Saturday, February 8
Murfreesboro, TN
5 p.m.
Rice University
-1213,48 CUSA
91
at
83
Middle Tennessee
-619,210 CUSA
1
2
F
Rice
45
46
91
Middle Tenn.
32
51
83
Photo by: Maria Lysaker - Rice Athletics
Rice Holds Off Middle Tennessee, 91-83
2/8/2020 8:55:00 PM | Men's Basketball
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — Rice went 12-of-12 from the free throw line in the final 1:11 as the Owls held off Middle Tennessee, 91-83, and earn its first-ever win in Murfreesboro, Saturday night from the Murphy Center.
How it Happened
The teams started slow as Rice led just 6-2 through the first four minutes. After trading baskets, Middle Tennessee made a pair of free throws. With the Owls leading 9-6, they went on a 9-0 run that was capped off by Trey Murphy III's three-pointer, taking an 18-6 lead just over eight minutes into the game. MT made one-of-two free throws and a layup before Quincy Olivari made a pair of free throws. The Blue Raiders scored six of the next eight points to cut the lead to 22-15, but a layup by Payton Moore sent Rice on an 8-0 run to take a 30-15 lead with 6:43 to play in the half. Middle Tennessee responded with an 8-2 run to get it within single digits, but Murphy's three-pointer sent Rice on an 11-4 run that ended with Tommy McCarthy's four-point play to give it its largest lead of the game, 43-27, before heading into halftime with a 45-32 advantage.
Rice started off slow to begin the second half as Middle Tennessee opened on a 12-5 run to cut the lead to 50-42 in the first six minutes. An 8-2 Owls run pushed their lead back to 58-44 with 11:59 to play. However, Rice missed five of its next six shots as MT went on a 12-3 run to pull within 61-56. After a Moore dunk and two Robert Martin free throws, Middle Tennessee made a pair from the charity stripe. Chris Mullins and Parrish each split a pair of free throws, but five points by the Blue Raiders cut the Rice lead to 67-63 with 5:48 to play. Parrish made a layup and Mullins hit a pair of free throws before the teams traded baskets. With Rice leading 79-68, the Blue Raiders scored six straight points to pull within 79-74 with 1:24 to play. But Drew Peterson, Mullins and Murphy connected on 12 straight free throws to close the game and seal the victory.
What Scott Pera Had to Say
"I thought we really handled it well down the stretch. Our guys stayed confident at the foul line. To go 12-for-12 (in the last 1:11) is amazing. Give Middle Tennessee credit. They really fought. They have some talented players who made some big shots to keep them in the game. But our guys kept their poise and their composure. We got the ball in the right people's hands to make the right plays. I'm just really happy for our guys and the entire program."
The Stats
Rice connected on 52.8% from the field and 33.3% from three. Middle Tennessee was held to 42.2% from the floor and 33.3% from behind the arc. Rice was also 28-of-38 (73.7%) from the free throw line. The Owls outrebounded the Blue Raiders, 36-to-35.
Notes
• Rice improved to 12-13 on the year and 4-8 in Conference USA.
• Rice improved to 5-6 all-time against Middle Tennessee and 1-4 in Murfreesboro.
• Rice shot 52.8% from the floor, the eighth time it shot at least 50.0% this year.
• Rice made a season-high 28 free throws.
• Rice had two players score at least 20 points for the first time since Robert Martin and Chris Mullins did it against UC Santa Barbara on Dec. 15, 2018.
• Payton Moore made his first career start, scoring eight points.
• Josh Parrish scored a career-high 21 points on 9-of-12 shooting and tied a season-high with eight rebounds.
• It was Parrish's first career 20-point game.
• Trey Murphy III scored 21 points and had a team-high nine rebounds.
• It was Murphy's team-leading fifth 20-point game of the season and sixth of his career.
• Chris Mullins scored a season-high 16 points.
• Mullins' nine free throws made and 11 free throw attempts were the most by a Rice player this year.
• Tommy McCarthy scored a season-high eight points.
• Drew Peterson scored eight points, had eight rebounds and a game-high seven assists.
Next Up
Rice returns home for its final two games before C-USA Bonus Play, beginning next Thursday, Feb. 13, against Old Dominion. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. CT and the game will be livestreamed by the ESPN+.
How it Happened
The teams started slow as Rice led just 6-2 through the first four minutes. After trading baskets, Middle Tennessee made a pair of free throws. With the Owls leading 9-6, they went on a 9-0 run that was capped off by Trey Murphy III's three-pointer, taking an 18-6 lead just over eight minutes into the game. MT made one-of-two free throws and a layup before Quincy Olivari made a pair of free throws. The Blue Raiders scored six of the next eight points to cut the lead to 22-15, but a layup by Payton Moore sent Rice on an 8-0 run to take a 30-15 lead with 6:43 to play in the half. Middle Tennessee responded with an 8-2 run to get it within single digits, but Murphy's three-pointer sent Rice on an 11-4 run that ended with Tommy McCarthy's four-point play to give it its largest lead of the game, 43-27, before heading into halftime with a 45-32 advantage.
Rice started off slow to begin the second half as Middle Tennessee opened on a 12-5 run to cut the lead to 50-42 in the first six minutes. An 8-2 Owls run pushed their lead back to 58-44 with 11:59 to play. However, Rice missed five of its next six shots as MT went on a 12-3 run to pull within 61-56. After a Moore dunk and two Robert Martin free throws, Middle Tennessee made a pair from the charity stripe. Chris Mullins and Parrish each split a pair of free throws, but five points by the Blue Raiders cut the Rice lead to 67-63 with 5:48 to play. Parrish made a layup and Mullins hit a pair of free throws before the teams traded baskets. With Rice leading 79-68, the Blue Raiders scored six straight points to pull within 79-74 with 1:24 to play. But Drew Peterson, Mullins and Murphy connected on 12 straight free throws to close the game and seal the victory.
What Scott Pera Had to Say
"I thought we really handled it well down the stretch. Our guys stayed confident at the foul line. To go 12-for-12 (in the last 1:11) is amazing. Give Middle Tennessee credit. They really fought. They have some talented players who made some big shots to keep them in the game. But our guys kept their poise and their composure. We got the ball in the right people's hands to make the right plays. I'm just really happy for our guys and the entire program."
The Stats
Rice connected on 52.8% from the field and 33.3% from three. Middle Tennessee was held to 42.2% from the floor and 33.3% from behind the arc. Rice was also 28-of-38 (73.7%) from the free throw line. The Owls outrebounded the Blue Raiders, 36-to-35.
Notes
• Rice improved to 12-13 on the year and 4-8 in Conference USA.
• Rice improved to 5-6 all-time against Middle Tennessee and 1-4 in Murfreesboro.
• Rice shot 52.8% from the floor, the eighth time it shot at least 50.0% this year.
• Rice made a season-high 28 free throws.
• Rice had two players score at least 20 points for the first time since Robert Martin and Chris Mullins did it against UC Santa Barbara on Dec. 15, 2018.
• Payton Moore made his first career start, scoring eight points.
• Josh Parrish scored a career-high 21 points on 9-of-12 shooting and tied a season-high with eight rebounds.
• It was Parrish's first career 20-point game.
• Trey Murphy III scored 21 points and had a team-high nine rebounds.
• It was Murphy's team-leading fifth 20-point game of the season and sixth of his career.
• Chris Mullins scored a season-high 16 points.
• Mullins' nine free throws made and 11 free throw attempts were the most by a Rice player this year.
• Tommy McCarthy scored a season-high eight points.
• Drew Peterson scored eight points, had eight rebounds and a game-high seven assists.
Next Up
Rice returns home for its final two games before C-USA Bonus Play, beginning next Thursday, Feb. 13, against Old Dominion. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. CT and the game will be livestreamed by the ESPN+.
Team Stats
RICE
MTSU
FG%
.528
.422
3FG%
.333
.333
FT%
.737
.750
RB
36
35
TO
7
9
STL
4
4
Game Leaders
Pts
21
FGM
9
3FGM
0
FTM
3
Pts
21
FGM
6
3FGM
4
FTM
5
Pts
16
FGM
3
3FGM
1
FTM
9
Pts
8
FGM
4
3FGM
0
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
G
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's Basketball
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/ Men's Basketball
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/ Men's Basketball
G/F
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