Tuesday, March 9
Frisco, TX
7 p.m.
Rice University
-1412,610 CUSA
61
vs
52
Southern Miss
-817,413 CUSA
1
2
F
Southern Miss.
20
32
52
Rice
27
34
61
Photo by: Roger Steinman Photos
Rice Defense Leads to 61-52 Victory over Southern Miss in First Round of C-USA Tournament
3/9/2021 11:41:00 PM | Men's Basketball
FRISCO, Texas — Rice held Southern Miss without a field goal over the final 6:24, closing the game on an 18-3 run to turn a six-point deficit into a 61-52 victory and advance to the second round of the Air Force Reserve Conference USA Tournament.
The Story
The game started off slow as both teams started just one-of-five from the field. Back-to back baskets by Chris Mullins and Quincy Olivari sent Rice on a 9-2 run to take a 10-4 lead just 6:30 into the game. But the Owls turned the ball over on three straight possessions as the Golden Eagles went on a 12-2 run to take a 16-12 lead. Max Fiedler tied the game with back-to-back layups. After a Southern Miss basket, Rice stepped up its defense, forcing four straight turnovers while Mullins scored seven points in an 11-0 run, as Rice took its largest lead of the half, 27-18, with 2:49 to play. But a USM basket just before the half sent Rice into the break with a 27-20 lead.
Southern Miss began the second half with a jumper and Travis Evee followed with a three-pointer to extend Rice's lead to eight. However, the Owls turned the ball over on six straight possessions as USM went on an 11-0 run to take the lead. Evee got Rice back on the board with another three, but the Golden Eagles followed by scoring eight of the next 11 points to take a 41-36 lead nine minutes into the second half. The teams traded baskets over the next two and a half minutes before back-to-back baskets gave Southern Miss its largest lead of the game, 49-43 with 6:24 to play. That's when Rice stepped up its play. Fiedler connected on two straight layups and Ege Havsa tied the game with a pair of free throws. Havsa then gave Rice the lead for good with a three-pointer from the top of the key, followed by Olivari's only three of the game. Havsa then hit a jumper with time winding down on the shot clock to give Rice a 57-49 lead with 1:16 to play and complete a 14-0 run. Rice eventually extended its lead to a game-high 10 points.
The Stats
Rice connected on 47.1% (24-of-51) from the field and 35.0% (7-of-20) from three. Southern Miss was held to 37.9% (22-of-58) from the floor and 14.3% (2-of-14) from three. Rice outrebounded the Golden Eagles, 35-to-31.
What Scott Pera Had to Say
"It was really big (to get this win). I keep talking to our guys about knocking down barriers, and we've continued to do that now. This is the first time that we got this one and it was another barrier that we needed to knock down. I'm really proud of their effort and how tough they were down the stretch."
Notes
• Rice improved to 14-12 on the year.
• The Owls improved to 15-10 against Southern Miss and have won the last four games.
• Rice improves to 7-14 all-time in the Conference USA Tournament and 6-9 in the first round.
• Rice improves to 2-1 all-time against USM in the Conference USA Tournament.
• The 20 first half points and 52 total points were the fewest Rice allowed this year.
• Rice recorded a season-high 11 steals
• Max Fiedler recorded his eighth double-double of the year, recording game-highs of 17 points and 11 rebounds while setting a career-high with four steals.
• Travis Evee scored 12 points on four three-pointers and tied a season-high with four rebounds.
• With four three-pointers, Evee now has 72 on the year, tying Austin Ramljak (2012-13) and Ako Adams (2018-19) for 14th-place on the Rice single-season list.
• Chris Mullins scored 12 points and set a season-high with four steals.
• Quincy Olivari scored nine points, grabbed a career-high 10 rebounds and tied a career-high with four assists.
• With one three-pointer, Olivari now has 80 on the year, tying Davie Willie (1987-88) and Egor Koulechov (2015-16) for eighth-place on the Rice single-season list.
Next Up
Rice advances to the second round of the Air Force Reserve Conference USA Tournament and will face East Division third-seed Marshall tomorrow, Mar. 10. Tip-off is scheduled for 6 p.m. and will be livestreamed on ESPN+.
The Story
The game started off slow as both teams started just one-of-five from the field. Back-to back baskets by Chris Mullins and Quincy Olivari sent Rice on a 9-2 run to take a 10-4 lead just 6:30 into the game. But the Owls turned the ball over on three straight possessions as the Golden Eagles went on a 12-2 run to take a 16-12 lead. Max Fiedler tied the game with back-to-back layups. After a Southern Miss basket, Rice stepped up its defense, forcing four straight turnovers while Mullins scored seven points in an 11-0 run, as Rice took its largest lead of the half, 27-18, with 2:49 to play. But a USM basket just before the half sent Rice into the break with a 27-20 lead.
Southern Miss began the second half with a jumper and Travis Evee followed with a three-pointer to extend Rice's lead to eight. However, the Owls turned the ball over on six straight possessions as USM went on an 11-0 run to take the lead. Evee got Rice back on the board with another three, but the Golden Eagles followed by scoring eight of the next 11 points to take a 41-36 lead nine minutes into the second half. The teams traded baskets over the next two and a half minutes before back-to-back baskets gave Southern Miss its largest lead of the game, 49-43 with 6:24 to play. That's when Rice stepped up its play. Fiedler connected on two straight layups and Ege Havsa tied the game with a pair of free throws. Havsa then gave Rice the lead for good with a three-pointer from the top of the key, followed by Olivari's only three of the game. Havsa then hit a jumper with time winding down on the shot clock to give Rice a 57-49 lead with 1:16 to play and complete a 14-0 run. Rice eventually extended its lead to a game-high 10 points.
The Stats
Rice connected on 47.1% (24-of-51) from the field and 35.0% (7-of-20) from three. Southern Miss was held to 37.9% (22-of-58) from the floor and 14.3% (2-of-14) from three. Rice outrebounded the Golden Eagles, 35-to-31.
What Scott Pera Had to Say
"It was really big (to get this win). I keep talking to our guys about knocking down barriers, and we've continued to do that now. This is the first time that we got this one and it was another barrier that we needed to knock down. I'm really proud of their effort and how tough they were down the stretch."
Notes
• Rice improved to 14-12 on the year.
• The Owls improved to 15-10 against Southern Miss and have won the last four games.
• Rice improves to 7-14 all-time in the Conference USA Tournament and 6-9 in the first round.
• Rice improves to 2-1 all-time against USM in the Conference USA Tournament.
• The 20 first half points and 52 total points were the fewest Rice allowed this year.
• Rice recorded a season-high 11 steals
• Max Fiedler recorded his eighth double-double of the year, recording game-highs of 17 points and 11 rebounds while setting a career-high with four steals.
• Travis Evee scored 12 points on four three-pointers and tied a season-high with four rebounds.
• With four three-pointers, Evee now has 72 on the year, tying Austin Ramljak (2012-13) and Ako Adams (2018-19) for 14th-place on the Rice single-season list.
• Chris Mullins scored 12 points and set a season-high with four steals.
• Quincy Olivari scored nine points, grabbed a career-high 10 rebounds and tied a career-high with four assists.
• With one three-pointer, Olivari now has 80 on the year, tying Davie Willie (1987-88) and Egor Koulechov (2015-16) for eighth-place on the Rice single-season list.
Next Up
Rice advances to the second round of the Air Force Reserve Conference USA Tournament and will face East Division third-seed Marshall tomorrow, Mar. 10. Tip-off is scheduled for 6 p.m. and will be livestreamed on ESPN+.
Team Stats
USM
RICE
FG%
.379
.471
3FG%
.143
.350
FT%
.750
.600
RB
31
35
TO
15
18
STL
8
11
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
17
FGM
8
3FGM
0
FTM
1
Pts
12
FGM
4
3FGM
4
FTM
0
Pts
12
FGM
5
3FGM
1
FTM
1
Pts
9
FGM
4
3FGM
1
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
G
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/ Men's BasketballG
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