Monday, November 22
Estero, Fla.
10 a.m.
Rice University
-41,00 CUSA
109
vs
104
Evansville
2-4,0-0MVC
1
2
OT 1
OT 2
OT 3
F
Evansville
39
36
7
14
8
104
Rice
29
46
7
14
13
109
Photo by: Maria Lysaker
Rice Wins 109-104 Triple Overtime Thriller over Evansville in Opening Game of Gulf Coast Showcase
11/22/2021 4:18:00 PM | Men's Basketball
FORT MYERS, Fla. — Rice fought its way back from a second half deficit to earn a dramatic 109-104, triple-overtime victory over Evansville in the opening game of the Gulf Coast Showcase, Monday afternoon from Hertz Arena.
The Story
Rice trailed, 53-38, with 14:13 to play in the second half. Chris Mullins hit a three-pointer and UE's Shamar Givance made a layup. That's when Max Fiedler took over, scoring all 11 points in an 11-2 Rice run to cut the deficit to 56-52 midway through the second half. After the teams traded baskets over the next 3:18, two straight baskets by Givance pushed Evansville's lead to seven with five minutes to play. But two straight threes by Travis Evee brought Rice to within one. After an Evansville layup, Mullins converted a three-point play to tie the game at 71 with 1:13 to play. Evansville made four straight free throws to grab the lead, but Quincy Olivari made a jumper and Mullins made a driving layup with four seconds left to tie the game at 75 and send it to overtime.
Mullins opened the first overtime making two free throws, giving Rice its first lead of the game. The teams then traded points for most of the period. With the game tied at 81, Evansville's Jawaun Newton made one-of-two free throws with 50 seconds left. Mullins had a chance to win it with two seconds left when he was fouled. But after missing the first free throw, he made the second to send the game to a second overtime.
The Owls came out fast in the second overtime, getting a three-point play by Fiedler and a layup from Mullins to grab an 87-82 lead a minute in. Evansville cut the lead to one, but Rice scored four of the next five points to push its lead back to four with 1:57 to play. After Newton converted a three-point play, the teams traded baskets. Evee gave the Owls a three-point lead with a pair of free throws, but then fouled Noah Frederking on his three-point attempt and Frederking made all three, tying the game at 96 with 20 seconds remaining. Rice has one last chance to win it, but Olivari's jumper was off and they went to a third overtime.
Rice made three of four free throws and Carl Pierre made a dunk to start the third overtime. Evansville scored its first points of the period on a layup with 1:29 to play, but Cameron Sheffield drilled a three with the shot clock counting down. Olivari then made one-of-two free throws to give Rice its largest lead of the game with 23 seconds left, and the Owls held on to earn the victory.
The Stats
Rice connected on 55.2% from the field, 45.5% from three and 71.4% from the free throw line. Evansville shot 51.3% from the floor and 42.9% from three. Rice outrebounded the Purple Aces, 36-to-33.
What Scott Pera Had to Say
"I'm really proud of our kids. That was a mature win. Again, having older guys makes a difference. The guys never panicked. We struggled. Give credit to Evansville. They did a great job in the first half making shots. But in the second half, we got back in it and we really started to believe that we could win the game. So many plays happened. Max (Fiedler) had a couple big rebounds and I thought Chris (Mullins) was tremendous playing both ends of the floor."
Notes
• This was just the second meeting overall between Rice and Evansville.
• The Owls have won both games in the series.
• Both meetings have been at neutral sites.
• Rice connected on 55.2% from the floor, the third straight game it shot over 50%.
• Rice's 109 points tied the fifth-most in school history.
• Rice played a triple-overtime game for the first time since 2013 and just the third time overall.
• Rice won for just the second time overall when allowing 100 points.
• Rice placed five players in double-figures for the second straight game.
• Sophomore Max Fiedler recorded his third straight double-double, scoring a career-high 30 points while grabbing 12 rebounds.
• It was also his 11th career double-double.
• He's the first player with a 30-point, 10-rebound game since Egor Koulechov versus Middle Tennessee on Jan. 5, 2017.
• Junior Chris Mullins scored a career-high 25 points and had a team-high four assists.
• Sophomore Travis Evee scored 19 points.
• Evee has scored double-figures in every game.
• With three, three-pointers, Evee has connected on a three in 25 straight games, the sixth-longest stretch in school history.
• Evee's 18 three-pointers this year are the most through the team's first five games in school history.
• Graduate student Carl Pierre scored 12 points, his fourth time in double-figures this year.
• Sophomore Quincy Olivari scored 10 points, his first game this year in double-figures.
Next Up
Rice will take on Oakland in the semifinals of the Gulf Coast Showcase. Tip-off is scheduled for 4 p.m. and the game will be streamed at FloHoops.
The Story
Rice trailed, 53-38, with 14:13 to play in the second half. Chris Mullins hit a three-pointer and UE's Shamar Givance made a layup. That's when Max Fiedler took over, scoring all 11 points in an 11-2 Rice run to cut the deficit to 56-52 midway through the second half. After the teams traded baskets over the next 3:18, two straight baskets by Givance pushed Evansville's lead to seven with five minutes to play. But two straight threes by Travis Evee brought Rice to within one. After an Evansville layup, Mullins converted a three-point play to tie the game at 71 with 1:13 to play. Evansville made four straight free throws to grab the lead, but Quincy Olivari made a jumper and Mullins made a driving layup with four seconds left to tie the game at 75 and send it to overtime.
Mullins opened the first overtime making two free throws, giving Rice its first lead of the game. The teams then traded points for most of the period. With the game tied at 81, Evansville's Jawaun Newton made one-of-two free throws with 50 seconds left. Mullins had a chance to win it with two seconds left when he was fouled. But after missing the first free throw, he made the second to send the game to a second overtime.
The Owls came out fast in the second overtime, getting a three-point play by Fiedler and a layup from Mullins to grab an 87-82 lead a minute in. Evansville cut the lead to one, but Rice scored four of the next five points to push its lead back to four with 1:57 to play. After Newton converted a three-point play, the teams traded baskets. Evee gave the Owls a three-point lead with a pair of free throws, but then fouled Noah Frederking on his three-point attempt and Frederking made all three, tying the game at 96 with 20 seconds remaining. Rice has one last chance to win it, but Olivari's jumper was off and they went to a third overtime.
Rice made three of four free throws and Carl Pierre made a dunk to start the third overtime. Evansville scored its first points of the period on a layup with 1:29 to play, but Cameron Sheffield drilled a three with the shot clock counting down. Olivari then made one-of-two free throws to give Rice its largest lead of the game with 23 seconds left, and the Owls held on to earn the victory.
The Stats
Rice connected on 55.2% from the field, 45.5% from three and 71.4% from the free throw line. Evansville shot 51.3% from the floor and 42.9% from three. Rice outrebounded the Purple Aces, 36-to-33.
What Scott Pera Had to Say
"I'm really proud of our kids. That was a mature win. Again, having older guys makes a difference. The guys never panicked. We struggled. Give credit to Evansville. They did a great job in the first half making shots. But in the second half, we got back in it and we really started to believe that we could win the game. So many plays happened. Max (Fiedler) had a couple big rebounds and I thought Chris (Mullins) was tremendous playing both ends of the floor."
Notes
• This was just the second meeting overall between Rice and Evansville.
• The Owls have won both games in the series.
• Both meetings have been at neutral sites.
• Rice connected on 55.2% from the floor, the third straight game it shot over 50%.
• Rice's 109 points tied the fifth-most in school history.
• Rice played a triple-overtime game for the first time since 2013 and just the third time overall.
• Rice won for just the second time overall when allowing 100 points.
• Rice placed five players in double-figures for the second straight game.
• Sophomore Max Fiedler recorded his third straight double-double, scoring a career-high 30 points while grabbing 12 rebounds.
• It was also his 11th career double-double.
• He's the first player with a 30-point, 10-rebound game since Egor Koulechov versus Middle Tennessee on Jan. 5, 2017.
• Junior Chris Mullins scored a career-high 25 points and had a team-high four assists.
• Sophomore Travis Evee scored 19 points.
• Evee has scored double-figures in every game.
• With three, three-pointers, Evee has connected on a three in 25 straight games, the sixth-longest stretch in school history.
• Evee's 18 three-pointers this year are the most through the team's first five games in school history.
• Graduate student Carl Pierre scored 12 points, his fourth time in double-figures this year.
• Sophomore Quincy Olivari scored 10 points, his first game this year in double-figures.
Next Up
Rice will take on Oakland in the semifinals of the Gulf Coast Showcase. Tip-off is scheduled for 4 p.m. and the game will be streamed at FloHoops.
Team Stats
Evans
Rice
FG%
.513
.552
3FG%
.429
.455
FT%
.700
.714
RB
33
36
TO
11
13
STL
9
5
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
30
FGM
11
3FGM
0
FTM
8
Pts
25
FGM
8
3FGM
2
FTM
7
Pts
19
FGM
6
3FGM
3
FTM
4
Pts
12
FGM
5
3FGM
2
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
G
/ Men's BasketballF
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's Basketball
G/F
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