Thursday, December 3
Houston, TX
2 p.m.
Rice University
-30,00 CUSA
94
vs
74
LeTourneau
0-0,0-0ASC
1
2
F
LeTourneau
33
41
74
Rice
46
48
94
Photo by: Maria Lysaker
Rice Runs Past LeTourneau, 94-74
12/3/2020 6:42:00 PM | Men's Basketball
HOUSTON — Rice ran away from LeTourneau, earning a 94-74 victory in its home opener Thursday afternoon from Tudor Fieldhouse.
The Story
Rice started off slow, making just one basket in the first three minutes while turning the ball over three times. LeTourneau, meanwhile, made four of its first five shots to jump out to an early 9-2 lead. Rice slowly began to chip away at the deficit, taking its first lead, 12-11, on a Jake Lieppert free throw midway through the first half. The teams traded leads before Quincy Olivari broke a 14-14 tie with a three-pointer. The teams went back-and-forth over the next two minutes. With Rice leading 23-21, it went on a 9-2 run behind five points from Olivari to take a 32-23 lead with six minutes remaining in the first half. The Yellow Jackets cut the deficit to six, but a Chris Mullins layup sent Rice on a 9-2 run over the final 2:34 to grab a 46-33 lead at the break.
The teams traded three-pointers to open the second half. Layups by Max Fiedler and Travis Evee sent the Owls on an 11-3 run, capped off by a Fiedler dunk, as Rice extended its lead to 61-39, five minutes into the game. LeTourneau would get no closer than 15 points as the Owls led by as many as 23.
The Stats
Rice connected on 50.0% from the field, including 34.5% from three. LeTourneau was held to 41.7% from the floor and just 31.0% from three. Rice also outrebounded the Yellow Jackets, 48-to-37 and had 19 assists.
What Scott Pera Had to Say
"It was an afternoon game, first home game (and) first game without fans at all. It was just a weird situation. But, once we got ourselves going, I thought we got in a pretty good rhythm. I was a little disappointed in our defensive effort today. It's going to have to be better now that we go on the road for two games. But we're looking forward to it. We're happy to be 3-0 and to get the win today."
Notes
• Rice started 3-0 for the first time since starting 4-0 in 2011-12.
• Rice is 75-31 all-time in home openers and has won three straight.
• This was the first-ever regular season meeting between Rice and LeTourneau. The teams met in exhibition play in 2014 and 2015.
• Rice is 30-2 against non-Division I opponents since 2000, including having won its last 14.
• Max Fiedler led Rice with his third straight double-double, recording a career-high 16 points and 11 rebounds, while adding a team-high four assists.
• Fiedler is the first player to start the season with three straight double-doubles since Arsalan Kazemi in 2010-11.
• Quincy Olivari scored 15 points and grabbed a career-high six rebounds.
• Tre Clark scored a career-high 14 points and had four rebounds.
• Chris Mullins scored 13 points and grabbed five rebounds.
• Travis Evee scored 13 points and had three steals.
• Riley Abercrombie added nine points and a career-high six rebounds.
Next Up
Rice will stay in town this Saturday, Dec. 5, when it travels to Houston Baptist in the first of two meetings against the Huskies this year. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. The game will be livestreamed by Husky Sports Network.
The Story
Rice started off slow, making just one basket in the first three minutes while turning the ball over three times. LeTourneau, meanwhile, made four of its first five shots to jump out to an early 9-2 lead. Rice slowly began to chip away at the deficit, taking its first lead, 12-11, on a Jake Lieppert free throw midway through the first half. The teams traded leads before Quincy Olivari broke a 14-14 tie with a three-pointer. The teams went back-and-forth over the next two minutes. With Rice leading 23-21, it went on a 9-2 run behind five points from Olivari to take a 32-23 lead with six minutes remaining in the first half. The Yellow Jackets cut the deficit to six, but a Chris Mullins layup sent Rice on a 9-2 run over the final 2:34 to grab a 46-33 lead at the break.
The teams traded three-pointers to open the second half. Layups by Max Fiedler and Travis Evee sent the Owls on an 11-3 run, capped off by a Fiedler dunk, as Rice extended its lead to 61-39, five minutes into the game. LeTourneau would get no closer than 15 points as the Owls led by as many as 23.
The Stats
Rice connected on 50.0% from the field, including 34.5% from three. LeTourneau was held to 41.7% from the floor and just 31.0% from three. Rice also outrebounded the Yellow Jackets, 48-to-37 and had 19 assists.
What Scott Pera Had to Say
"It was an afternoon game, first home game (and) first game without fans at all. It was just a weird situation. But, once we got ourselves going, I thought we got in a pretty good rhythm. I was a little disappointed in our defensive effort today. It's going to have to be better now that we go on the road for two games. But we're looking forward to it. We're happy to be 3-0 and to get the win today."
Notes
• Rice started 3-0 for the first time since starting 4-0 in 2011-12.
• Rice is 75-31 all-time in home openers and has won three straight.
• This was the first-ever regular season meeting between Rice and LeTourneau. The teams met in exhibition play in 2014 and 2015.
• Rice is 30-2 against non-Division I opponents since 2000, including having won its last 14.
• Max Fiedler led Rice with his third straight double-double, recording a career-high 16 points and 11 rebounds, while adding a team-high four assists.
• Fiedler is the first player to start the season with three straight double-doubles since Arsalan Kazemi in 2010-11.
• Quincy Olivari scored 15 points and grabbed a career-high six rebounds.
• Tre Clark scored a career-high 14 points and had four rebounds.
• Chris Mullins scored 13 points and grabbed five rebounds.
• Travis Evee scored 13 points and had three steals.
• Riley Abercrombie added nine points and a career-high six rebounds.
Next Up
Rice will stay in town this Saturday, Dec. 5, when it travels to Houston Baptist in the first of two meetings against the Huskies this year. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. The game will be livestreamed by Husky Sports Network.
Team Stats
LETU
RICE
FG%
.417
.500
3FG%
.310
.345
FT%
.625
.588
RB
37
48
TO
17
15
STL
10
6
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
16
FGM
8
3FGM
0
FTM
0
Pts
15
FGM
5
3FGM
3
FTM
2
Pts
13
FGM
5
3FGM
2
FTM
1
Players Mentioned
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