Late Run Fuels Rice to 81-63 Victory over Southern

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HOUSTON — Rice closed the game on an 18-5 run, shooting 67.7% in the second half to pull away from Southern, 81-63, Tuesday night at Tudor Fieldhouse.

The Story
Rice came out on fire, hitting its first four three-pointers of the game and eight of its first nine shots as it opened a 20-6 lead through the first 7:26. But Rice went cold, missing its next five shots before Carl Pierre drove in for a dunk. After a Southern layup, Terrance McBride made a jumper to give Rice a 26-16 lead with 7:15 to play. However, the Owls were only able to muster three free throws the rest of the way, missing their final 10 shots of the half. Despite that, they were still able to head into halftime with a 29-21 advantage.

The second half started just like the first as Rice scored the first seven points of the stanza. After the teams traded baskets, Rice scored seven of the next nine points. A Southern layup was followed by a Travis Evee three-pointer. The Jaguars hit a jumper, but two layups by Evee and a jumper from Pierre gave Rice its largest lead of the game, 55-31, with 12:36 to play.

But the Jaguars wouldn't go away. A three-pointer was followed by a layup. Mylyjael Poteat's dunk pushed the lead back to 21, but a Tyrone Lyons three-pointer sent Southern on a 9-0 run, cutting the lead to 12. Back-to-back layups by Max Fiedler extended the lead to 61-45, with 8:15 remaining. But over the next three minutes, Southern went on a 13-2 run to pull within 63-58 with 5:15 to go. After McBride made a layup and a pair of free throws, Evee drilled his third triple of the game. McBride and Fiedler followed with layups before a three-pointer by Terrell Williams, Jr. But, Pierre answered with a trey of his own as Rice scored seven of the final nine points to seal the victory.

The Stats
Rice connected on 54.4% from the field and 42.1% from three. Southern was held to just 40.0% from the floor and 31.3% from three. Rice outrebounded the Jaguars, 39-to-26.

What Scott Pera Had to Say
"I'm really proud of our guy's effort. Let's start with their first half defensive effort. Keeping (Southern) to 21 points, with Travis (Evee) on the bench the whole time. That was really key to this (win). We got a big lead. To their credit, they fought back like crazy. But, our kids kept their composure. We got a couple of easy layups and then Travis and Carl (Pierre) hit huge back-to-back threes to blow it back open again. I'm just really happy to get the win.

Notes
• This was the ninth meeting overall between Rice and Southern.
• The Owls improved to 8-1 record in the series and are 6-1 in Houston.
• Rice has won the last eight games in the series.
• Rice connected on 54.4% from the floor and 42.1% from three.
• Graduate student Carl Pierre led the Owls with 18 points and five rebounds.
• Sophomore Travis Evee scored 17 points, had four assists and grabbed a career-high six rebounds
• With three, three-pointers, Evee has connected on a three in 23 straight games, the sixth-longest stretch in school history.
• Evee's 12 three-pointers this year are the most through the team's first three games in school history.
• Sophomore Max Fiedler recorded his first double-double of the year and ninth of his career, scoring 17 points and grabbing 11 rebounds.
• Fiedler also added three blocks and three assists.
• Junior Chris Mullins scored 17 points and had three assists.
• Graduate student Terrance McBride added six assists.

Next Up
Rice begins a four-game road trip this Friday, Nov. 19, when it travels to Louisiana to face New Orleans. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. and the game will be livestreamed at ESPN+.

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