Saturday, March 7
Houston, TX
1 p.m.
Rice University
-1516,711 CUSA
72
vs
77
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UTEP
-1714,810 CUSA
1
2
F
UTEP
30
47
77
Rice
26
46
72
Photo by: © Maria Lysaker
Rice Drops Regular Season Finale to UTEP, 77-72
3/7/2020 4:56:00 PM | Men's Basketball
HOUSTON — Rice was held to just 35.9% from the field, dropping its regular season finale to UTEP, 77-72, Saturday afternoon from Tudor Fieldhouse.
How it Happened
Chris Mullins started off the scoring with a jumper from the free throw line. But the Owls missed their next six shots as UTEP rattled off nine straight points. The teams then traded baskets over the next four minutes. With the Miners leading 17-10 midway through the opening half, a pair of baskets by Robert Martin and a layup by Josh Parrish pulled Rice within a point with 7:50 to play. UTEP then hit two three's to score six of seven points, but baskets from Martin and Trey Murphy III cut the deficit to 23-21 with 2:50 remaining. The Miners scored seven of nine points to push their lead to seven, but an Ako Adams three-pointer right before the buzzer sent Rice into halftime trailing just 30-26.
Mullins opened the second half with a three-pointer that cut UTEP's lead to one. However, the Owls missed 14 of their next 15 shots as the Miners extended their lead to as much as 55-41 with 7:59 to play. Murphy then made two free throws as Rice went on a 9-1 run to pull within 57-50 with 5:33 to play. But Rice could not score on its next five possessions before the teams traded baskets. UTEP pushed its lead back to 11 with under two minutes remaining before making 10 of 12 free throws to put the game away.
What Scott Pera Had to Say
"All the credit goes to UTEP. They played a really good game from the start and led most of the way. We had our chances but we didn't shoot the ball well. When we don't shoot the ball well, we have a hard time winning. I thought we were past the hiccup where the offense affects the defense, but a little bit in the second half, it started affecting our defense. The guys just couldn't get a rhythm on offense and couldn't make shots they normally make. We're going to continue to get those same shots from those same guys. But all the credit goes to UTEP. They deserved to win."
The Stats
Rice was held to just 35.9% from the field and 25.7% from three. UTEP connected on 43.9% from the floor and 39.1% from behind the arc. Rice was outrebounded, 42-to-38, but connected on 17-of-23 (73.9%) from the free throw line.
Notes
• Rice fell to 15-16 on the year and finished its Conference USA schedule with a 7-11 record.
• Rice dropped to 13-27 in the series and 8-9 in games played in Houston.
• With the loss, Rice will be the 12th seed in next week's Conference USA Tournament.
• Trey Murphy III scored a team-high 16 points and grabbed four rebounds.
• With two three-pointers, Murphy now has 74 on the year, passing Ako Adams (2018-19) and Austin Ramljak (2012-13) for 11th-place on Rice's single season three-pointers made list.
• Ako Adams scored 13 points and tied a season-high with four rebounds.
• With 13 points, Adams now has 1,117 career points, passing Max Guercy (2012-16) and Kenneth Rourke (1988-92) for 28th-place on Rice's all-time scoring list.
• With three three-pointers, Adams has 77 on the season, passing Tommy McGhee (1995-96) and tying Morris Almond (2006-07) for ninth-place on Rice's single-season three-pointer made list.
• Robert Martin scored 12 points and had team-highs of eight rebounds and four assists.
• Josh Parrish scored six points and grabbed a team-high eight rebounds.
Next Up
Rice will open next week's Air Force Reserve Conference USA Tournament on Wednesday, Mar. 11. Time and opponent will be announced later tonight.
How it Happened
Chris Mullins started off the scoring with a jumper from the free throw line. But the Owls missed their next six shots as UTEP rattled off nine straight points. The teams then traded baskets over the next four minutes. With the Miners leading 17-10 midway through the opening half, a pair of baskets by Robert Martin and a layup by Josh Parrish pulled Rice within a point with 7:50 to play. UTEP then hit two three's to score six of seven points, but baskets from Martin and Trey Murphy III cut the deficit to 23-21 with 2:50 remaining. The Miners scored seven of nine points to push their lead to seven, but an Ako Adams three-pointer right before the buzzer sent Rice into halftime trailing just 30-26.
Mullins opened the second half with a three-pointer that cut UTEP's lead to one. However, the Owls missed 14 of their next 15 shots as the Miners extended their lead to as much as 55-41 with 7:59 to play. Murphy then made two free throws as Rice went on a 9-1 run to pull within 57-50 with 5:33 to play. But Rice could not score on its next five possessions before the teams traded baskets. UTEP pushed its lead back to 11 with under two minutes remaining before making 10 of 12 free throws to put the game away.
What Scott Pera Had to Say
"All the credit goes to UTEP. They played a really good game from the start and led most of the way. We had our chances but we didn't shoot the ball well. When we don't shoot the ball well, we have a hard time winning. I thought we were past the hiccup where the offense affects the defense, but a little bit in the second half, it started affecting our defense. The guys just couldn't get a rhythm on offense and couldn't make shots they normally make. We're going to continue to get those same shots from those same guys. But all the credit goes to UTEP. They deserved to win."
The Stats
Rice was held to just 35.9% from the field and 25.7% from three. UTEP connected on 43.9% from the floor and 39.1% from behind the arc. Rice was outrebounded, 42-to-38, but connected on 17-of-23 (73.9%) from the free throw line.
Notes
• Rice fell to 15-16 on the year and finished its Conference USA schedule with a 7-11 record.
• Rice dropped to 13-27 in the series and 8-9 in games played in Houston.
• With the loss, Rice will be the 12th seed in next week's Conference USA Tournament.
• Trey Murphy III scored a team-high 16 points and grabbed four rebounds.
• With two three-pointers, Murphy now has 74 on the year, passing Ako Adams (2018-19) and Austin Ramljak (2012-13) for 11th-place on Rice's single season three-pointers made list.
• Ako Adams scored 13 points and tied a season-high with four rebounds.
• With 13 points, Adams now has 1,117 career points, passing Max Guercy (2012-16) and Kenneth Rourke (1988-92) for 28th-place on Rice's all-time scoring list.
• With three three-pointers, Adams has 77 on the season, passing Tommy McGhee (1995-96) and tying Morris Almond (2006-07) for ninth-place on Rice's single-season three-pointer made list.
• Robert Martin scored 12 points and had team-highs of eight rebounds and four assists.
• Josh Parrish scored six points and grabbed a team-high eight rebounds.
Next Up
Rice will open next week's Air Force Reserve Conference USA Tournament on Wednesday, Mar. 11. Time and opponent will be announced later tonight.
Team Stats
UTEP
RICE
FG%
.439
.359
3FG%
.391
.257
FT%
.720
.739
RB
42
38
TO
17
13
STL
6
3
Game Leaders
Pts
16
FGM
5
3FGM
2
FTM
4
Pts
12
FGM
6
3FGM
0
FTM
0
Pts
9
FGM
2
3FGM
1
FTM
4
Players Mentioned
G
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