Saturday, January 22
Houston, TX
2 p.m.
Rice University
-117,43 CUSA
64
vs
67
Charlotte
-107,32 CUSA
1
2
F
Charlotte
30
37
67
Rice
36
28
64
Photo by: Maria Lysaker
Rice Drops Heartbreaker to Charlotte
1/22/2022 6:08:00 PM | Men's Basketball
HOUSTON — Carl Pierre had two three-point attempts to tie the game but couldn't get them to drop, and Rice fell to Charlotte, 67-64, Saturday afternoon at Tudor Fieldhouse.
The Story
The teams got off to a slow start as they played to a 4-4 tie through the first media timeout. Charlotte made two straight baskets, but a Cameron Sheffield three-pointer sent the Owls on an 11-3 run. After a Charlotte triple cut it to one, Max Fiedler made a layup and Pierre drilled a three as Rice held its largest lead of the game, 20-14, with 8:52 to play in the first half. But the 49ers came right back, scoring six straight points, including a four-point play that tied that game. The teams went back-and-forth over the next minute. With the game tied at 25, Chris Mullins made two free throws. Austin Butler made a three to give Charlotte the lead, but Pierre hit a triple as the Owls closed the final 3:55 on a 9-3 lead to enter halftime with a 36-30 advantage.
But the Owls started the second half cold, making just two of its first 11 shots as Charlotte opened the half on a 14-5 run to take a 44-41 lead. A Mylyjael Poteat layup cut it, but the 49ers score six of the next nine points to take a 50-46 lead. Travis Evee drilled a three and Quincy Olivari drove in for a layup as the Owls took a 51-50 lead. After back-to-back Charlotte baskets, Rice scored seven of nine points to take a 58-56 lead on a Fiedler layup. The 49ers regained the lead, scoring six straight points, but two free throws by Pierre followed by a Poteat layup tied the game at 62 with 1:52 to play. Charlotte took a three-point lead, Pierre found Poteat underneath for a dunk to get the Owls within 65-64 with 18 seconds remaining. Rice fouled Clyde Trapp, who made both give the 49ers a three-point lead. Olivari drove the lane and hit Pierre in the corner for a three, but it bounced out. Poteat grabbed the rebound and hit Pierre for a second attempt. But it bounced off the front of the rim as time expired.
The Stats
Rice was held to just 42.0% from the field and 31.8% from three. Charlotte connected on 53.3% from the floor and 45.0% from three. Rice was also outrebounded by the 49ers, 28-to-26.
What Scott Pera Had to Say
"(Charlotte) was the better team. There's no other way to put it. They were better defensively. They were better offensively and our guys just weren't sharp. They had more energy. We had a six-point lead at the half (and) the next thing I know, they're winning 44-41. Then you have to battle the rest of the way. But all the credit goes to Charlotte."
Notes
• Rice fell to 11-7 on the season and 4-3 in Conference USA.
• Second-year freshman Mylyjael Poteat led all players with 15 points while grabbing four rebounds.
• Sophomore Travis Evee scored 13 points and had four rebounds and three assists.
• With three, three-pointers Evee went over 200 threes for his career.
• Graduate student Carl Pierre scored 12 points and grabbed a season-high four assists.
• Sophomore Max Fiedler scored eight points and had a team-high five rebounds.
• Sophomore Quincy Olivari tied a career-high with three steals.
Next Up
Rice begins a two-game road trip next Thursday, Jan. 27 when it travels to West Division leader Louisiana Tech. Tip-off is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. CT and it will be streamed by ESPN+.
The Story
The teams got off to a slow start as they played to a 4-4 tie through the first media timeout. Charlotte made two straight baskets, but a Cameron Sheffield three-pointer sent the Owls on an 11-3 run. After a Charlotte triple cut it to one, Max Fiedler made a layup and Pierre drilled a three as Rice held its largest lead of the game, 20-14, with 8:52 to play in the first half. But the 49ers came right back, scoring six straight points, including a four-point play that tied that game. The teams went back-and-forth over the next minute. With the game tied at 25, Chris Mullins made two free throws. Austin Butler made a three to give Charlotte the lead, but Pierre hit a triple as the Owls closed the final 3:55 on a 9-3 lead to enter halftime with a 36-30 advantage.
But the Owls started the second half cold, making just two of its first 11 shots as Charlotte opened the half on a 14-5 run to take a 44-41 lead. A Mylyjael Poteat layup cut it, but the 49ers score six of the next nine points to take a 50-46 lead. Travis Evee drilled a three and Quincy Olivari drove in for a layup as the Owls took a 51-50 lead. After back-to-back Charlotte baskets, Rice scored seven of nine points to take a 58-56 lead on a Fiedler layup. The 49ers regained the lead, scoring six straight points, but two free throws by Pierre followed by a Poteat layup tied the game at 62 with 1:52 to play. Charlotte took a three-point lead, Pierre found Poteat underneath for a dunk to get the Owls within 65-64 with 18 seconds remaining. Rice fouled Clyde Trapp, who made both give the 49ers a three-point lead. Olivari drove the lane and hit Pierre in the corner for a three, but it bounced out. Poteat grabbed the rebound and hit Pierre for a second attempt. But it bounced off the front of the rim as time expired.
The Stats
Rice was held to just 42.0% from the field and 31.8% from three. Charlotte connected on 53.3% from the floor and 45.0% from three. Rice was also outrebounded by the 49ers, 28-to-26.
What Scott Pera Had to Say
"(Charlotte) was the better team. There's no other way to put it. They were better defensively. They were better offensively and our guys just weren't sharp. They had more energy. We had a six-point lead at the half (and) the next thing I know, they're winning 44-41. Then you have to battle the rest of the way. But all the credit goes to Charlotte."
Notes
• Rice fell to 11-7 on the season and 4-3 in Conference USA.
• Second-year freshman Mylyjael Poteat led all players with 15 points while grabbing four rebounds.
• Sophomore Travis Evee scored 13 points and had four rebounds and three assists.
• With three, three-pointers Evee went over 200 threes for his career.
• Graduate student Carl Pierre scored 12 points and grabbed a season-high four assists.
• Sophomore Max Fiedler scored eight points and had a team-high five rebounds.
• Sophomore Quincy Olivari tied a career-high with three steals.
Next Up
Rice begins a two-game road trip next Thursday, Jan. 27 when it travels to West Division leader Louisiana Tech. Tip-off is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. CT and it will be streamed by ESPN+.
Team Stats
CLT
Rice
FG%
.533
.420
3FG%
.450
.318
FT%
.769
.833
RB
28
26
TO
18
12
STL
1
8
Game Leaders
Pts
15
FGM
6
3FGM
0
FTM
3
Pts
13
FGM
4
3FGM
3
FTM
2
Pts
12
FGM
3
3FGM
3
FTM
3
Pts
8
FGM
3
3FGM
0
FTM
2
Players Mentioned
G
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G/F
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