Sunday, March 1
Houston, TX
2 p.m.
Rice University
-1415,610 CUSA
77
vs
66
Middle Tennessee
-722,313 CUSA
1
2
F
Middle Tenn.
29
37
66
Rice
24
53
77
Photo by: Maria Lysaker
Second Half Sharp Shooting Sends Rice to 77-66 Victory over Middle Tennessee
3/1/2020 5:44:00 PM | Men's Basketball
HOUSTON — Rice shot 64.3% in the second half to turn a 12-point deficit into a 77-66 victory over Middle Tennessee, Sunday afternoon at Tudor Fieldhouse.
How it Happened
Turnovers plagued both teams throughout the first half. Rice took an early 5-2, but Middle Tennessee went on a 9-2 run to take an 11-7 lead. Back-to-back three-pointers by Trey Murphy III and Robert Martin gave Rice a 13-11 lead 6:48 into the game, forcing a Blue Raider timeout. However, the Owls missed seven straight shots over the next 8:36 while turning the ball over six times as MTSU went on a 16-2 run to take its largest lead of game, 27-15. After trading baskets, Murphy hit his second three-pointer as Rice closed the half on a 7-0 run to pull within 29-24 at the break.
Middle Tennessee scored the first five points of the second half to extend its lead back to 10. Rice then scored seven of nine points, but a pair of MTSU free throws pushed its lead to seven. Quincy Olivari's three brought Rice within four, but a jumper by Tyson Jackson gave the Blue Raiders a 40-34 lead 6:15 into the second half. That's when Rice took over. Martin and Drew Peterson had back-to-back three-point plays to tie the game. After a stop, Peterson gave Rice a lead it would never relinquish. Rice then forced three straight turnovers, scoring seven points off them to finish off a 15-0 run and take a 49-40 lead. After two Middle Tennessee free throws, Martin hit a three-pointer and Peterson converted a three-point play. MTSU scored six of the next seven points before two Ako Adams free throws brought the lead back to 10. Reggie Scurry's layup with 6:32 remaining cut the lead to 58-50. But a Murphy three-pointer sent Rice on a 16-3 run to give the Owls its largest lead of the game, 74-53, with 2:42 to play, putting the game out of reach.
What Scott Pera Had to Say
"I really think that second half was, if not the best, one of the best halves that we played all year. Until the last two minutes, the first 18 minutes of the second half were as good as we've been defensively and as good as we've been offensively. You saw the result. We got the big lead and had the chance to get some guys in, so I'm just really happy with the win tonight."
The Stats
Rice connected on 52.0% from the field and 40.9% from three. Middle Tennessee connected on 42.6% from the floor but just 29.2% from behind the arc. Rice also connected on 84.2% from the free throw line and outrebounded the Blue Raiders, 31-to-29.
Notes
• Rice improved to 14-15 on the year and 6-10 in Conference USA.
• Rice tied the series with Middle Tennessee at 6-6 and is 5-2 in Houston.
• The Owls have now won four straight against the Blue Raiders dating back to last year.
• Rice connected on 52.0% from the floor, the 10th time it shot at least 50.0% this year.
• The Owls scored a season-high 30 points off turnovers.
• Drew Peterson recorded his fourth double-double of the year with 14 points and a career-high 10 assists. He also had five rebounds.
• Peterson is the first player with a double-double consisting of points and assists since Max Guercy against UAB on Feb. 14, 2015.
• Peterson is the first player with 10 assists in a game since Max Guercy had 11 at Charlotte on Feb. 16, 2016.
• Peterson is also just the second player in school history to record at least 16 points, 10 assists and five rebounds in a game.
• Trey Murphy III scored 21 points and grabbed a game-high eight rebounds. It is his team-high sixth 20-point game this year and the seventh of his career.
• Robert Martin scored 21 points. It is his fourth 20-point game this year and the eighth of his career.
• It is the second time this year that Rice has had two players score at least 20-points.
• With two three-pointers, Ako Adams now has 73 this year, setting a new season-high and moving into 11th-place on the single-season three-pointers made list.
• With four three-pointers, Trey Murphy has set a new season-high with 68.
Next Up
Rice goes on the road for the final time this Wednesday, Mar. 4, when it travels to Hattiesburg, Miss., to face Southern Miss. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. and will livestreamed at ESPN3.
How it Happened
Turnovers plagued both teams throughout the first half. Rice took an early 5-2, but Middle Tennessee went on a 9-2 run to take an 11-7 lead. Back-to-back three-pointers by Trey Murphy III and Robert Martin gave Rice a 13-11 lead 6:48 into the game, forcing a Blue Raider timeout. However, the Owls missed seven straight shots over the next 8:36 while turning the ball over six times as MTSU went on a 16-2 run to take its largest lead of game, 27-15. After trading baskets, Murphy hit his second three-pointer as Rice closed the half on a 7-0 run to pull within 29-24 at the break.
Middle Tennessee scored the first five points of the second half to extend its lead back to 10. Rice then scored seven of nine points, but a pair of MTSU free throws pushed its lead to seven. Quincy Olivari's three brought Rice within four, but a jumper by Tyson Jackson gave the Blue Raiders a 40-34 lead 6:15 into the second half. That's when Rice took over. Martin and Drew Peterson had back-to-back three-point plays to tie the game. After a stop, Peterson gave Rice a lead it would never relinquish. Rice then forced three straight turnovers, scoring seven points off them to finish off a 15-0 run and take a 49-40 lead. After two Middle Tennessee free throws, Martin hit a three-pointer and Peterson converted a three-point play. MTSU scored six of the next seven points before two Ako Adams free throws brought the lead back to 10. Reggie Scurry's layup with 6:32 remaining cut the lead to 58-50. But a Murphy three-pointer sent Rice on a 16-3 run to give the Owls its largest lead of the game, 74-53, with 2:42 to play, putting the game out of reach.
What Scott Pera Had to Say
"I really think that second half was, if not the best, one of the best halves that we played all year. Until the last two minutes, the first 18 minutes of the second half were as good as we've been defensively and as good as we've been offensively. You saw the result. We got the big lead and had the chance to get some guys in, so I'm just really happy with the win tonight."
The Stats
Rice connected on 52.0% from the field and 40.9% from three. Middle Tennessee connected on 42.6% from the floor but just 29.2% from behind the arc. Rice also connected on 84.2% from the free throw line and outrebounded the Blue Raiders, 31-to-29.
Notes
• Rice improved to 14-15 on the year and 6-10 in Conference USA.
• Rice tied the series with Middle Tennessee at 6-6 and is 5-2 in Houston.
• The Owls have now won four straight against the Blue Raiders dating back to last year.
• Rice connected on 52.0% from the floor, the 10th time it shot at least 50.0% this year.
• The Owls scored a season-high 30 points off turnovers.
• Drew Peterson recorded his fourth double-double of the year with 14 points and a career-high 10 assists. He also had five rebounds.
• Peterson is the first player with a double-double consisting of points and assists since Max Guercy against UAB on Feb. 14, 2015.
• Peterson is the first player with 10 assists in a game since Max Guercy had 11 at Charlotte on Feb. 16, 2016.
• Peterson is also just the second player in school history to record at least 16 points, 10 assists and five rebounds in a game.
• Trey Murphy III scored 21 points and grabbed a game-high eight rebounds. It is his team-high sixth 20-point game this year and the seventh of his career.
• Robert Martin scored 21 points. It is his fourth 20-point game this year and the eighth of his career.
• It is the second time this year that Rice has had two players score at least 20-points.
• With two three-pointers, Ako Adams now has 73 this year, setting a new season-high and moving into 11th-place on the single-season three-pointers made list.
• With four three-pointers, Trey Murphy has set a new season-high with 68.
Next Up
Rice goes on the road for the final time this Wednesday, Mar. 4, when it travels to Hattiesburg, Miss., to face Southern Miss. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. and will livestreamed at ESPN3.
Team Stats
MTSU
RICE
FG%
.426
.520
3FG%
.292
.409
FT%
.684
.842
RB
29
31
TO
20
22
STL
9
9
Game Leaders
Pts
21
FGM
8
3FGM
4
FTM
1
Pts
21
FGM
8
3FGM
2
FTM
3
Pts
16
FGM
6
3FGM
0
FTM
4
Players Mentioned
G
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G
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