Saturday, February 27
Ruston, LA
1 p.m.
Rice University
-1212,610 CUSA
58
at
79
Louisiana Tech
-196,124 CUSA
1
2
F
Rice
27
31
58
Louisiana Tech
40
39
79
Photo by: Darrell James
Rice Drops C-USA Finale at Louisiana Tech
2/27/2021 4:05:00 PM | Men's Basketball
RUSTON, La. — Rice kept it close throughout the game, but it wasn't enough as a 13-0 La Tech run midway through the second half gave the Bulldogs a 79-58 victory, Saturday afternoon from the Thomas Assembly Center.
The Story
Louisiana Tech scored the first five points of the game, but Rice tied on the game on three Quincy Olivari free throws and a Max Fiedler layup. After trading baskets, Exavian Christon hit a three-pointer. But a Fiedler layup sent Rice on a 7-0 run to give the Owls their first lead of the game, 14-10, 8:39 into the game. The teams traded baskets before a Travis Evee layup gave Rice its largest lead of the game, 21-1. La Tech then scored eight straight points, but Fiedler tied at the game at 23 with a layup with 5:26 to play. However, Rice missed its next six shots as the Bulldogs went on a 17-2 run to take its largest lead of the half before an Evee layup send Rice into the break trailing 40-27.
Olivari began the second half strong, connecting on a pair of three-pointers to score the half's first eight points and cut the deficit to 40-35 in the first 1:21. La Tech immediately scored five straight to push its lead back to 10. Olivari hit this third straight three, and after a Bulldog basket, Evee connected on a triple to bring the Owls within six. Louisiana Tech scored six straight points to extend its lead to 12. But Rice answered with a 10-2 run, capped off by a pair of Riley Abercrombie threes, to pull within 55-51 midway through the second half. However, the Owls were held scoreless over the next three minutes as La Tech went on a 13-0 run to take a 68-51 lead and put the game away.
The Stats
Rice was held to just 33.9% (19-of-56) from the field and 26.5% (9-of-34) from three. The Owls were a perfect 11-of-11 from the line. Louisiana Tech connected on 46.7% (28-of-60) from the floor and 39.1% (9-of-23) from three. Rice was also outrebounded by the Bulldogs, 40-to-31.
Notes
• Rice drops to 12-12 on the year and 6-10 in Conference USA.
• The Owls fell to 7-18 against Louisiana Tech and 3-9 in Ruston.
• Rice connected on a perfect 11-of-11 from the free throw line, the 10th time in school history it was perfect on at least 10 attempts.
• Quincy Olivari led the Owls with 16 points and six rebounds.
• Riley Abercrombie tied a career-high with 15 points and set a career-high with five three-pointers.
• Max Fiedler recorded his seventh double-double of the year, scoring 10 points and grabbing a game-high 10 rebounds.
Next Up
Rice will take a week off before heading to Frisco, Texas for the 2021 Air Force Reserve Conference USA Tournament, Mar. 9-13.
The Story
Louisiana Tech scored the first five points of the game, but Rice tied on the game on three Quincy Olivari free throws and a Max Fiedler layup. After trading baskets, Exavian Christon hit a three-pointer. But a Fiedler layup sent Rice on a 7-0 run to give the Owls their first lead of the game, 14-10, 8:39 into the game. The teams traded baskets before a Travis Evee layup gave Rice its largest lead of the game, 21-1. La Tech then scored eight straight points, but Fiedler tied at the game at 23 with a layup with 5:26 to play. However, Rice missed its next six shots as the Bulldogs went on a 17-2 run to take its largest lead of the half before an Evee layup send Rice into the break trailing 40-27.
Olivari began the second half strong, connecting on a pair of three-pointers to score the half's first eight points and cut the deficit to 40-35 in the first 1:21. La Tech immediately scored five straight to push its lead back to 10. Olivari hit this third straight three, and after a Bulldog basket, Evee connected on a triple to bring the Owls within six. Louisiana Tech scored six straight points to extend its lead to 12. But Rice answered with a 10-2 run, capped off by a pair of Riley Abercrombie threes, to pull within 55-51 midway through the second half. However, the Owls were held scoreless over the next three minutes as La Tech went on a 13-0 run to take a 68-51 lead and put the game away.
The Stats
Rice was held to just 33.9% (19-of-56) from the field and 26.5% (9-of-34) from three. The Owls were a perfect 11-of-11 from the line. Louisiana Tech connected on 46.7% (28-of-60) from the floor and 39.1% (9-of-23) from three. Rice was also outrebounded by the Bulldogs, 40-to-31.
Notes
• Rice drops to 12-12 on the year and 6-10 in Conference USA.
• The Owls fell to 7-18 against Louisiana Tech and 3-9 in Ruston.
• Rice connected on a perfect 11-of-11 from the free throw line, the 10th time in school history it was perfect on at least 10 attempts.
• Quincy Olivari led the Owls with 16 points and six rebounds.
• Riley Abercrombie tied a career-high with 15 points and set a career-high with five three-pointers.
• Max Fiedler recorded his seventh double-double of the year, scoring 10 points and grabbing a game-high 10 rebounds.
Next Up
Rice will take a week off before heading to Frisco, Texas for the 2021 Air Force Reserve Conference USA Tournament, Mar. 9-13.
Team Stats
RICE
LATECH
FG%
.339
.467
3FG%
.265
.391
FT%
1.000
.824
RB
31
40
TO
13
10
STL
5
10
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
16
FGM
4
3FGM
3
FTM
5
Pts
15
FGM
5
3FGM
5
FTM
0
Pts
10
FGM
4
3FGM
0
FTM
2
Pts
7
FGM
3
3FGM
1
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
F
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's BasketballF
/ Men's BasketballG
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