Saturday, January 9
El Paso, TX
8 p.m.
Rice University
-93,31 CUSA
71
at
68
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UTEP
-64,22 CUSA
1
2
F
Rice
34
37
71
UTEP
34
34
68
Photo by: Ivan Pierre Aguirre
Rice Splits Series with 71-68 Victory at UTEP
1/10/2021 12:31:00 AM | Men's Basketball
EL PASO, Texas — Behind big games from Travis Evee and Max Fiedler, Rice earned a split of its road series at UTEP, 71-68, Saturday night at the Don Haskins Center.
The Story
The game was a back-and-forth affair. Rice made its first six shots as it jumped out to a 15-12 lead, 5:30 into the game. UTEP scored eight of the next 10 points, but two straight Max Fiedler baskets gave Rice a 21-20 lead. Rice went the next 4:21 without a field goal, but UTEP was only able to take a 23-21 lead before five straight points by Travis Evee gave Rice a 26-23 advantage. The Miners tied the game at 26, but layups by Evee and Fiedler gave Rice its largest lead of the half, 30-26, with 4:28 to play. UTEP scored eight of the next 10 points, but a Fiedler putback with one second left sent the teams into halftime tied at 34.
UTEP opened the second half with a three-pointer. Chris Mullins made one-of-two free throws but a Miner basket gave them a four-point lead. But the Owls went on a 12-0 run, capped off by back-to-back three-pointers by Riley Abercrombie and Evee, to take a 47-39 lead just four minutes into the second half. However, Rice missed six of its next seven shots UTEP scored seven of the next nine points to pull within 49-46. The teams then traded baskets. With Rice leading 54-51. Evee and Quincy Olivari buried threes and Cavit Ege Havsa found Tre Clark for an open dunk as the Owls took their biggest lead of the game, 62-51, with 7:36 to play. However, the Miners wouldn't go away, going on a 12-4 run to cut the deficit to three with 1:29 remaining. An Evee jumper pushed Rice's lead to five. Jamal Bieniemy made one-of-two free throws and then hit a jumper to pull UTEP within 68-66 with 27 seconds left. Olivari made three-of-four free throws, and with Rice holding a three-point lead, it fouled Souley Boum with five seconds left to prevent a three-pointer. Boum missed the front end of a one-and-one and Abercrombie pulled down the rebound to seal the victory.
The Stats
Rice connected on 46.6% (27-of-58) from the field and 47.1% (8-of-17) from three. UTEP was held to 39.0% (23-of-59) from the floor but connected on 40.0% (8-of-20) from three. Rice outrebounded the Miners, 38-to-32.
What Scott Pera Had to Say
"This was a statement win. (UTEP) is a terrific basketball team that we just beat on their home floor. Our kids absolutely battled. They had a great frame of mind when they woke up today. They listened to the preparation and they just went out and defended. We went back to being who we are and who we needed to be."
Notes
• Rice improved to 9-3 on the year and 3-1 in Conference USA.
• The Owls improved to 14-28 against UTEP and 5-17 in El Paso.
• Rice connected on a season-high 47.1% (8-of-17) from three.
• Travis Evee scored a game-high 21 points, his fourth 20-point game of the season.
• He also had six assists.
• Max Fiedler scored 19 points and grabbed 13 rebounds.
• It was Fiedler's fifth double-double of the year.
Next Up
Rice returns home for a weekend series against Old Dominion on Jan 15 and 16. Friday's game will tip off at 2 p.m. while Saturday's game is scheduled for 1 p.m. Both will be livestreamed at ESPN+.
The Story
The game was a back-and-forth affair. Rice made its first six shots as it jumped out to a 15-12 lead, 5:30 into the game. UTEP scored eight of the next 10 points, but two straight Max Fiedler baskets gave Rice a 21-20 lead. Rice went the next 4:21 without a field goal, but UTEP was only able to take a 23-21 lead before five straight points by Travis Evee gave Rice a 26-23 advantage. The Miners tied the game at 26, but layups by Evee and Fiedler gave Rice its largest lead of the half, 30-26, with 4:28 to play. UTEP scored eight of the next 10 points, but a Fiedler putback with one second left sent the teams into halftime tied at 34.
UTEP opened the second half with a three-pointer. Chris Mullins made one-of-two free throws but a Miner basket gave them a four-point lead. But the Owls went on a 12-0 run, capped off by back-to-back three-pointers by Riley Abercrombie and Evee, to take a 47-39 lead just four minutes into the second half. However, Rice missed six of its next seven shots UTEP scored seven of the next nine points to pull within 49-46. The teams then traded baskets. With Rice leading 54-51. Evee and Quincy Olivari buried threes and Cavit Ege Havsa found Tre Clark for an open dunk as the Owls took their biggest lead of the game, 62-51, with 7:36 to play. However, the Miners wouldn't go away, going on a 12-4 run to cut the deficit to three with 1:29 remaining. An Evee jumper pushed Rice's lead to five. Jamal Bieniemy made one-of-two free throws and then hit a jumper to pull UTEP within 68-66 with 27 seconds left. Olivari made three-of-four free throws, and with Rice holding a three-point lead, it fouled Souley Boum with five seconds left to prevent a three-pointer. Boum missed the front end of a one-and-one and Abercrombie pulled down the rebound to seal the victory.
The Stats
Rice connected on 46.6% (27-of-58) from the field and 47.1% (8-of-17) from three. UTEP was held to 39.0% (23-of-59) from the floor but connected on 40.0% (8-of-20) from three. Rice outrebounded the Miners, 38-to-32.
What Scott Pera Had to Say
"This was a statement win. (UTEP) is a terrific basketball team that we just beat on their home floor. Our kids absolutely battled. They had a great frame of mind when they woke up today. They listened to the preparation and they just went out and defended. We went back to being who we are and who we needed to be."
Notes
• Rice improved to 9-3 on the year and 3-1 in Conference USA.
• The Owls improved to 14-28 against UTEP and 5-17 in El Paso.
• Rice connected on a season-high 47.1% (8-of-17) from three.
• Travis Evee scored a game-high 21 points, his fourth 20-point game of the season.
• He also had six assists.
• Max Fiedler scored 19 points and grabbed 13 rebounds.
• It was Fiedler's fifth double-double of the year.
Next Up
Rice returns home for a weekend series against Old Dominion on Jan 15 and 16. Friday's game will tip off at 2 p.m. while Saturday's game is scheduled for 1 p.m. Both will be livestreamed at ESPN+.
Team Stats
RICE
UTEP
FG%
.466
.390
3FG%
.471
.400
FT%
.563
.737
RB
39
31
TO
15
11
STL
5
7
Game Leaders
Pts
21
FGM
7
3FGM
5
FTM
2
Pts
19
FGM
9
3FGM
0
FTM
1
Pts
8
FGM
2
3FGM
1
FTM
3
Pts
8
FGM
3
3FGM
2
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
F
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's Basketball
F
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's Basketball/ Men's Basketball
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