Thursday, March 11
Frisco, TX
6 p.m.
Rice University
-1513,610 CUSA
60
vs
73
UAB
-226,135 CUSA
1
2
F
Rice
32
28
60
UAB
36
37
73
Rice Falls to UAB in Quarterfinals of Conference USA Tournament
3/11/2021 11:00:00 PM | Men's Basketball
FRISCO, Texas — Rice missed nine of its last 10 shots and UAB closed the final 7:40 on a 19-2 run to turn a four-point Rice lead into a 73-60 UAB victory in the quarterfinals of the Air Force Reserve Conference USA Tournament.
The Story
The opened the game trading three-pointers. UAB scored seven of the next 10 points, but baskets by Max Fiedler and Quincy Olivari tied the game at 10, five minutes in. The Blazers took a five-point lead, but Rice answered with an 8-2 run to pull within 18-17. The teams then exchanged baskets with a Fiedler hook shot tying the game at 22 with 8:36 to play in the half. The game remained that way over the next 3:12 before UAB went on an 8-3 run to take a 30-25 lead with 2:54 remaining. Rice made its last four field goals of the half, but UAB answered each time and went into the break with a 36-32 lead.
UAB opened the second half on an 8-3 run through the first three minutes to take a 44-35 lead. After the traded baskets over the next two minutes. But Chris Mullins hit Fiedler for a dunk that sent Rice on an 8-0 run to tie the game at 48. After a Trey Jemison layup, Cavit Ege Havsa gave the Owls the lead with a three-pointer. After a turnover, Olivari was fouled on a three-point attempt and made all three free throws to take a four-point lead. After trading baskets, Fiedler made a jumper to give Rice a 58-54 lead with 8:13 to play. However, UAB picked up its pressure, holding the Owls to just one field the rest of the way as it closed the game on a 19-2 run.
The Stats
Rice connected on 45.7% (21-of-46) from the field, 50.0% (9-of-18) from three and 81.8% (9-of-11) from the free throw line. UAB connected on 44.1% (30-of-68) from the floor, 35.7% (5-of-14) from three and 72.7% (8-of-11). Rice was also outrebounded, 40-to-25.
What Scott Pera Had to Say
"(UAB)'s older guys make plays. They're a veteran team with really good leadership all year long. They didn't waver or panic at all when we got the lead. They just kept coming at us. At the end of the day, we just ran out of gas and they kept making plays. Sometimes, that's all it comes down to."
Notes
• Rice closed the year with a 15-13 record.
• The Owls dropped to 2-17 all-time against UAB.
• Rice fell to 8-15 all-time in the Conference USA Tournament.
• This was the first-ever meeting between Rice and UAB in the C-USA Tournament.
• Max Fiedler led the Owls with 18 points, eight rebounds and three assists.
• Quincy Olivari scored 16 points and grabbed f rebounds.
• With three three-pointers, Olivari finished the year with 88, passing Marcus Evans (2016-17) and Marcus Jackson (2014-15) for second-place on the Rice single-season list.
• Chris Mullins scored 10 points, four rebounds and a game-high four assists.
The Story
The opened the game trading three-pointers. UAB scored seven of the next 10 points, but baskets by Max Fiedler and Quincy Olivari tied the game at 10, five minutes in. The Blazers took a five-point lead, but Rice answered with an 8-2 run to pull within 18-17. The teams then exchanged baskets with a Fiedler hook shot tying the game at 22 with 8:36 to play in the half. The game remained that way over the next 3:12 before UAB went on an 8-3 run to take a 30-25 lead with 2:54 remaining. Rice made its last four field goals of the half, but UAB answered each time and went into the break with a 36-32 lead.
UAB opened the second half on an 8-3 run through the first three minutes to take a 44-35 lead. After the traded baskets over the next two minutes. But Chris Mullins hit Fiedler for a dunk that sent Rice on an 8-0 run to tie the game at 48. After a Trey Jemison layup, Cavit Ege Havsa gave the Owls the lead with a three-pointer. After a turnover, Olivari was fouled on a three-point attempt and made all three free throws to take a four-point lead. After trading baskets, Fiedler made a jumper to give Rice a 58-54 lead with 8:13 to play. However, UAB picked up its pressure, holding the Owls to just one field the rest of the way as it closed the game on a 19-2 run.
The Stats
Rice connected on 45.7% (21-of-46) from the field, 50.0% (9-of-18) from three and 81.8% (9-of-11) from the free throw line. UAB connected on 44.1% (30-of-68) from the floor, 35.7% (5-of-14) from three and 72.7% (8-of-11). Rice was also outrebounded, 40-to-25.
What Scott Pera Had to Say
"(UAB)'s older guys make plays. They're a veteran team with really good leadership all year long. They didn't waver or panic at all when we got the lead. They just kept coming at us. At the end of the day, we just ran out of gas and they kept making plays. Sometimes, that's all it comes down to."
Notes
• Rice closed the year with a 15-13 record.
• The Owls dropped to 2-17 all-time against UAB.
• Rice fell to 8-15 all-time in the Conference USA Tournament.
• This was the first-ever meeting between Rice and UAB in the C-USA Tournament.
• Max Fiedler led the Owls with 18 points, eight rebounds and three assists.
• Quincy Olivari scored 16 points and grabbed f rebounds.
• With three three-pointers, Olivari finished the year with 88, passing Marcus Evans (2016-17) and Marcus Jackson (2014-15) for second-place on the Rice single-season list.
• Chris Mullins scored 10 points, four rebounds and a game-high four assists.
Team Stats
RICE
UAB
FG%
.457
.441
3FG%
.500
.357
FT%
.818
.727
RB
25
40
TO
13
6
STL
1
8
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
18
FGM
7
3FGM
0
FTM
4
Pts
16
FGM
5
3FGM
3
FTM
3
Pts
10
FGM
4
3FGM
2
FTM
0
Pts
6
FGM
2
3FGM
2
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
F
/ Men's Basketball
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