Saturday, January 4
Bowling Green, KY
4 p.m.
Rice University
-87,02 CUSA
61
at
68
WKU
-95,20 CUSA
1
2
F
Rice
23
38
61
Western Ky.
29
39
68
Photo by: © Maria Lysaker
Rice Drops Heartbreaker at WKU
1/4/2020 8:36:00 PM | Men's Basketball
BOWLING GREEN, KY. — Rice missed nine of its final 10 shots over the last five minutes as WKU outscored the Owls, 10-3 to turn a tie game into a 68-61 Rice defeat, Saturday afternoon from E.A. Diddle Arena.
How it Happened
Rice started slow, missing its first five shots as WKU jumped out to a 9-0 lead. Martin finally got Rice on the board when, after blocking a shot, Murphy found him for a layup. However, an 11-5 run gave the Hilltoppers their largest lead of the game, 22-9, with 8:25 to play. But the Owls came right back as Ako Adams, Drew Peterson and Trey Murphy III hit back-to-back-back three-pointers to give Rice a 9-0 run and pull within 22-18 with five minutes to play in the half. After a pair of WKU baskets, Peterson made one-of-two free throws and Adams made a layup. WKU then scored, but Adams found Zach Crisler for a layup to pull Rice within 29-23 at halftime.
Rice came out on fire in the second half, making six of their first seven shots to tie the game at 36. WKU scored seven of the next nine points to take a five-point lead, but a Robert Martin three-pointer followed by a Josh Parrish layup tied the game at 43. After the teams traded three-pointers, the Hilltoppers scored eight of the next 10 points to take a 54-48 lead midway through the second half. A three by Chris Mullins followed by a Zach Crisler layup cut the deficit to one. WKU made four straight free throws, but Peterson made a layup and then converted on a three-point play to tie the game at 58 with 5:39 to play. Rice had three possessions to take its first lead of the game, but couldn't convert as it made just one three-pointer the rest of the way and WKU made all six of its free throws to close the game.
The Stats
Rice connected on 40.0% from the field and 27.6% from three. WKU hit on 40.7% from the floor but just 27.3% from three. Rice was also outrebounded, 37-to-36.
What Scott Pera Had to Say
"I thought our kids did a really great job of executing the game plan on a short turnaround against a very good team. We executed defensively about as well as we could. There were a couple of loose 50-50 balls that could have gone either way, but they get them and turned them into layups. It's just the way the game goes sometimes. We made some plays on offense to keep us in it. But they're a good team with good players."
Notes
• Rice fell to 8-7 on the year and 0-2 in Conference USA.
• Rice dropped to 2-5 all-time against WKU and 1-2 in Bowling Green.
• Robert Martin scored a team-high 13 points and grabbed six rebounds.
• Trey Murphy III scored 12 points and grabbed seven rebounds.
• Drew Peterson scored nine points and had seven rebounds.
Next Up
Rice begins its Conference USA home schedule next Thursday, Jan. 9, when it hosts Florida Atlantic. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. CT and the game will be livestreamed by the ESPN+.
How it Happened
Rice started slow, missing its first five shots as WKU jumped out to a 9-0 lead. Martin finally got Rice on the board when, after blocking a shot, Murphy found him for a layup. However, an 11-5 run gave the Hilltoppers their largest lead of the game, 22-9, with 8:25 to play. But the Owls came right back as Ako Adams, Drew Peterson and Trey Murphy III hit back-to-back-back three-pointers to give Rice a 9-0 run and pull within 22-18 with five minutes to play in the half. After a pair of WKU baskets, Peterson made one-of-two free throws and Adams made a layup. WKU then scored, but Adams found Zach Crisler for a layup to pull Rice within 29-23 at halftime.
Rice came out on fire in the second half, making six of their first seven shots to tie the game at 36. WKU scored seven of the next nine points to take a five-point lead, but a Robert Martin three-pointer followed by a Josh Parrish layup tied the game at 43. After the teams traded three-pointers, the Hilltoppers scored eight of the next 10 points to take a 54-48 lead midway through the second half. A three by Chris Mullins followed by a Zach Crisler layup cut the deficit to one. WKU made four straight free throws, but Peterson made a layup and then converted on a three-point play to tie the game at 58 with 5:39 to play. Rice had three possessions to take its first lead of the game, but couldn't convert as it made just one three-pointer the rest of the way and WKU made all six of its free throws to close the game.
The Stats
Rice connected on 40.0% from the field and 27.6% from three. WKU hit on 40.7% from the floor but just 27.3% from three. Rice was also outrebounded, 37-to-36.
What Scott Pera Had to Say
"I thought our kids did a really great job of executing the game plan on a short turnaround against a very good team. We executed defensively about as well as we could. There were a couple of loose 50-50 balls that could have gone either way, but they get them and turned them into layups. It's just the way the game goes sometimes. We made some plays on offense to keep us in it. But they're a good team with good players."
Notes
• Rice fell to 8-7 on the year and 0-2 in Conference USA.
• Rice dropped to 2-5 all-time against WKU and 1-2 in Bowling Green.
• Robert Martin scored a team-high 13 points and grabbed six rebounds.
• Trey Murphy III scored 12 points and grabbed seven rebounds.
• Drew Peterson scored nine points and had seven rebounds.
Next Up
Rice begins its Conference USA home schedule next Thursday, Jan. 9, when it hosts Florida Atlantic. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. CT and the game will be livestreamed by the ESPN+.
Team Stats
RICE
WESTKY
FG%
.400
.407
3FG%
.276
.273
FT%
.625
.933
RB
36
37
TO
14
10
STL
5
6
Game Leaders
Pts
13
FGM
6
3FGM
1
FTM
0
Pts
12
FGM
4
3FGM
4
FTM
0
Pts
9
FGM
3
3FGM
1
FTM
2
Pts
7
FGM
3
3FGM
0
FTM
1
Players Mentioned
G
/ Men's Basketball
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