Saturday, January 29
Hattiesburg, MS
2 p.m.
Rice University
-128,54 CUSA
76
at
62
Southern Miss
-614,16 CUSA
1
2
F
Rice
42
34
76
Southern Miss.
36
26
62
Photo by: © Maria Lysaker
Mullins Scores 1,000th Career Point in 76-62 Victory over Southern Miss
1/29/2022 6:04:00 PM | Men's Basketball
HATTIESBURG, Miss. — Rice placed five players in double-figures and Chris Mullins scored his 1,000th career point as Rice defeated Southern Miss, 76-62, Saturday afternoon from Reed Green Coliseum.
The Story
After Southern Miss hit a pair of threes to open the game, Rice went on an 11-0 run to lead 11-6 at the first media timeout. USM cut the lead to two before Travis Evee made a pair of free throws. But a 7-2 run gave the Golden Eagles a 19-18 lead. The Owls responded, going on a 12-2 run, taking its largest lead of the half at 30-21. Southern Miss answered, going on an 11-2 run to tie the game at 32 with 2:35 to play. Rice scored seven straight, including a three-point play by Mullins. USM cut the lead to three on a pair of layups, but Evee's three-pointer at the buzzer sent Rice into halftime with a 42-36 lead as the Owls shot 64.0% in the half.
The teams opened the second half trading three-pointers. After Evee made two free throws, Southern Miss made back-to-back jumpers to pull within four points. Rice went on a 7-0 run, capped by a Quincy Olivari three that gave it its first double-digit lead, 54-43. The Golden Eagles scored eight of the next 12 points, pulling within seven points. But a Mullins jumper sent Rice on a 7-0 run to take a 63-51 lead at the under-eight timeout. USM cut the lead to 10 points with five minutes left, but Rice held it to just two baskets the rest of the way.-*
The Stats
Rice connected on 52.9% from the field, 33.3% from three, and 75.0% from the free throw line. Southern Miss was held to 40.0% from the floor and 30.8% from three. Rice outrebounded the Golden Eagles, 34-to-30.
What Scott Pera Had to Say
"This was a really good indication for us moving forward, getting (the team) on the same page with (five) getting double-figures. I'm really encouraged. We were really engaged on both ends of the floor. Our half court defense was really good. Getting road wins are really hard. You've got to be ready every night so we're really happy with the win."
Notes
• Rice improved to 12-8 on the season and 5-4 in Conference USA.
• Rice improved to 16-10 against Southern Miss.
• The Owls connected on 52.9% from the field, the ninth time this season it connected on at least 50.0% from the floor.
• Rice made 10 three-pointers, the 12th time this year it made at least 10 three-pointers.
• Graduate student Carl Pierre scored a team-high 17 points and tied a season-high with four assists.
• Sophomore Quincy Olivari recorded his second straight double-double, scoring 16 points and pulling down a game and career-high tying 10 rebounds.
• Sophomore Max Fiedler recorded his fifth double-double of the year, scoring 14 points on 5-of-5 shooting while grabbing a game-high tying 10 rebounds.
• Sophomore Travis Evee scored 14 points.
• Senior Chris Mullins scored 11 points, and grabbed a season-high seven rebounds and had four assists.
• With his 11 points, Mullins became the 38th player in school history to score 1,000 career points.
Next Up
Rice begins a four-game homestand next Thursday, Feb. 3 when it hosts UTSA. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. CT and it will be streamed by CUSAtv.
The Story
After Southern Miss hit a pair of threes to open the game, Rice went on an 11-0 run to lead 11-6 at the first media timeout. USM cut the lead to two before Travis Evee made a pair of free throws. But a 7-2 run gave the Golden Eagles a 19-18 lead. The Owls responded, going on a 12-2 run, taking its largest lead of the half at 30-21. Southern Miss answered, going on an 11-2 run to tie the game at 32 with 2:35 to play. Rice scored seven straight, including a three-point play by Mullins. USM cut the lead to three on a pair of layups, but Evee's three-pointer at the buzzer sent Rice into halftime with a 42-36 lead as the Owls shot 64.0% in the half.
The teams opened the second half trading three-pointers. After Evee made two free throws, Southern Miss made back-to-back jumpers to pull within four points. Rice went on a 7-0 run, capped by a Quincy Olivari three that gave it its first double-digit lead, 54-43. The Golden Eagles scored eight of the next 12 points, pulling within seven points. But a Mullins jumper sent Rice on a 7-0 run to take a 63-51 lead at the under-eight timeout. USM cut the lead to 10 points with five minutes left, but Rice held it to just two baskets the rest of the way.-*
The Stats
Rice connected on 52.9% from the field, 33.3% from three, and 75.0% from the free throw line. Southern Miss was held to 40.0% from the floor and 30.8% from three. Rice outrebounded the Golden Eagles, 34-to-30.
What Scott Pera Had to Say
"This was a really good indication for us moving forward, getting (the team) on the same page with (five) getting double-figures. I'm really encouraged. We were really engaged on both ends of the floor. Our half court defense was really good. Getting road wins are really hard. You've got to be ready every night so we're really happy with the win."
Notes
• Rice improved to 12-8 on the season and 5-4 in Conference USA.
• Rice improved to 16-10 against Southern Miss.
• The Owls connected on 52.9% from the field, the ninth time this season it connected on at least 50.0% from the floor.
• Rice made 10 three-pointers, the 12th time this year it made at least 10 three-pointers.
• Graduate student Carl Pierre scored a team-high 17 points and tied a season-high with four assists.
• Sophomore Quincy Olivari recorded his second straight double-double, scoring 16 points and pulling down a game and career-high tying 10 rebounds.
• Sophomore Max Fiedler recorded his fifth double-double of the year, scoring 14 points on 5-of-5 shooting while grabbing a game-high tying 10 rebounds.
• Sophomore Travis Evee scored 14 points.
• Senior Chris Mullins scored 11 points, and grabbed a season-high seven rebounds and had four assists.
• With his 11 points, Mullins became the 38th player in school history to score 1,000 career points.
Next Up
Rice begins a four-game homestand next Thursday, Feb. 3 when it hosts UTSA. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. CT and it will be streamed by CUSAtv.
Team Stats
Rice
USM
FG%
.529
.400
3FG%
.333
.308
FT%
.750
.667
RB
34
30
TO
9
7
STL
3
3
Game Leaders
Pts
17
FGM
6
3FGM
4
FTM
1
Pts
16
FGM
6
3FGM
4
FTM
0
Pts
14
FGM
4
3FGM
2
FTM
4
Pts
14
FGM
5
3FGM
0
FTM
4
Players Mentioned
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