Thursday, January 9
Houston, TX
7 p.m.
Rice University
-88,03 CUSA
76
vs
81
Florida Atlantic
-115,30 CUSA
1
2
F
Fla. Atlantic
40
41
81
Rice
31
45
76
Photo by: © Maria Lysaker
Comeback Attempt Comes Up Short as Rice Falls to Florida Atlantic, 81-76
1/9/2020 10:48:00 PM | Men's Basketball
HOUSTON — Rice erased a 22-point second half deficit to take a one-point lead, but Florida Atlantic closed the game on a 14-8 run as Rice fell to FAU, 81-76, Thursday night at Tudor Fieldhouse.
How it Happened
Rice missed its first five shots before a Drew Peterson jumper made it 6-4. After five straight points from Florida Atlantic, the teams traded baskets over the next five minutes. A Chris Mullins jumper made it 19-13, but five straight points gave FAU a 24-13 lead midway through the first half. A Peterson jumper sent Rice on an 11-3 run, capped off by a pair of Zach Crisler free throws that pulled Rice to within 27-24 with 5:18 to play in the half. After two FAU baskets, Quincy Olivari stepped in front of a pass and went in for a layup to pull within five. But Rice missed its next five shots as Florida Atlantic went on a 7-0 run to take its largest lead of the half, 38-26, with 1:13 to play. After trading baskets, Payton Moore hit a three-pointer to send Rice into halftime trailing 40-31.
Florida Atlantic opened the second half on a 14-2 run to take its largest lead of the game, 55-33, just 3:23 into the half. That's when Rice stormed back. Josh Parrish made two free throws and a layup. After an FAU jumper, Rice got two free throws apiece from Mullins and Olivari. After a stop, Ako Adams hit a three and Trey Murphy III made a pair of free throws to cut the deficit to 57-49 with 11:46 to play. The teams then traded baskets over the next four minutes. With FAU leading 67-56, Peterson made two free throws. A minute later, Murphy hit a three-pointer. After Mullins made one-of-two free throws, Parrish made a driving layup, then stole the ball and hit Peterson, who drew a foul and made both from the charity stripe to cut the deficit. Rice then got a stop and Peterson found Payton Moore cutting toward the basket for a dunk to give Rice its first lead of the game, 68-67, with 4:32 to play and force an FAU timeout. However, out of the timeout, Florida Atlantic retook the lead with a three-pointer and then increased their lead to four with a jumper. Mullins and Parrish made three of four free throws to cut the deficit to one, but FAU made a pair of baskets to push its lead to five. Parrish's layup brought Rice within 76-73 with 1:03 to play, but Rice would get no closer.
The Stats
Rice connected on 38.6% from the field and 30.8% from three. Florida Atlantic hit on 46.4% from the floor and 38.7% from three. Rice connected on 88.9% from the free throw line but was outrebounded, 41-to-36.
What Scott Pera Had to Say
"I'm really proud of our guys and the resiliency and fight that they showed to come back from that deficit. It's two-fold. You're disappointed that you got down that far but we really believed that we could come back and win. We stuck with it. We got the lead, but they made two big plays out of the timeout. We just couldn't overcome (Cornelius) Taylor's career night. All the credit goes to (Florida Atlantic). They deserved to win."
Notes
• Rice fell to 8-8 on the year and 0-3 in Conference USA.
• Rice dropped to 4-4 all-time against Florida Atlantic and 1-3 in Houston.
• Rice is now 53-51 all-time in home conference openers and 5-10 in Conference USA home openers.
• Rice set a season-high in free throw percentage, connecting on 88.9% (24-of-27), including hitting its first 19 free throws of the game.
• Drew Peterson led Rice with 15 points, five assists and three steals while grabbing six rebounds.
• Ako Adams scored 14 points.
• Adams connected on four-of-five three pointers, tying Marcus Jackson for third-place on the school's all-time three-point list with 182.
• Josh Parrish set season-highs with 13 points and eight rebounds.
• Trey Murphy III scored 12 points and grabbed four rebounds.
• Zach Crisler pulled down a career-high six rebounds.
Next Up
Rice closes its homestand this Saturday, Jan. 11, when it hosts FIU. Tip-off is scheduled for 2 p.m. CT and the game will be livestreamed by the ESPN+.
How it Happened
Rice missed its first five shots before a Drew Peterson jumper made it 6-4. After five straight points from Florida Atlantic, the teams traded baskets over the next five minutes. A Chris Mullins jumper made it 19-13, but five straight points gave FAU a 24-13 lead midway through the first half. A Peterson jumper sent Rice on an 11-3 run, capped off by a pair of Zach Crisler free throws that pulled Rice to within 27-24 with 5:18 to play in the half. After two FAU baskets, Quincy Olivari stepped in front of a pass and went in for a layup to pull within five. But Rice missed its next five shots as Florida Atlantic went on a 7-0 run to take its largest lead of the half, 38-26, with 1:13 to play. After trading baskets, Payton Moore hit a three-pointer to send Rice into halftime trailing 40-31.
Florida Atlantic opened the second half on a 14-2 run to take its largest lead of the game, 55-33, just 3:23 into the half. That's when Rice stormed back. Josh Parrish made two free throws and a layup. After an FAU jumper, Rice got two free throws apiece from Mullins and Olivari. After a stop, Ako Adams hit a three and Trey Murphy III made a pair of free throws to cut the deficit to 57-49 with 11:46 to play. The teams then traded baskets over the next four minutes. With FAU leading 67-56, Peterson made two free throws. A minute later, Murphy hit a three-pointer. After Mullins made one-of-two free throws, Parrish made a driving layup, then stole the ball and hit Peterson, who drew a foul and made both from the charity stripe to cut the deficit. Rice then got a stop and Peterson found Payton Moore cutting toward the basket for a dunk to give Rice its first lead of the game, 68-67, with 4:32 to play and force an FAU timeout. However, out of the timeout, Florida Atlantic retook the lead with a three-pointer and then increased their lead to four with a jumper. Mullins and Parrish made three of four free throws to cut the deficit to one, but FAU made a pair of baskets to push its lead to five. Parrish's layup brought Rice within 76-73 with 1:03 to play, but Rice would get no closer.
The Stats
Rice connected on 38.6% from the field and 30.8% from three. Florida Atlantic hit on 46.4% from the floor and 38.7% from three. Rice connected on 88.9% from the free throw line but was outrebounded, 41-to-36.
What Scott Pera Had to Say
"I'm really proud of our guys and the resiliency and fight that they showed to come back from that deficit. It's two-fold. You're disappointed that you got down that far but we really believed that we could come back and win. We stuck with it. We got the lead, but they made two big plays out of the timeout. We just couldn't overcome (Cornelius) Taylor's career night. All the credit goes to (Florida Atlantic). They deserved to win."
Notes
• Rice fell to 8-8 on the year and 0-3 in Conference USA.
• Rice dropped to 4-4 all-time against Florida Atlantic and 1-3 in Houston.
• Rice is now 53-51 all-time in home conference openers and 5-10 in Conference USA home openers.
• Rice set a season-high in free throw percentage, connecting on 88.9% (24-of-27), including hitting its first 19 free throws of the game.
• Drew Peterson led Rice with 15 points, five assists and three steals while grabbing six rebounds.
• Ako Adams scored 14 points.
• Adams connected on four-of-five three pointers, tying Marcus Jackson for third-place on the school's all-time three-point list with 182.
• Josh Parrish set season-highs with 13 points and eight rebounds.
• Trey Murphy III scored 12 points and grabbed four rebounds.
• Zach Crisler pulled down a career-high six rebounds.
Next Up
Rice closes its homestand this Saturday, Jan. 11, when it hosts FIU. Tip-off is scheduled for 2 p.m. CT and the game will be livestreamed by the ESPN+.
Team Stats
FAU
RICE
FG%
.464
.386
3FG%
.387
.308
FT%
.625
.889
RB
41
36
TO
16
14
STL
9
8
Game Leaders
Pts
15
FGM
5
3FGM
1
FTM
4
Pts
13
FGM
4
3FGM
0
FTM
5
Pts
12
FGM
3
3FGM
2
FTM
4
Players Mentioned
G
/ Men's Basketball
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/ Men's Basketball
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/ Men's Basketball
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