Thursday, January 27
Ruston, LA
6:30 p.m.
Rice University
63
at
80
Louisiana Tech
Owls Battle Hard But Fall at Louisiana Tech
1/27/2022 10:04:00 PM | Men's Basketball
RUSTON, La. — The Rice men's basketball team battled throughout the game, pulling within nine points in the second half before eventually succumbing at Louisiana Tech, 80-63
The Story
The game started as a back-and-forth affair. After trading baskets for the first two minutes, Travis Evee hit a three-pointer and Carl Pierre drove in for a layup. La Tech then scored seven of nine points to tie the game at 11 heading into the first media timeout. Rice came out of the timeout and got back-to-back buckets from Pierre and Quincy Olivari. After a Bulldog jumper, Mylyjael Poteat made one-of-two free throws. Two straight baskets gave Louisiana Tech its first lead nine minutes into the game, but the Owls came right back as Evee and Olivari hit layups to give them a 20-18 advantage. La Tech scored five straight before Olivari made it a one-point game, 23-22 with 7:12 remaining. However, Rice went cold, missing seven straight shots before Poteat beat the buzzer with less than a second left as the Bulldogs closed the half on a 21-7 run to take a 44-29 lead into halftime.
The teams again opened the second half trading baskets before an Olivari four-point play followed by a Poteat layup cut the deficit to 50-40 five minutes in. But Exavian Christon answered with a three of his own to push the lead back to 13. They then went back-and-forth over the next four minutes with the lead staying between 11 and 13 points. With 10:37 to play, Carl Pierre scored four straight points, including his only three of the game, as the Owls pulled within 59-50. But Rice missed five straight shots as Louisiana Tech went on a 10-0 run to take its largest lead of the game, 69-50, with 7:20 remaining. But, again, the Owls responded. Chris Mullins made a layup and Olivari made a jumper. After a La Tech basket, Cameron Sheffield made a layup, Riley Abercrombie hit two free throws and Mullins converted a three-point play to get Rice within 71-61 with 3:18 remaining. But the Bulldogs closed the game on a 9-2 run.
The Stats
Rice was held to just 32.8% from the field and 15.4% ,from three while connecting on 78.9% from the free throw line. Louisiana Tech connected on 48.5% from the floor and 44.9% from three while hitting all seven of its free throws. Rice outrebounded the Bulldogs, 41-to-40.
What Scott Pera Had to Say
"I thought we came out really engaged. They were really executing what we were trying to do. We had some guys who have produced for us a lot and didn't produce (tonight). That makes it really difficult to beat anybody, let alone one of the best teams on their home floor. We had to play a really good game to beat them. We only played well in stretches. The beginning stretch was very good. Our kids kept fighting to cut it to (nine) and I'm really proud of that. Our effort was really good. Our discipline with the ball was really good. We just couldn't make a shot.
Notes
• Rice fell to 11-8 on the season and 4-4 in Conference USA.
• Sophomore Quincy Olivari recorded his first career double-double, scoring 18 points and pulling down 10 rebounds.
• Second-year freshman Mylyjael Poteat scored 15 points and grabbed six rebounds.
• Sophomore Max Fiedler scored six points, pulled down 10 rebounds and had a game-high three assists.
• Graduate student Carl Pierre scored eight points and grabbed five rebounds.
Next Up
Rice closes its road trip this Saturday, Jan. 29 when it travels to Hattiesburg, Miss., to face Southern Miss. Tip-off is scheduled for 2 p.m. CT and it will be streamed by ESPN+.
The Story
The game started as a back-and-forth affair. After trading baskets for the first two minutes, Travis Evee hit a three-pointer and Carl Pierre drove in for a layup. La Tech then scored seven of nine points to tie the game at 11 heading into the first media timeout. Rice came out of the timeout and got back-to-back buckets from Pierre and Quincy Olivari. After a Bulldog jumper, Mylyjael Poteat made one-of-two free throws. Two straight baskets gave Louisiana Tech its first lead nine minutes into the game, but the Owls came right back as Evee and Olivari hit layups to give them a 20-18 advantage. La Tech scored five straight before Olivari made it a one-point game, 23-22 with 7:12 remaining. However, Rice went cold, missing seven straight shots before Poteat beat the buzzer with less than a second left as the Bulldogs closed the half on a 21-7 run to take a 44-29 lead into halftime.
The teams again opened the second half trading baskets before an Olivari four-point play followed by a Poteat layup cut the deficit to 50-40 five minutes in. But Exavian Christon answered with a three of his own to push the lead back to 13. They then went back-and-forth over the next four minutes with the lead staying between 11 and 13 points. With 10:37 to play, Carl Pierre scored four straight points, including his only three of the game, as the Owls pulled within 59-50. But Rice missed five straight shots as Louisiana Tech went on a 10-0 run to take its largest lead of the game, 69-50, with 7:20 remaining. But, again, the Owls responded. Chris Mullins made a layup and Olivari made a jumper. After a La Tech basket, Cameron Sheffield made a layup, Riley Abercrombie hit two free throws and Mullins converted a three-point play to get Rice within 71-61 with 3:18 remaining. But the Bulldogs closed the game on a 9-2 run.
The Stats
Rice was held to just 32.8% from the field and 15.4% ,from three while connecting on 78.9% from the free throw line. Louisiana Tech connected on 48.5% from the floor and 44.9% from three while hitting all seven of its free throws. Rice outrebounded the Bulldogs, 41-to-40.
What Scott Pera Had to Say
"I thought we came out really engaged. They were really executing what we were trying to do. We had some guys who have produced for us a lot and didn't produce (tonight). That makes it really difficult to beat anybody, let alone one of the best teams on their home floor. We had to play a really good game to beat them. We only played well in stretches. The beginning stretch was very good. Our kids kept fighting to cut it to (nine) and I'm really proud of that. Our effort was really good. Our discipline with the ball was really good. We just couldn't make a shot.
Notes
• Rice fell to 11-8 on the season and 4-4 in Conference USA.
• Sophomore Quincy Olivari recorded his first career double-double, scoring 18 points and pulling down 10 rebounds.
• Second-year freshman Mylyjael Poteat scored 15 points and grabbed six rebounds.
• Sophomore Max Fiedler scored six points, pulled down 10 rebounds and had a game-high three assists.
• Graduate student Carl Pierre scored eight points and grabbed five rebounds.
Next Up
Rice closes its road trip this Saturday, Jan. 29 when it travels to Hattiesburg, Miss., to face Southern Miss. Tip-off is scheduled for 2 p.m. CT and it will be streamed by ESPN+.
Players Mentioned
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