Friday, February 26
Ruston, LA
6:30 p.m.
Rice University
-1211,69 CUSA
57
at
101
Louisiana Tech
-186,114 CUSA
1
2
F
Rice
27
30
57
Louisiana Tech
55
46
101
Photo by: Darrell James
Rice Falls in Opener at Louisiana Tech
2/27/2021 12:20:00 AM | Men's Basketball
RUSTON, La. — Louisiana Tech scored the first seven points of the game and never looked back as Rice fell 101-57, Friday night at the Thomas Assembly Center.
The Story
Louisiana Tech scored the first seven points before Travis Evee got Rice on the board with a three-pointer. After an Isaiah Crawford jumper, Cameron Sheffield connected on a three to get Rice within 9-6 just three minutes into the game. But the Owls missed their next five shots as La Tech went on an 8-0 run to take a 20-6 lead. After the teams traded baskets, Mylyjael Poteat made one-of-two free throws. After a Bulldog three-pointer, Quincy Olivari answered with a layup. But Louisiana Tech went on a 23-6 run to take its largest lead of the half, 48-17, with 4:47 to play. Rice immediately scored eight straight points, backed by two Olivari three-pointers. But La Tech scored seven of the final nine points to close the half and take a 55-27 lead into the break.
The Bulldogs opened the second half with a basket. But Sheffield scored seven straight points in a 9-3 Rice run to cut the deficit to 24. However, Louisiana Tech answered with 10 straight points to put the game away.
The Stats
Rice was held to just 32.3% (21-of-65) from the field and 25.7% (9-of-35) from three. Louisiana Tech connected on 52.1% (37-of-71) from the floor and 54.8% (17-of-31) from three. Rice was also outrebounded by the Bulldogs, 49-to-34.
What Scott Pera Had to Say
"You know coming in here how good they are (at home). I believe it was 42-3 in the last 45 coming in. We tried to stress all week how difficult it was going to be. Obviously I didn't do a good job of preparing our guys and it falls nowhere but on me. We've got to do a better job tomorrow than we did today. I thought (Cameron Sheffield) was the one guy who competed in a way that it took to try to win a college basketball game. I was proud of him. But I have to do a better job of getting our guys to understand how hard it is to win at some of these places."
Notes
• Rice drops to 12-11 on the year and 6-9 in Conference USA.
• The Owls fell to 7-17 against Louisiana Tech and 3-8 in Ruston.
• For the second straight game, Cameron Sheffield recorded a career-high, scoring a team-leading 17 points while grabbing six rebounds.
• Quincy Olivari scored 16 points and pulled down six rebounds.
• Travis Evee scored 12 points.
• Chris Mullins added a team-high five assists.
Next Up
Rice returns to the court tomorrow when it tries to split the series with Louisiana Tech. Tip-off is scheduled for 1 p.m. and will be nationally televised on CBS Sports Network.
The Story
Louisiana Tech scored the first seven points before Travis Evee got Rice on the board with a three-pointer. After an Isaiah Crawford jumper, Cameron Sheffield connected on a three to get Rice within 9-6 just three minutes into the game. But the Owls missed their next five shots as La Tech went on an 8-0 run to take a 20-6 lead. After the teams traded baskets, Mylyjael Poteat made one-of-two free throws. After a Bulldog three-pointer, Quincy Olivari answered with a layup. But Louisiana Tech went on a 23-6 run to take its largest lead of the half, 48-17, with 4:47 to play. Rice immediately scored eight straight points, backed by two Olivari three-pointers. But La Tech scored seven of the final nine points to close the half and take a 55-27 lead into the break.
The Bulldogs opened the second half with a basket. But Sheffield scored seven straight points in a 9-3 Rice run to cut the deficit to 24. However, Louisiana Tech answered with 10 straight points to put the game away.
The Stats
Rice was held to just 32.3% (21-of-65) from the field and 25.7% (9-of-35) from three. Louisiana Tech connected on 52.1% (37-of-71) from the floor and 54.8% (17-of-31) from three. Rice was also outrebounded by the Bulldogs, 49-to-34.
What Scott Pera Had to Say
"You know coming in here how good they are (at home). I believe it was 42-3 in the last 45 coming in. We tried to stress all week how difficult it was going to be. Obviously I didn't do a good job of preparing our guys and it falls nowhere but on me. We've got to do a better job tomorrow than we did today. I thought (Cameron Sheffield) was the one guy who competed in a way that it took to try to win a college basketball game. I was proud of him. But I have to do a better job of getting our guys to understand how hard it is to win at some of these places."
Notes
• Rice drops to 12-11 on the year and 6-9 in Conference USA.
• The Owls fell to 7-17 against Louisiana Tech and 3-8 in Ruston.
• For the second straight game, Cameron Sheffield recorded a career-high, scoring a team-leading 17 points while grabbing six rebounds.
• Quincy Olivari scored 16 points and pulled down six rebounds.
• Travis Evee scored 12 points.
• Chris Mullins added a team-high five assists.
Next Up
Rice returns to the court tomorrow when it tries to split the series with Louisiana Tech. Tip-off is scheduled for 1 p.m. and will be nationally televised on CBS Sports Network.
Team Stats
RICE
LATECH
FG%
.323
.521
3FG%
.257
.548
FT%
.500
.769
RB
34
49
TO
13
10
STL
4
10
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
17
FGM
5
3FGM
3
FTM
4
Pts
16
FGM
6
3FGM
3
FTM
1
Pts
12
FGM
5
3FGM
2
FTM
0
Pts
3
FGM
1
3FGM
1
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
G
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's Basketball
F
/ Men's BasketballG/F
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