Olivari, Pierre Lead Rice to 88-73 Victory at Houston Baptist

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vs College of Biblical Studies

Nov 4

7 p.m.

Houston, TX

Men's Basketball

at Oregon

Nov 7

TBA

Men's Basketball

vs Stephen F. Austin

Nov 11

7 p.m.

Houston, TX

Men's Basketball

vs East Texas A&M

Nov 14

7 p.m.

Houston, TX

Men's Basketball

at Tennessee

Nov 17

TBA

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vs Tarleton State

Nov 20

7 p.m.

Houston, TX

Men's Basketball

vs Kennesaw State

Nov 24

3:30 p.m.

HOUSTON — Quincy Olivari and Carl Pierre combined for 48 points to lead Rice to an 88-73 victory at Houston Baptist, Saturday night at Sharp Gym.

The Story
Houston Baptist jumped out to a 6-3 lead before two straight Olivari three-pointers sent the Owls on an 8-0 run. HBU cut the lead to one on a pair of layups, but Olivari scored six straight points to push Rice's lead to 17-10 seven minutes in. After two HBU baskets, Pierre drilled back-to-back threes. The teams then traded baskets before HBU scored six straight points to pull within three. But the Owls answered back, going on a 13-1 run over a two-and-a-half-minute stretch to take a 38-23 lead with 3:46 to play in the half. Zach Iyeyemi converted a three-point play, but Cameron Sheffield and Carl Pierre made three-pointers. The teams traded baskets for the rest of the half with Terrance McBride converting a layup with the shot clock winding down to send Rice into halftime with a 51-32 lead.

The teams went back-and-forth through the first two minutes of the second half. After two HBU baskets, Olivari hit a jumper and Mylyjael Poteat made a pair of free throws. The Huskies then went on a 7-0 run to pull within 13 points. But Pierre made a layup and Travis Evee made a three to extend Rice's lead back to 18 points as the Owls led by as many as 21.

The Stats
Rice shot 50.0% from the field and 48.4% from three. Houston Baptist was held to just 40.0% from the floor and 23.1% from three. Rice was outrebounded by the Huskies, 43-to-31.

What Scott Pera Had to Say
"We had a great start. Our guys were locked in from the beginning. Obviously, Quincy (Olivari) and Carl (Pierre) got hot there in the first half and our guys found them, which is a sign of great teammates. Every time (Houston Baptist) made a run, we had an answer. I'm really proud of the guys. True road wins in college basketball are really hard to get and tonight was a good one."

Notes
• This was the 15^th meeting between Rice and Houston Baptist, with the Owls holding a 12-3.
• The Owls have won the last five meetings dating back to 2016.
• Rice is 3-2 in games played at Sharp Gym.
• Rice scored at least 80 points for the sixth time this year.
• Rice connected on 50.0% from the field, the fifth time this season it has made at least 50% of its shots.
• Rice connected on 15 three-pointers, the seventh straight game with at least 10 three-pointers, and the eighth time this year.
• Rice scored 51 points in the first half, its most points at the half this year, and the second time it scored at least 50 points in a half.
• Rice had 20 assists, the fourth time this year it had at least 20 in a game.
• Sophomore Quincy Olivari led all players with a season-high 27 points on 11-of-15 from the floor.
• He became the fifth Owl this year to score 20 points.
• Graduate student Carl Pierre scored 21 points on 5-of-11 from three and grabbed five rebounds.
• Sophomore Max Fiedler had eight rebounds, seven assists, and six blocks.
• Fiedler's six blocks tied a school record.
• With three three-pointers, sophomore Travis Evee has connected on a three in 30 straight games, becoming the fourth player with a stretch of at least 30 games.

Next Up
Rice returns home for a pair of games, beginning next Thursday, Dec. 16, when it hosts Incarnate Word in the annual Kid's Day game. Tip-off is scheduled for 11:15 a.m. CT and the game will be streamed by CUSAtv.

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