Tuesday, November 15
Murfreesboro, Tenn.
6 p.m.
Rice University
-12,01 CUSA
46
at
81
Middle Tennessee
-21,10 CUSA
1
2
F
Rice
18
28
46
Middle Tenn.
44
37
81
Photo by: Kaitlyn Hungerford – MTSU Athletics
Men's Basketball Falls in C-USA Opener to Middle Tennessee
11/15/2022 9:30:00 PM | Men's Basketball
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — Middle Tennessee opened the game on a 14-2 run and Rice was never able to get itself going, falling, 81-46, in both teams Conference USA opener, Tuesday night at the Murphy Center.
The Story
The game started out slow as Quincy Olivari's jumper was the only points through the first four and a half minutes. But Middle Tennessee made five of its next six shots over the next five minutes, going on a 14-0 run. Evee made a jumper, but the Blue Raiders went on a 9-0 run over the next two minutes. After Jake Lieppert made a layup, the team traded free throws. MTSU then went on a 15-6 run, taking its largest lead of the half with 1:39 to play. But Cameron Sheffield made to free throws and Seryee Lewis made a layup to send Rice into halftime trailing, 44-18.
After Middle opened the second half with five straight points, Travis Evee hit a three-pointer. But Middle Tennessee went on a 16-2 run to take a 65-24 lead. The Blue Raiders would push their lead to as many as 46 as Rice got no closer than 35 points.
What Head Coach Scott Pera Had to Say
"(Middle Tennessee) defended us with great length and athleticism. We didn't make adjustments. Our guys played on their heels, not their toes. I don't know. In the end, it's on me. I thought we were prepared. But you can't simulate their length and you can't simulate their athleticism in practice."
The Stats
Rice was held to just 39.5% (17-of-43) from the field and 14.3% (2-of-14) from three. Middle Tennessee connected on 51.8% (29-of-56) from the floor and 50.0% (13-of-26) from three. The Blue Raiders also won the rebounding battle, 35-to-25.
Notes
• Rice faced Middle Tennessee for the 14th time. The series is tied at seven.
• Rice is 44-58 all-time in conference openers and 30-69 in road openers.
• Since joining Conference USA, Rice is 4-14 in conference openers.
• Rice opened on the road for the sixth time in the last eight years.
• F Seryee Lewis made his season debut, leading the Owls with a career-high 14 points on 7-of-8 shooting.
• G Travis Evee scored 11 points and has scored double-figures in all three games.
• Evee now has 170 three-pointers at Rice, tying Cory Pflieger (2005-11) for seventh-place on Rice's all-time list.
• F Max Fiedler grabbed a team-high five rebounds.
Next Up
Rice returns home to host the Owl Invitational. The Owls open the tournament this Friday, Nov. 18, when it hosts Georgia Southern. Tip-off is scheduled for 6 p.m. and the game will be streamed by CUSAtv.
The Story
The game started out slow as Quincy Olivari's jumper was the only points through the first four and a half minutes. But Middle Tennessee made five of its next six shots over the next five minutes, going on a 14-0 run. Evee made a jumper, but the Blue Raiders went on a 9-0 run over the next two minutes. After Jake Lieppert made a layup, the team traded free throws. MTSU then went on a 15-6 run, taking its largest lead of the half with 1:39 to play. But Cameron Sheffield made to free throws and Seryee Lewis made a layup to send Rice into halftime trailing, 44-18.
After Middle opened the second half with five straight points, Travis Evee hit a three-pointer. But Middle Tennessee went on a 16-2 run to take a 65-24 lead. The Blue Raiders would push their lead to as many as 46 as Rice got no closer than 35 points.
What Head Coach Scott Pera Had to Say
"(Middle Tennessee) defended us with great length and athleticism. We didn't make adjustments. Our guys played on their heels, not their toes. I don't know. In the end, it's on me. I thought we were prepared. But you can't simulate their length and you can't simulate their athleticism in practice."
The Stats
Rice was held to just 39.5% (17-of-43) from the field and 14.3% (2-of-14) from three. Middle Tennessee connected on 51.8% (29-of-56) from the floor and 50.0% (13-of-26) from three. The Blue Raiders also won the rebounding battle, 35-to-25.
Notes
• Rice faced Middle Tennessee for the 14th time. The series is tied at seven.
• Rice is 44-58 all-time in conference openers and 30-69 in road openers.
• Since joining Conference USA, Rice is 4-14 in conference openers.
• Rice opened on the road for the sixth time in the last eight years.
• F Seryee Lewis made his season debut, leading the Owls with a career-high 14 points on 7-of-8 shooting.
• G Travis Evee scored 11 points and has scored double-figures in all three games.
• Evee now has 170 three-pointers at Rice, tying Cory Pflieger (2005-11) for seventh-place on Rice's all-time list.
• F Max Fiedler grabbed a team-high five rebounds.
Next Up
Rice returns home to host the Owl Invitational. The Owls open the tournament this Friday, Nov. 18, when it hosts Georgia Southern. Tip-off is scheduled for 6 p.m. and the game will be streamed by CUSAtv.
Team Stats
Rice
MTSU
FG%
.395
.518
3FG%
.143
.500
FT%
.625
.556
RB
25
35
TO
18
10
STL
3
10
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
14
FGM
7
3FGM
0
FTM
0
Pts
11
FGM
3
3FGM
1
FTM
4
Pts
8
FGM
3
3FGM
0
FTM
2
Pts
5
FGM
2
3FGM
0
FTM
1
Players Mentioned
G
/ Men's Basketball
F
/ Men's BasketballF
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's Basketball
G/F
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