Photo by: Maria Lysaker
Rice Falls to UAB in Game of Runs, 78-68
1/22/2021 10:30:00 PM | Men's Basketball
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Rice fought back from a 10-point deficit to take a three-point second half lead, but UAB eventually pulled away as the Owls fell, 78-68, in the series opener Friday night from Bartow Arena.
The Story
Max Fiedler opened the scoring with a layup. But the Owls missed their next five shots as UAB scored 11 straight points. Quincy Olivari made a three, but four straight points gave UAB its largest lead of the half, 15-5, 5:47 into the game. However, the Owls went on a 14-4 run, capped off by back-to-back three-pointers by Payton Moore and Chris Mullins that tied the game at 19 with 8:07 to play in the half. But the Blazers immediately went on an 11-2 run to take a nine-point lead. A three-point play by Mylyjael Poteat cut the lead to six. UAB then hit a three and the teams traded baskets to close the half as Rice went into the break trailing 35-26.
Rice came out of halftime hitting its first three shots to open the half on a 7-2 run, cutting the deficit to 37-33 in the first minute and a half. UAB answered with its own 7-2 run. A Moore three-pointer followed by three straight from Olivari gave Rice a 12-0 run and a 47-44 lead with 13:50 to play, its first lead since 2-0. Once again, the Blazers came right back, going on a 14-0 run over the next 3:42 to take a 58-47 lead. After Jake Lieppert snapped the run with a three-pointer, Tavin Lovan made a pair of free throws. Olivari connected on a three-pointer, but UAB answered with a basket. A Cameron Sheffield layup and free throw from Poteat cut the deficit to 62-56 with 7:39 to play. But a 10-3 run gave the Blazers their largest lead of the game, 72-59, with 5:03 remaining. Rice would get no closer than eight points the rest of the way.
The Stats
Rice connected on 44.6% (25-of-56) from the field and 37.9% (11-of-29) from three. UAB connected on 46.9% (30-of-64) from the floor and 40.0% (8-of-20) from three. The teams each had 34 rebounds, but UAB outscored the Owls, 19-7, off turnovers.
What Scott Pera Had to Say
"I'm really proud of our guys. What a courageous effort by them. To battle like we did, I'm just so proud of our guys. To see the freshmen come off the bench and really show some of the things that they are going to provide for us for years to come. It was a great job by Chris (Mullins) and Quincy (Olivari) of making shots. I'm just really proud of our guys. It was a tremendous effort. UAB, every time we got tied or got close, they hit shots or made plays. All the credit goes to them. But, boy, I'm really proud of our guys."
Notes
• Rice dropped to 10-5 on the year and 4-3 in Conference USA.
• The Owls fell to 2-15 against UAB and 1-8 in Birmingham.
• Rice connected on 11 three-pointers, the 12th time this year that Rice has connected on at least 10 three-pointers.
• Quincy Olivari led the Owls with 17 points on five three-pointers while grabbing five rebounds.
• Chris Mullins scored 15 points and had a game-high five assists.
• Payton Moore scored 10 points, the third time this year he was in double-figures.
• Mylyjael Poteat recorded career-highs of 10 points and four rebounds. It was his first career double-digit scoring game.
• Max Fiedler grabbed a game-high nine rebounds and added four assists.
• Jake Lieppert scored a career-high six points.
Next Up
Rice will look for a split of the series when the teams meet again tomorrow at 4 p.m. The game will be livestreamed at ESPN+.
The Story
Max Fiedler opened the scoring with a layup. But the Owls missed their next five shots as UAB scored 11 straight points. Quincy Olivari made a three, but four straight points gave UAB its largest lead of the half, 15-5, 5:47 into the game. However, the Owls went on a 14-4 run, capped off by back-to-back three-pointers by Payton Moore and Chris Mullins that tied the game at 19 with 8:07 to play in the half. But the Blazers immediately went on an 11-2 run to take a nine-point lead. A three-point play by Mylyjael Poteat cut the lead to six. UAB then hit a three and the teams traded baskets to close the half as Rice went into the break trailing 35-26.
Rice came out of halftime hitting its first three shots to open the half on a 7-2 run, cutting the deficit to 37-33 in the first minute and a half. UAB answered with its own 7-2 run. A Moore three-pointer followed by three straight from Olivari gave Rice a 12-0 run and a 47-44 lead with 13:50 to play, its first lead since 2-0. Once again, the Blazers came right back, going on a 14-0 run over the next 3:42 to take a 58-47 lead. After Jake Lieppert snapped the run with a three-pointer, Tavin Lovan made a pair of free throws. Olivari connected on a three-pointer, but UAB answered with a basket. A Cameron Sheffield layup and free throw from Poteat cut the deficit to 62-56 with 7:39 to play. But a 10-3 run gave the Blazers their largest lead of the game, 72-59, with 5:03 remaining. Rice would get no closer than eight points the rest of the way.
The Stats
Rice connected on 44.6% (25-of-56) from the field and 37.9% (11-of-29) from three. UAB connected on 46.9% (30-of-64) from the floor and 40.0% (8-of-20) from three. The teams each had 34 rebounds, but UAB outscored the Owls, 19-7, off turnovers.
What Scott Pera Had to Say
"I'm really proud of our guys. What a courageous effort by them. To battle like we did, I'm just so proud of our guys. To see the freshmen come off the bench and really show some of the things that they are going to provide for us for years to come. It was a great job by Chris (Mullins) and Quincy (Olivari) of making shots. I'm just really proud of our guys. It was a tremendous effort. UAB, every time we got tied or got close, they hit shots or made plays. All the credit goes to them. But, boy, I'm really proud of our guys."
Notes
• Rice dropped to 10-5 on the year and 4-3 in Conference USA.
• The Owls fell to 2-15 against UAB and 1-8 in Birmingham.
• Rice connected on 11 three-pointers, the 12th time this year that Rice has connected on at least 10 three-pointers.
• Quincy Olivari led the Owls with 17 points on five three-pointers while grabbing five rebounds.
• Chris Mullins scored 15 points and had a game-high five assists.
• Payton Moore scored 10 points, the third time this year he was in double-figures.
• Mylyjael Poteat recorded career-highs of 10 points and four rebounds. It was his first career double-digit scoring game.
• Max Fiedler grabbed a game-high nine rebounds and added four assists.
• Jake Lieppert scored a career-high six points.
Next Up
Rice will look for a split of the series when the teams meet again tomorrow at 4 p.m. The game will be livestreamed at ESPN+.
Players Mentioned
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