Friday, February 12
Bowling Green, KY
7 p.m.
Rice University
-129,67 CUSA
71
at
77
WKU
-144,72 CUSA
1
2
F
Rice
38
33
71
Western Ky.
50
27
77
Photo by: Maria Lysaker
Rice Drops Hard Fought Game at WKU, 77-71
2/12/2021 11:13:00 PM | Men's Basketball
BOWLING GREEN, Ky. — Rice cut a 14-point deficit to four points midway through the second half, but the Owls could not get any closer, falling 77-71 to WKU, Friday night at E.A. Diddle Arena.
The Story
WKU scored the first seven points of the game before Cameron Sheffield got Rice on the board with a three-pointer. The Hilltoppers made six of their first seven shots, including three three-pointers, as they jumped out to an 18-8 lead in the game's first five minutes. WKU then missed its next six shots over the next four minutes and Rice got three-pointers from Quincy Olivari and two by Riley Abercrombie to pull within three points, 26-23, with 9:39 to play in the half. However, the Owls missed four of its next five shots while turning the ball over three times, as WKU went on a 14-3 run to take its largest lead of the half, 40-26, with 5:30 to play. The teams traded baskets over the next three minutes. Mylyjael Poteat made two free throws and Olivari converted a three-point play to pull Rice within eight with 1:32 remaining. But the Hilltoppers scored the last four points as the Owls went into halftime trailing 50-38.
Rice came out of the second half firing, getting two three-pointers by Travis Evee and one from Abercrombie as it opened the first 5:21 on a 13-5 run to get within 55-51. After trading baskets, Rice held the Hilltoppers scoreless on its next four possessions. However, the Owls could not take advantage, missing five straight shots before Carson Williams hit a three to extend WKU's lead to seven points. Olivari answered with a three of his own and teams traded layups. But with 10:32 to play and WKU clinging to a 62-58 lead, Rice missed its next six shots while turning the ball over four times, as the Hilltoppers went on a 13-3 run to take its largest lead of the half, 75-61, with 3:46 to play. Sheffield then scored six straight points in an 8-0 Rice run to get the Owls within six points with 1:56 to play. But that's as close as Rice would get as WKU held it off for the win.
The Stats
Rice connected on 41.0% from the field, 46.4% from three and a perfect 100.0% from the foul line. WKU connected on 50.9% from the floor and 40.9% from three. Rice outrebounded the Hilltoppers, 35-to-34 but was outscored in the paint, 34-to-16.
What Scott Pera Had to Say
"(WKU) is a terrific team on its home floor. It was a big game. I thought we started out with a little bit of deer in the headlights, unfortunately. But, I'm really proud of our kids. In the second half, once we settled down, we made it a game. We put a scare into them and hopefully tomorrow, we'll respond. I know our kids will and come ready from the get-go."
Notes
• Rice drops to 12-9 on the year and 6-7 in Conference USA.
• The Owls fell to 2-6 against WKU and 1-3 in Bowling Green.
• The Owls connected on 13 three-pointers, the 15th time this year it made at least 10 threes.
• Rice was a perfect eight-for-eight from the free throw line, the first time it was perfect from the charity stripe since Feb. 21, 2015 at Florida Atlantic (18-of-18).
• Travis Evee led the Owls with a game-high 19 points while tying a season-high with four rebounds.
• Evee connected on five three-pointers, the fourth time this year he made at least five.
• Quincy Olivari scored 18 points.
• Max Fiedler had team-highs of nine rebounds, four assists and a career-high four blocks.
• Cameron Sheffield tied a career-high with nine points.
Next Up
Rice will look to split the series when the teams return to the hardwood tomorrow night. Tip-off is scheduled for 5 p.m. and will be nationally televised by CBS Sports Network.
The Story
WKU scored the first seven points of the game before Cameron Sheffield got Rice on the board with a three-pointer. The Hilltoppers made six of their first seven shots, including three three-pointers, as they jumped out to an 18-8 lead in the game's first five minutes. WKU then missed its next six shots over the next four minutes and Rice got three-pointers from Quincy Olivari and two by Riley Abercrombie to pull within three points, 26-23, with 9:39 to play in the half. However, the Owls missed four of its next five shots while turning the ball over three times, as WKU went on a 14-3 run to take its largest lead of the half, 40-26, with 5:30 to play. The teams traded baskets over the next three minutes. Mylyjael Poteat made two free throws and Olivari converted a three-point play to pull Rice within eight with 1:32 remaining. But the Hilltoppers scored the last four points as the Owls went into halftime trailing 50-38.
Rice came out of the second half firing, getting two three-pointers by Travis Evee and one from Abercrombie as it opened the first 5:21 on a 13-5 run to get within 55-51. After trading baskets, Rice held the Hilltoppers scoreless on its next four possessions. However, the Owls could not take advantage, missing five straight shots before Carson Williams hit a three to extend WKU's lead to seven points. Olivari answered with a three of his own and teams traded layups. But with 10:32 to play and WKU clinging to a 62-58 lead, Rice missed its next six shots while turning the ball over four times, as the Hilltoppers went on a 13-3 run to take its largest lead of the half, 75-61, with 3:46 to play. Sheffield then scored six straight points in an 8-0 Rice run to get the Owls within six points with 1:56 to play. But that's as close as Rice would get as WKU held it off for the win.
The Stats
Rice connected on 41.0% from the field, 46.4% from three and a perfect 100.0% from the foul line. WKU connected on 50.9% from the floor and 40.9% from three. Rice outrebounded the Hilltoppers, 35-to-34 but was outscored in the paint, 34-to-16.
What Scott Pera Had to Say
"(WKU) is a terrific team on its home floor. It was a big game. I thought we started out with a little bit of deer in the headlights, unfortunately. But, I'm really proud of our kids. In the second half, once we settled down, we made it a game. We put a scare into them and hopefully tomorrow, we'll respond. I know our kids will and come ready from the get-go."
Notes
• Rice drops to 12-9 on the year and 6-7 in Conference USA.
• The Owls fell to 2-6 against WKU and 1-3 in Bowling Green.
• The Owls connected on 13 three-pointers, the 15th time this year it made at least 10 threes.
• Rice was a perfect eight-for-eight from the free throw line, the first time it was perfect from the charity stripe since Feb. 21, 2015 at Florida Atlantic (18-of-18).
• Travis Evee led the Owls with a game-high 19 points while tying a season-high with four rebounds.
• Evee connected on five three-pointers, the fourth time this year he made at least five.
• Quincy Olivari scored 18 points.
• Max Fiedler had team-highs of nine rebounds, four assists and a career-high four blocks.
• Cameron Sheffield tied a career-high with nine points.
Next Up
Rice will look to split the series when the teams return to the hardwood tomorrow night. Tip-off is scheduled for 5 p.m. and will be nationally televised by CBS Sports Network.
Team Stats
Rice
WestKy
FG%
.410
.509
3FG%
.464
.409
FT%
1.000
.588
RB
35
34
TO
18
16
STL
7
7
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
19
FGM
7
3FGM
5
FTM
0
Pts
18
FGM
7
3FGM
3
FTM
1
Pts
13
FGM
5
3FGM
3
FTM
0
Pts
9
FGM
3
3FGM
2
FTM
1
Players Mentioned
F
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's Basketball
F
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's Basketball
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/ Men's BasketballG/F
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