 1-9 in Denton
• Trey Murphy III scored 11 points and grabbed a game-high 10 rebounds to record his second double-double of the season.
• Zach Crisler scored a career-high 11 points and grabbed six rebounds. It was his first career double-digit scoring game.
• Crisler became the seventh different player to lead Rice in scoring.
• Ako Adams added 10 points.
Next Up
Rice returns home for three games beginning next Thursday, Jan. 23, when it hosts UTEP. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. CT and the game will be livestreamed by the ESPN+.
How it Happened
Chris Mullins and Ako Adams got Rice off to a fast start with the game's first two baskets. But North Texas went on a 16-6 run to take a 16-10 lead eight minutes into the game. A three-pointer by Zach Crisler followed by a Trey Murphy III jumper cut the deficit to one. The teams then traded baskets over the next two minutes before the Mean Green went on an 8-2 run to take a 29-22 with 7:44 to play in the half. A three-pointer by Adams pulled Rice within four points, but UNT scored eight of the next 12 points to take its largest lead of the half, 37-29, with 3:26 to play. Crisler then made one-of-two free throws and followed it with a three-pointer to get Rice within four points. But North Texas scored seven of the final 10 points as Rice went into halftime trailing 44-36.
Umoja Gibson began the second half hitting back-to-back three-pointers as UNT opened the half on an 8-0 run. Josh Parrish got Rice on the board with a layup. After North Texas basket, Drew Peterson connected on a three-pointer. But a three followed by a free throw gave the Mean Green a 58-41 lead, seven minutes into the second half. Rice began to chip away as a Peterson jumper followed by an Adams three-pointer cut the deficit to 12. After a North Texas basket, Parrish converted a three-point play. The teams then traded three-pointers and Peterson made one-of-two free throws to make it a 10-point game. However, Rice made just one of its final 12 shots in the last 8:39 as the Mean Green pulled away.
The Stats
Rice connected on 40.7% from the field and 36.8% from three. North Texas connected on 54.0% from the floor and 44.4% from behind the arc. The Owls also made 72.7% from the free throw line. Rice also outrebounded the Mean Green, 33-to-28.
Notes
• Rice fell to 9-11 on the year and 1-6 in Conference USA.
• Rice fell to 7-17 all-time against North Texas and 1-9 in Denton
• Trey Murphy III scored 11 points and grabbed a game-high 10 rebounds to record his second double-double of the season.
• Zach Crisler scored a career-high 11 points and grabbed six rebounds. It was his first career double-digit scoring game.
• Crisler became the seventh different player to lead Rice in scoring.
• Ako Adams added 10 points.
Next Up
Rice returns home for three games beginning next Thursday, Jan. 23, when it hosts UTEP. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. CT and the game will be livestreamed by the ESPN+.
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Team Stats
RICE
UNT
FG%
.407
.540
3FG%
.368
.444
FT%
.727
.739
RB
33
28
TO
16
9
STL
4
9
Game Leaders
Pts
11
FGM
4
3FGM
1
FTM
2
Pts
11
FGM
4
3FGM
2
FTM
1
Pts
9
FGM
3
3FGM
2
FTM
1
Players Mentioned
G
/ Men's Basketball
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/ Men's BasketballG/F
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