Friday, January 8
El Paso, TX
8 p.m.
Rice University
-83,21 CUSA
89
at
101
.png&width=60&height=60&type=webp)
UTEP
-63,21 CUSA
1
2
F
Rice
44
45
89
UTEP
55
46
101
Photo by: Maria Lysaker
Rice Drops C-USA Road Opener, 101-89, to UTEP
1/8/2021 11:36:00 PM | Men's Basketball
EL PASO, Texas — Rice erased a pair of double-digit deficits, but in the end, it was not enough as the Owls fell to UTEP, 101-89, in its Conference USA road opener, Friday night at the Don Haskins Center.
The Story
UTEP came out firing, making eight of its first 10 shots to take a 21-9 lead five minutes into the game. Chris Mullins made a pair of free throws, but after trading baskets, a UTEP three-pointer gave it a 26-13 lead a minute later. But the Owls stepped up its defense and started to take the offense to the Miners A layup by Max Fiedler followed by a three-pointer from Cameron Sheffield sent Rice on a 14-0 run, capped off by a Cavit Ege Havsa layup that gave Rice its first lead of the game, 27-26, midway through the first half. The teams exchange baskets, but a Travis Evee three gave Rice a 32-30 lead. However, UTEP went on a 17-4 run over the next four minutes to take 47-36 lead. After trading baskets, Bryson Williams hit back-to-back threes to give Rice its largest lead of the half. But a Travis Evee three-pointer just before the half sent Rice into the break trailing 55-44.
UTEP extended its lead to 13 to start the half. A three by Riley Abercrombie started a 7-0 Rice run. After a UTEP basket, Chris Mullins hit a three. The Miners pushed its lead to six. But a pair of free throws by Evee followed by an Abercrombie three brought Rice within 63-62, six minutes into the second half. However, Rice was held scoreless over the next four minutes as UTEP went on a 13-0 run, taking a 76-62 lead. A Fiedler layup broke the run, but the Miners scored six of the next eight points to take its largest lead of the game, 82-66, with 8:48 to play. Six straight Rice points cut the deficit to 10. Keonte Kennedy made one-of-two free throws and then got a dunk to push the lead back to 13. The teams traded points, but three straight Rice baskets brought Rice within 87-80 with 4:53. But that's as close as the Owls would get.
The Stats
Rice connected on 55.6% (30-of-54) from the field and 44.0% (11-of-25) from three. UTEP connected on 54.3% (38-of-70) from the floor and 42.9% (12-of-28) from three. Rice was outrebounded, 31-to-24. UTEP also outscored the Owls, 24-7, off turnovers and 23-4 on second chance points.
What Scott Pera Had to Say
"(UTEP) made shots that they have not been making. That's a credit to them. I thought we adjusted, I thought we battled. We kept ourselves in it and kept doing the right things. But at the end of the day, they had 16 offensive rebounds. It's a credit to them. If you play with four turnovers, you're going to win the game."
Notes
• Rice fell to 8-3 on the year and 2-1 in Conference USA.
• The Owls dropped to 13-28 against UTEP and 4-17 in El Paso.
• Rice connected on 55.6% from the field, the fourth straight game it connected on 50.0% and the fifth time this season.
• Rice connected on a season-high 44.0% (11-of-25) from three.
• The 11 three-pointers are the ninth time this year that it connected on at least 10 threes in a game.
• Max Fiedler scored a career-high 22 points on 10-of-11 from the floor. He also had seven assist and five rebounds.
• It was Fiedler's first career 20-point game.
• Travis Evee scored 21 points, his third 20-point game of the season.
• Riley Abercrombie tied a career-high 14 points and had a career-high four three-pointers.
• Cavit Ege Havsa added nine points and six assists.
Next Up
Rice closes the series with UTEP tomorrow at 8 p.m. CT. The game will be livestreamed at ESPN+.
The Story
UTEP came out firing, making eight of its first 10 shots to take a 21-9 lead five minutes into the game. Chris Mullins made a pair of free throws, but after trading baskets, a UTEP three-pointer gave it a 26-13 lead a minute later. But the Owls stepped up its defense and started to take the offense to the Miners A layup by Max Fiedler followed by a three-pointer from Cameron Sheffield sent Rice on a 14-0 run, capped off by a Cavit Ege Havsa layup that gave Rice its first lead of the game, 27-26, midway through the first half. The teams exchange baskets, but a Travis Evee three gave Rice a 32-30 lead. However, UTEP went on a 17-4 run over the next four minutes to take 47-36 lead. After trading baskets, Bryson Williams hit back-to-back threes to give Rice its largest lead of the half. But a Travis Evee three-pointer just before the half sent Rice into the break trailing 55-44.
UTEP extended its lead to 13 to start the half. A three by Riley Abercrombie started a 7-0 Rice run. After a UTEP basket, Chris Mullins hit a three. The Miners pushed its lead to six. But a pair of free throws by Evee followed by an Abercrombie three brought Rice within 63-62, six minutes into the second half. However, Rice was held scoreless over the next four minutes as UTEP went on a 13-0 run, taking a 76-62 lead. A Fiedler layup broke the run, but the Miners scored six of the next eight points to take its largest lead of the game, 82-66, with 8:48 to play. Six straight Rice points cut the deficit to 10. Keonte Kennedy made one-of-two free throws and then got a dunk to push the lead back to 13. The teams traded points, but three straight Rice baskets brought Rice within 87-80 with 4:53. But that's as close as the Owls would get.
The Stats
Rice connected on 55.6% (30-of-54) from the field and 44.0% (11-of-25) from three. UTEP connected on 54.3% (38-of-70) from the floor and 42.9% (12-of-28) from three. Rice was outrebounded, 31-to-24. UTEP also outscored the Owls, 24-7, off turnovers and 23-4 on second chance points.
What Scott Pera Had to Say
"(UTEP) made shots that they have not been making. That's a credit to them. I thought we adjusted, I thought we battled. We kept ourselves in it and kept doing the right things. But at the end of the day, they had 16 offensive rebounds. It's a credit to them. If you play with four turnovers, you're going to win the game."
Notes
• Rice fell to 8-3 on the year and 2-1 in Conference USA.
• The Owls dropped to 13-28 against UTEP and 4-17 in El Paso.
• Rice connected on 55.6% from the field, the fourth straight game it connected on 50.0% and the fifth time this season.
• Rice connected on a season-high 44.0% (11-of-25) from three.
• The 11 three-pointers are the ninth time this year that it connected on at least 10 threes in a game.
• Max Fiedler scored a career-high 22 points on 10-of-11 from the floor. He also had seven assist and five rebounds.
• It was Fiedler's first career 20-point game.
• Travis Evee scored 21 points, his third 20-point game of the season.
• Riley Abercrombie tied a career-high 14 points and had a career-high four three-pointers.
• Cavit Ege Havsa added nine points and six assists.
Next Up
Rice closes the series with UTEP tomorrow at 8 p.m. CT. The game will be livestreamed at ESPN+.
.png&width=84&height=84&quality=100&type=webp)
Team Stats
RICE
UTEP
FG%
.556
.543
3FG%
.440
.429
FT%
.857
.684
RB
24
31
TO
10
4
STL
0
6
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
22
FGM
10
3FGM
0
FTM
2
Pts
21
FGM
6
3FGM
4
FTM
5
Pts
14
FGM
5
3FGM
4
FTM
0
Pts
9
FGM
3
3FGM
0
FTM
3
Players Mentioned
F
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's Basketball
F
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's Basketball
G/F
/ Men's BasketballWBB: Rice vs. Marshall Postgame Presser
Wednesday, March 09
VB: Rice-Texas Postgame Presser
Saturday, December 04
VB: Rice-San Diego Postgame Presser
Thursday, December 02