Thursday, January 23
Houston, TX
7 p.m.
Rice University
-912,17 CUSA
64
vs
72
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UTEP
-128,34 CUSA
1
2
F
UTEP
36
36
72
Rice
34
30
64
Photo by: © Maria Lysaker
Adams’ 1,000th Career Point Not Enough as Rice Falls to UTEP, 72-64
1/23/2020 10:37:00 PM | Men's Basketball
HOUSTON — Ako Adams scored 17 points, including his 1,000th career point, but it was not enough as Rice fell to UTEP, 72-64, Thursday night at Tudor Fieldhouse.
How it Happened
The game remained scoreless for the first 2:40 before Drew Peterson hit a three-pointer. But the Owls missed their next four shots as UTEP went on a 9-1 run to lead 9-4 at the first media timeout. Robert Martin then checked in and made an immediate impact, scoring Rice's next 11 points. Trey Murphy III then made a three-pointer to give Rice an 18-16 lead with 10:56 to play. After two Miner baskets, Murphy made a pair of free throws to tie the game. UTEP scored six of eight points to take a four-point lead, but a 7-2 run, capped off by an Ako Adams three, gave Rice a 29-28 lead. After a UTEP basket, Adams made a pair of free throws and followed it with a three. But the Miners scored the last six points of the half to head into halftime with a 36-34 lead.
A three by Adams followed by a layup from Peterson gave Rice a 39-36 lead early in the second half. After a three-point play tied the game, the teams went back-and-forth, trading leads seven times over the next 11 minutes. Adams hit his fifth three-pointer of the game to give Rice a 55-53 lead with 7:23 to play. But the Owls were held to just one field goal over the next six minutes as UTEP went on an 11-2 run to take a 64-57 lead with 1:49 remaining. Murphy made one of two free throws and Josh Parrish made a layup to cut the deficit to four points with 50 seconds to play. But the Miners made 8-of-11 free throws down the stretch to ice the game.
What Scott Pera Had to Say
"It was a really hard fought game that came down to the last couple of minutes. (UTEP) made winning plays to win the game and we failed in some areas that we have to be better at. Obviously, it's disappointing to lose this one at home. I thought our effort was tremendous. I thought our defensive game plan, the kids executed about as well as you could. They did everything we asked them to do defensively. It has to be enough to win at home and it wasn't. We just aren't shooting the ball very well."
The Stats
Rice was held to just 36.4% from the field and 29.4% from three. UTEP connected on 45.3% from the floor but just 17.9% from behind the arc. UTEP also outrebounded the Owls, 37-to-35.
Notes
• Rice fell to 9-12 on the year and 1-7 in Conference USA.
• Rice fell to 13-25 all-time against UTEP and 8-8 in Houston.
• Rice connected on 10 three-pointers. It was the ninth team this year it had at least 10 threes in a game.
• Robert Martin scored a team-high 20 points and grabbed five rebounds. It was his third 20-point game this year and the seventh of his career.
• Ako Adams scored 17 points and tied a season-high with five three-pointers.
• With his 17 points, Adams became the 37th player in Rice history to score 1,000 points.
• Trey Murphy III scored 11 points and grabbed five rebounds.
• Josh Parrish scored 10 points and pulled down four boards.
• Drew Peterson grabbed a team-high eight rebounds.
Next Up
Rice continues its three-game homestand this Saturday, Jan. 25, when it hosts UTSA. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. CT and the game will be livestreamed by the ESPN+.
How it Happened
The game remained scoreless for the first 2:40 before Drew Peterson hit a three-pointer. But the Owls missed their next four shots as UTEP went on a 9-1 run to lead 9-4 at the first media timeout. Robert Martin then checked in and made an immediate impact, scoring Rice's next 11 points. Trey Murphy III then made a three-pointer to give Rice an 18-16 lead with 10:56 to play. After two Miner baskets, Murphy made a pair of free throws to tie the game. UTEP scored six of eight points to take a four-point lead, but a 7-2 run, capped off by an Ako Adams three, gave Rice a 29-28 lead. After a UTEP basket, Adams made a pair of free throws and followed it with a three. But the Miners scored the last six points of the half to head into halftime with a 36-34 lead.
A three by Adams followed by a layup from Peterson gave Rice a 39-36 lead early in the second half. After a three-point play tied the game, the teams went back-and-forth, trading leads seven times over the next 11 minutes. Adams hit his fifth three-pointer of the game to give Rice a 55-53 lead with 7:23 to play. But the Owls were held to just one field goal over the next six minutes as UTEP went on an 11-2 run to take a 64-57 lead with 1:49 remaining. Murphy made one of two free throws and Josh Parrish made a layup to cut the deficit to four points with 50 seconds to play. But the Miners made 8-of-11 free throws down the stretch to ice the game.
What Scott Pera Had to Say
"It was a really hard fought game that came down to the last couple of minutes. (UTEP) made winning plays to win the game and we failed in some areas that we have to be better at. Obviously, it's disappointing to lose this one at home. I thought our effort was tremendous. I thought our defensive game plan, the kids executed about as well as you could. They did everything we asked them to do defensively. It has to be enough to win at home and it wasn't. We just aren't shooting the ball very well."
The Stats
Rice was held to just 36.4% from the field and 29.4% from three. UTEP connected on 45.3% from the floor but just 17.9% from behind the arc. UTEP also outrebounded the Owls, 37-to-35.
Notes
• Rice fell to 9-12 on the year and 1-7 in Conference USA.
• Rice fell to 13-25 all-time against UTEP and 8-8 in Houston.
• Rice connected on 10 three-pointers. It was the ninth team this year it had at least 10 threes in a game.
• Robert Martin scored a team-high 20 points and grabbed five rebounds. It was his third 20-point game this year and the seventh of his career.
• Ako Adams scored 17 points and tied a season-high with five three-pointers.
• With his 17 points, Adams became the 37th player in Rice history to score 1,000 points.
• Trey Murphy III scored 11 points and grabbed five rebounds.
• Josh Parrish scored 10 points and pulled down four boards.
• Drew Peterson grabbed a team-high eight rebounds.
Next Up
Rice continues its three-game homestand this Saturday, Jan. 25, when it hosts UTSA. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. CT and the game will be livestreamed by the ESPN+.
Team Stats
UTEP
RICE
FG%
.453
.364
3FG%
.179
.294
FT%
.760
.700
RB
37
35
TO
7
6
STL
3
3
Game Leaders
Pts
20
FGM
7
3FGM
3
FTM
3
Pts
11
FGM
3
3FGM
1
FTM
4
Pts
10
FGM
3
3FGM
0
FTM
4
Players Mentioned
G
/ Men's Basketball
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