Saturday, January 2
Houston, TX
2 p.m.
Rice University
-82,20 CUSA
84
vs
69
UTSA
-45,02 CUSA
1
2
F
UTSA
28
41
69
Rice
48
36
84
Photo by: Maria Lysaker
Rice Dominates UTSA, 84-69
1/2/2021 6:05:00 PM | Men's Basketball
HOUSTON, Texas — Rice led from start to finish, connecting on a season-high 56.4% from the field as it defeated UTSA for the second straight day, 84-69, Saturday afternoon from Tudor Fieldhouse.
The Story
Rice came out firing, hitting its first five shots to take an early 12-4 lead. After a UTSA basket, Quincy Olivari hit a three and Mylyjael Poteat got his first points of the season on a putback. The Roadrunners got a layup, but a three from Payton Moore followed by a Cavit Ege Havsa layup gave Rice a 22-8 lead nine minutes in. However, UTSA scored nine of the next 12 points to get within nine points, 25-17, with eight minutes left in the first half. The teams exchanged buckets before an Olivari three and a pair of Chris Mullins free throws pushed Rice's lead to 32-19. After UTSA converted a three-point play, Riley Abercrombie connected on a three-pointer and Olivari turned a turnover into a jumper. The Roadrunners cut the deficit to 37-26 with 3:30 to play. But the Owls closed the half on an 11-2 run to take a 48-28 lead into halftime.
Rice continued its hot shooting in the second half, connecting on four of its first five shots as it opened the half on a 15-4 run. After two UTSA free throws, Olivari hit a three-pointer to give Rice its largest lead of the game, 66-34, 6:30 into the second half. The Roadrunners scored eight straight points before the teams traded baskets over the next 3:15. UTSA would get no closer than 15 points the rest of the way.
The Stats
Rice connected on 56.4% from the field and 39.3% from three. UTSA was held to just 36.8% from the floor and 23.8% from three. The teams each grabbed 37 rebounds but Rice recorded 19 assists.
What Scott Pera Had to Say
"I'm really proud of our guys. We came out totally focused. (We were) razor sharp and focused to do a job and get the win. To be up 20 at the half and take it to 32 against (UTSA), I'm really, really proud of our guys. I'm proud of their approach, proud of their togetherness and really happy to get two (wins) at home. That's important."
Notes
• Rice improved to 8-2 on the year and 2-0 in Conference USA.
• Rice started 2-0 in conference for the first time since 2006-07 and just the third time since joining Conference USA.
• The Owls improved to 7-10 against UTSA and 6-4 in Houston.
• Rice won consecutive games in the series for just the second time.
• Rice connected on a season-high 56.4% from the field.
• Chris Mullins led all scorers with a season-high 20 points while recording six rebounds, three assists and two steals.
• Max Fiedler scored a career-high 18 points on a perfect eight-for-eight from the field.
• Quincy Olivari scored 15 points and grabbed a career-high eight rebounds.
• Travis Evee added 10 points and four assists.
• Mylyjael Poteat scored his first career points while grabbing two rebounds.
Next Up
Rice will travel to El Paso for a pair of games at UTEP on Jan 8 and 9. Both games will tip-off at 8 p.m. CT. Friday's game will be livestreamed at CUSAtv while Saturday's will be livestreamed at ESPN+.
The Story
Rice came out firing, hitting its first five shots to take an early 12-4 lead. After a UTSA basket, Quincy Olivari hit a three and Mylyjael Poteat got his first points of the season on a putback. The Roadrunners got a layup, but a three from Payton Moore followed by a Cavit Ege Havsa layup gave Rice a 22-8 lead nine minutes in. However, UTSA scored nine of the next 12 points to get within nine points, 25-17, with eight minutes left in the first half. The teams exchanged buckets before an Olivari three and a pair of Chris Mullins free throws pushed Rice's lead to 32-19. After UTSA converted a three-point play, Riley Abercrombie connected on a three-pointer and Olivari turned a turnover into a jumper. The Roadrunners cut the deficit to 37-26 with 3:30 to play. But the Owls closed the half on an 11-2 run to take a 48-28 lead into halftime.
Rice continued its hot shooting in the second half, connecting on four of its first five shots as it opened the half on a 15-4 run. After two UTSA free throws, Olivari hit a three-pointer to give Rice its largest lead of the game, 66-34, 6:30 into the second half. The Roadrunners scored eight straight points before the teams traded baskets over the next 3:15. UTSA would get no closer than 15 points the rest of the way.
The Stats
Rice connected on 56.4% from the field and 39.3% from three. UTSA was held to just 36.8% from the floor and 23.8% from three. The teams each grabbed 37 rebounds but Rice recorded 19 assists.
What Scott Pera Had to Say
"I'm really proud of our guys. We came out totally focused. (We were) razor sharp and focused to do a job and get the win. To be up 20 at the half and take it to 32 against (UTSA), I'm really, really proud of our guys. I'm proud of their approach, proud of their togetherness and really happy to get two (wins) at home. That's important."
Notes
• Rice improved to 8-2 on the year and 2-0 in Conference USA.
• Rice started 2-0 in conference for the first time since 2006-07 and just the third time since joining Conference USA.
• The Owls improved to 7-10 against UTSA and 6-4 in Houston.
• Rice won consecutive games in the series for just the second time.
• Rice connected on a season-high 56.4% from the field.
• Chris Mullins led all scorers with a season-high 20 points while recording six rebounds, three assists and two steals.
• Max Fiedler scored a career-high 18 points on a perfect eight-for-eight from the field.
• Quincy Olivari scored 15 points and grabbed a career-high eight rebounds.
• Travis Evee added 10 points and four assists.
• Mylyjael Poteat scored his first career points while grabbing two rebounds.
Next Up
Rice will travel to El Paso for a pair of games at UTEP on Jan 8 and 9. Both games will tip-off at 8 p.m. CT. Friday's game will be livestreamed at CUSAtv while Saturday's will be livestreamed at ESPN+.
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Team Stats
UTSA
RICE
FG%
.368
.564
3FG%
.238
.393
FT%
.778
.579
RB
37
37
TO
14
16
STL
5
6
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
20
FGM
7
3FGM
3
FTM
3
Pts
18
FGM
8
3FGM
0
FTM
2
Pts
15
FGM
5
3FGM
3
FTM
2
Pts
10
FGM
4
3FGM
2
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
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