Tuesday, November 23
Estero, Fla.
4 p.m.
Rice University
-42,00 CUSA
73
vs
76
Oakland
4-2,0-0Horizon
1
2
F
Oakland
34
42
76
Rice
29
44
73
Photo by: Maria Lysaker
Rice Drops Hard-Fought Decision to Oakland in Semifinals of Gulf Coast Showcase
11/23/2021 8:43:00 PM | Men's Basketball
FORT MYERS, Fla. — Rice dropped a hard-fought 76-73 decision to Oakland in the semifinals of the Gulf Coast Showcase, Tuesday night from Hertz Arena.
The Story
The Owls jumped out to a quick 6-2 lead in the first three minutes behind three-pointers from Carl Pierre and Travis Evee. However, Rice missed its next nine shots and turned the ball over six times over the next seven minutes as Oakland went on a 13-2 run to take its largest lead of the half, 15-8. The Owls scored six straight points to pull within one, but the Golden Grizzlies answered with a 7-0 run to take a 22-14 lead with 4:27 left. The teams traded baskets over the next three minutes. Pierre then drilled a three and Max Fiedler got a put-back layup to pull the Owls within two. But Oakland answered with a three-pointer and Rice went into halftime trailing 34-29.
The teams started the second half trading three-pointers. After a layup by Chris Mullins, Oakland scored five straight to push the lead to eight. But Pierre converted a three-point play to get the deficit back to five. Over the next seven minutes, the teams went back-and-forth, with Rice pulling within three points on a Riley Abercrombie three-pointer with 7:31 remaining. But two straight Oakland baskets pushed the lead back to seven. Over the next five minutes, Rice got no closer than four points. However, the Grizzlies took their largest lead of the game, 74-65 with 38 seconds to play. But Mullins made a jumper and then converted a three-point play to cut the deficit to four with 22 seconds left. After getting a stop, Rice had two chances before Evee was fouled on a three-point attempt with 1.8 seconds left. He made the first two and attempted to miss the second, but the ball bounced in, making it a one-point game. Rice fouled, but Jalen Moore made both free throws. The Owls had one last chance to tie it, but Pierre's half-court attempt was off.
The Stats
Rice was held to just 41.3% from the field and 32.3% from three. Oakland shot 51.6% from the floor but just 28.0% from three. Rice outrebounded the Golden Grizzlies, 35-to-29.
What Scott Pera Had to Say
"I'm disappointed. If we had played like that in the first half and not waited around we would have had a better chance to win the game. But, Oakland deserves the credit. They played better (and) they deserved to win."
Notes
• This was just the second meeting overall between Rice and Oakland.
• Rice has dropped both meetings.
• Rice connected on 10 three-pointers, the fourth time it has made double-digit threes.
• Graduate student Carl Pierre scored a season-high 22 points behind five three-pointers.
• With his five three-pointers, Pierre surpassed 300 in his career.
• Junior Chris Mullins scored 17 points and had three assists.
• Sophomore Travis Evee scored 11 points.
• Evee has scored double-figures in every game.
• With two three-pointers, Evee has connected on a three in 26 straight games, the sixth-longest stretch in school history.
• Sophomore Max Fiedler grabbed a game-high eight rebounds and had four assists.
Next Up
Rice will face Fordham in the third place of the Gulf Coast Showcase tomorrow, Nov. 24. Tip-off is scheduled for 4 p.m. CT and the game will be streamed at FloHoops.
The Story
The Owls jumped out to a quick 6-2 lead in the first three minutes behind three-pointers from Carl Pierre and Travis Evee. However, Rice missed its next nine shots and turned the ball over six times over the next seven minutes as Oakland went on a 13-2 run to take its largest lead of the half, 15-8. The Owls scored six straight points to pull within one, but the Golden Grizzlies answered with a 7-0 run to take a 22-14 lead with 4:27 left. The teams traded baskets over the next three minutes. Pierre then drilled a three and Max Fiedler got a put-back layup to pull the Owls within two. But Oakland answered with a three-pointer and Rice went into halftime trailing 34-29.
The teams started the second half trading three-pointers. After a layup by Chris Mullins, Oakland scored five straight to push the lead to eight. But Pierre converted a three-point play to get the deficit back to five. Over the next seven minutes, the teams went back-and-forth, with Rice pulling within three points on a Riley Abercrombie three-pointer with 7:31 remaining. But two straight Oakland baskets pushed the lead back to seven. Over the next five minutes, Rice got no closer than four points. However, the Grizzlies took their largest lead of the game, 74-65 with 38 seconds to play. But Mullins made a jumper and then converted a three-point play to cut the deficit to four with 22 seconds left. After getting a stop, Rice had two chances before Evee was fouled on a three-point attempt with 1.8 seconds left. He made the first two and attempted to miss the second, but the ball bounced in, making it a one-point game. Rice fouled, but Jalen Moore made both free throws. The Owls had one last chance to tie it, but Pierre's half-court attempt was off.
The Stats
Rice was held to just 41.3% from the field and 32.3% from three. Oakland shot 51.6% from the floor but just 28.0% from three. Rice outrebounded the Golden Grizzlies, 35-to-29.
What Scott Pera Had to Say
"I'm disappointed. If we had played like that in the first half and not waited around we would have had a better chance to win the game. But, Oakland deserves the credit. They played better (and) they deserved to win."
Notes
• This was just the second meeting overall between Rice and Oakland.
• Rice has dropped both meetings.
• Rice connected on 10 three-pointers, the fourth time it has made double-digit threes.
• Graduate student Carl Pierre scored a season-high 22 points behind five three-pointers.
• With his five three-pointers, Pierre surpassed 300 in his career.
• Junior Chris Mullins scored 17 points and had three assists.
• Sophomore Travis Evee scored 11 points.
• Evee has scored double-figures in every game.
• With two three-pointers, Evee has connected on a three in 26 straight games, the sixth-longest stretch in school history.
• Sophomore Max Fiedler grabbed a game-high eight rebounds and had four assists.
Next Up
Rice will face Fordham in the third place of the Gulf Coast Showcase tomorrow, Nov. 24. Tip-off is scheduled for 4 p.m. CT and the game will be streamed at FloHoops.
Team Stats
Oak
Rice
FG%
.516
.413
3FG%
.280
.323
FT%
.556
.733
RB
29
34
TO
8
11
STL
6
4
Game Leaders
Pts
22
FGM
8
3FGM
5
FTM
1
Pts
17
FGM
6
3FGM
1
FTM
4
Pts
11
FGM
3
3FGM
2
FTM
3
Pts
7
FGM
3
3FGM
1
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
F
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's Basketball
F
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's BasketballG
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