Thursday, January 13
Bowling Green, KY
8 p.m.
Rice University
-96,22 CUSA
66
at
80
WKU
-106,21 CUSA
1
2
F
Rice
42
24
66
Western Ky.
40
40
80
Photo by: © Maria Lysaker
Solid First Half Not Enough as Owls Fall to WKU
1/13/2022 11:31:00 PM | Men's Basketball
BOWLING GREEN, Ky. — Rice shot 51.5% in the first half to hold the lead at the break, but it couldn't hold on as the Owls fell to WKU, 80-66, Thursday night at E.A. Diddle Arena.
The Story
Rice got off to a fast start, jumping out to a 10-4 lead in the first three minutes behind a pair of Travis Evee three-pointers. WKU scored seven straight points to take an 11-10 lead, but a Quincy Olivari triple sent the Owls on a 16-2 run over the next four and a half minutes to take its largest lead of the game, 26-13. The teams traded baskets before WKU made four straight free throws. After going back-and-forth, Rice led, 33-22, with 6:01 to play. The Hilltoppers scored nine of the next 11 points to pull within four. After trading buckets, Cameron Sheffield drilled a three-pointer from the wing to extend Rice's lead to 40-33 with two minutes remaining. But WKU scored seven of the final nine points, sending the Owls into halftime with a 42-40 lead.
However, the Hilltoppers opened the second half on an 11-3 run in the first 4:30 to grab a 53-45 lead. Olivari hit Poteat for a layup to pull the Owls within six, but WKU scored eight of the next 10 points to take a 61-49 advantage. Chris Mullins converted a three-point play, but Camron Justice answered with a three-pointer. The Owls would pull no closer than 10 points as the Hilltoppers led by as many as 17 late in the game.
The Stats
Rice was held to just 41.7% from the field and 29.6% from three. WKU connected on 49.1% from the floor and 35.0% from three. Rice was also outrebounded, 38-to-33.
What Scott Pera Had to Say
"I thought our guys were ready to play tonight. They followed the game plan and executed what we needed to do to get the lead at halftime. (WKU) started closing the gap on us late in the first half. We just didn't score enough and made some questionable decisions. Western Kentucky is as talented a team as I've seen on tape this year."
Notes
• Rice fell to 9-6 on the season and 2-2 in Conference USA.
• Second-year sophomore Mylyjael Poteat scored 15 points while grabbing four rebounds.
• Sophomore Travis Evee scored 13 points and had a team-high five assists.
• Junior Chris Mullins scored 13 points.
• Sophomore Quincy Olivari had 11 points and pulled down five rebounds.
• Sophomore Max Fiedler had team-highs of six rebounds and five assists.
Next Up
Rice closes the road trip this Saturday, Jan. 15, when it travels to Huntington, W.V., to face Marshall. Tip-off is scheduled for 6 p.m. CT and it will be streamed by ESPN+.
The Story
Rice got off to a fast start, jumping out to a 10-4 lead in the first three minutes behind a pair of Travis Evee three-pointers. WKU scored seven straight points to take an 11-10 lead, but a Quincy Olivari triple sent the Owls on a 16-2 run over the next four and a half minutes to take its largest lead of the game, 26-13. The teams traded baskets before WKU made four straight free throws. After going back-and-forth, Rice led, 33-22, with 6:01 to play. The Hilltoppers scored nine of the next 11 points to pull within four. After trading buckets, Cameron Sheffield drilled a three-pointer from the wing to extend Rice's lead to 40-33 with two minutes remaining. But WKU scored seven of the final nine points, sending the Owls into halftime with a 42-40 lead.
However, the Hilltoppers opened the second half on an 11-3 run in the first 4:30 to grab a 53-45 lead. Olivari hit Poteat for a layup to pull the Owls within six, but WKU scored eight of the next 10 points to take a 61-49 advantage. Chris Mullins converted a three-point play, but Camron Justice answered with a three-pointer. The Owls would pull no closer than 10 points as the Hilltoppers led by as many as 17 late in the game.
The Stats
Rice was held to just 41.7% from the field and 29.6% from three. WKU connected on 49.1% from the floor and 35.0% from three. Rice was also outrebounded, 38-to-33.
What Scott Pera Had to Say
"I thought our guys were ready to play tonight. They followed the game plan and executed what we needed to do to get the lead at halftime. (WKU) started closing the gap on us late in the first half. We just didn't score enough and made some questionable decisions. Western Kentucky is as talented a team as I've seen on tape this year."
Notes
• Rice fell to 9-6 on the season and 2-2 in Conference USA.
• Second-year sophomore Mylyjael Poteat scored 15 points while grabbing four rebounds.
• Sophomore Travis Evee scored 13 points and had a team-high five assists.
• Junior Chris Mullins scored 13 points.
• Sophomore Quincy Olivari had 11 points and pulled down five rebounds.
• Sophomore Max Fiedler had team-highs of six rebounds and five assists.
Next Up
Rice closes the road trip this Saturday, Jan. 15, when it travels to Huntington, W.V., to face Marshall. Tip-off is scheduled for 6 p.m. CT and it will be streamed by ESPN+.
Team Stats
Rice
WestKy
FG%
.417
.491
3FG%
.296
.350
FT%
.727
.773
RB
33
38
TO
11
8
STL
5
10
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
15
FGM
7
3FGM
0
FTM
1
Pts
13
FGM
4
3FGM
3
FTM
2
Pts
13
FGM
4
3FGM
2
FTM
3
Pts
11
FGM
5
3FGM
1
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
G
/ Men's Basketball
F
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's Basketball
F
/ Men's Basketball
G/F
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