Monday, December 21
Houston, TX
2 p.m.
Rice University
-62,00 CUSA
73
vs
62
New Orleans
1-7,0-0Southlan
1
2
F
New Orleans
25
37
62
Rice
20
53
73
Photo by: Maria Lysaker
Rice Defeats New Orleans in a Tale of Two Halves
12/21/2020 5:18:00 PM | Men's Basketball
HOUSTON, Texas — After connecting on just 25.0% from the field in the first half, Rice turned it on in the second, connecting on 51.7% to rally from a nine-point deficit and defeat New Orleans, 73-62, Monday afternoon in its final tune up before Conference USA play.
The Story
Rice struggled to begin the game, missing its first eight shots as New Orleans jumped out to an 8-0 lead. Riley Abercrombie got the Owls on the board with a pair of free throws. After a UNO basket, Abercrombie hit a three for Rice's first field goal, but UNO answered with a three of its own. A Quincy Olivari layup then sent Rice on a 7-0 run to pull within 13-12, but the Privateers came right back with an 8-0 run to take their largest lead of the game, 21-12, with 7:53 to play in the half. Chris Mullins cut the deficit to six with a three-pointer. UNO increased its lead with a layup, but Mullins made one-of-two free throws and Payton Moore made a layup. UNO made a layup, but Cavit Ege Havsa's putback right before the buzzer pulled Rice within 25-20 at the half.
Rice opened the half scoring seven of the first nine points to tie the game at 27 just two minutes in. After a UNO three-pointer, Olivari tied the game with a three. Max Fiedler gave Rice its first lead of the game with a layup, and Olivari made one of his own as a 7-0 Rice run forced a Privateer timeout. After a UNO three, Olivari made two free throws. But New Orleans scored seven of the next nine points to retake the lead, 40-38. Two Fiedler free throws sent Rice on a 14-3 run, capped off by consecutive Travis Evee three-pointers, as Rice took a 52-43 lead with 8:10 remaining. The teams traded three-pointers before UNO scored eight of the next 12 points to cut the deficit to 59-54 with 4:22 to play. But the Owls were a perfect 10-of-10 from the charity stripe the rest of the way to seal the victory.
The Stats
Rice connected on 38.6% from the field and 34.5% from three. It was also 86.4% from the free throw line. New Orleans was held to 35.4% from the floor and 34.4% from three. Rice also outrebounded the Privateers, 45-to-35.
Notes
• Rice improved to 6-2 on the year.
• The teams met for the third time overall and the first time since 2012-13.
• Rice improved to 3-0 against UNO.
• Rice is 44-35 all-time against the Southland Conference, including 4-1 this year.
• Rice set or tied season-highs for points in a half (53), free throws made (19) and free throw percentage (86.4%).
• Rice connected on 10 three-pointers, the sixth time it had at least 10 threes in a game this year.
• Rice's 53 points in the second half were the third time it scored at least 50 in a half this year.
• Riley Abercrombie and Quincy Olivari made their first career starts.
• Travis Evee scored a game-high 18 points and had two steals.
• Abercrombie scored a career-high 14 points and had seven rebounds.
• Olivari had 14 points.
• Chris Mullins had seven points and grabbed a season-high seven rebounds.
• Max Fiedler scored seven points, had a game-high 12 rebounds and a career-high five assists.
• It was Fiedler's fifth double-figure rebound game this year and the eighth of his career.
Next Up
Rice begins Conference USA play with a home series against UTSA on Jan 1 and 2. Both games will tip-off at 2 p.m. and will be livestreamed by ESPN+.
The Story
Rice struggled to begin the game, missing its first eight shots as New Orleans jumped out to an 8-0 lead. Riley Abercrombie got the Owls on the board with a pair of free throws. After a UNO basket, Abercrombie hit a three for Rice's first field goal, but UNO answered with a three of its own. A Quincy Olivari layup then sent Rice on a 7-0 run to pull within 13-12, but the Privateers came right back with an 8-0 run to take their largest lead of the game, 21-12, with 7:53 to play in the half. Chris Mullins cut the deficit to six with a three-pointer. UNO increased its lead with a layup, but Mullins made one-of-two free throws and Payton Moore made a layup. UNO made a layup, but Cavit Ege Havsa's putback right before the buzzer pulled Rice within 25-20 at the half.
Rice opened the half scoring seven of the first nine points to tie the game at 27 just two minutes in. After a UNO three-pointer, Olivari tied the game with a three. Max Fiedler gave Rice its first lead of the game with a layup, and Olivari made one of his own as a 7-0 Rice run forced a Privateer timeout. After a UNO three, Olivari made two free throws. But New Orleans scored seven of the next nine points to retake the lead, 40-38. Two Fiedler free throws sent Rice on a 14-3 run, capped off by consecutive Travis Evee three-pointers, as Rice took a 52-43 lead with 8:10 remaining. The teams traded three-pointers before UNO scored eight of the next 12 points to cut the deficit to 59-54 with 4:22 to play. But the Owls were a perfect 10-of-10 from the charity stripe the rest of the way to seal the victory.
The Stats
Rice connected on 38.6% from the field and 34.5% from three. It was also 86.4% from the free throw line. New Orleans was held to 35.4% from the floor and 34.4% from three. Rice also outrebounded the Privateers, 45-to-35.
Notes
• Rice improved to 6-2 on the year.
• The teams met for the third time overall and the first time since 2012-13.
• Rice improved to 3-0 against UNO.
• Rice is 44-35 all-time against the Southland Conference, including 4-1 this year.
• Rice set or tied season-highs for points in a half (53), free throws made (19) and free throw percentage (86.4%).
• Rice connected on 10 three-pointers, the sixth time it had at least 10 threes in a game this year.
• Rice's 53 points in the second half were the third time it scored at least 50 in a half this year.
• Riley Abercrombie and Quincy Olivari made their first career starts.
• Travis Evee scored a game-high 18 points and had two steals.
• Abercrombie scored a career-high 14 points and had seven rebounds.
• Olivari had 14 points.
• Chris Mullins had seven points and grabbed a season-high seven rebounds.
• Max Fiedler scored seven points, had a game-high 12 rebounds and a career-high five assists.
• It was Fiedler's fifth double-figure rebound game this year and the eighth of his career.
Next Up
Rice begins Conference USA play with a home series against UTSA on Jan 1 and 2. Both games will tip-off at 2 p.m. and will be livestreamed by ESPN+.
Team Stats
UNO
RICE
FG%
.354
.386
3FG%
.344
.345
FT%
.714
.864
RB
35
45
TO
12
11
STL
6
6
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
18
FGM
5
3FGM
4
FTM
4
Pts
14
FGM
3
3FGM
1
FTM
7
Pts
14
FGM
4
3FGM
2
FTM
4
Pts
9
FGM
4
3FGM
1
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
F
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/ Men's Basketball
/ Men's Basketball
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