Monday, November 7
Malibu, CA
9 p.m.
Rice University
-01,00 CUSA
67
at
106
Pepperdine
1-0,0-0WCC
1
2
F
Rice
38
29
67
Pepperdine
46
60
106
Rice Falls to Pepperdine in Season Opener
11/7/2022 11:57:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Malibu, Calif. — Pepperdine connected on 68.9% in the second half as Rice fell to the Waves, 106-67, in both team's 2022-23 season opener, Monday night at Firestone Fieldhouse.
The Story
The first half began as a game of runs. With Rice trailing 7-4, Cameron Sheffield hit a three to send Rice on an 8-0 run. Pepperdine went on a 10-1 run to take a 17-13 lead, but Travis Evee hit a pair of threes and Jake Lieppert added one of his own to give Rice a 22-17 advantage. However, Pepperdine answered with a 9-0 run of its own. Quincy Olivari hit a three as Rice scored eight of the next 10 points, but eight straight by the Waves gave them a 36-30 lead with 3:01 left in the half. The teams traded baskets for the final three minutes, but Houston Mallette hit a three at the buzzer as Rice went into halftime trailing 46-38.
The teams opened the second half trading baskets. But Pepperdine made five of its next six shots, going on a 14-3 run, taking a 62-43 lead just four minutes into the half. They went back-and-forth over the 2:35, but the Waves went on a 15-4 run to put the game away.
What Head Coach Scott Pera Had to Say
"Pepperdine just had more pop to them. Playing at home on opening night after what we did to them last year, they were ready. I thought we were ready too, but we didn't see it go in early. We shot it poorly early. We missed point blank layups. We missed shots from guys who usually make them, and their good shooters didn't miss shots. It is a make-or-miss game, but our defense was obviously less than stellar. It's extremely disappointing."
The Stats
Rice was held to 38.1% (24-of-63) from the field and 31.3% (10-of-32) from three. Pepperdine connected on 62.9% (44-of-70) from the floor and 50.0% (15-of-30) from three. Pepperdine won the rebounding battle, 41-to-31.
Notes
• Rice faced Pepperdine for the fifth time. Rice is 2-3 in the series.
• This was the second straight season that Rice faced Pepperdine in its season opener.
• Rice is 61-49 all-time in season openers.
• This was the third time that Rice opened the season against the West Coast Conference. Rice is 2-1.
• G Mekhi Mason made his first career start.
• Mason, F Andre Akuchie, G Mason Jones, and F Ifeanyi Ufochukwu all made their collegiate debuts.
• G Alem Huseinovic saw his first action at Rice.
• G Quincy Olivari scored a team-high 15 points and tied a career-high with six assists.
• G Travis Evee scored 10 points.
• With four and two three pointers, respectively, Olivari and Evee are tied for ninth-place in Rice history with 162 career threes.
• G/F Cameron Sheffield scored 10 points.
• F Max Fiedler led the Owls with five rebounds and added five assists.
Next Up
Rice opens its 2022-23 home slate this Thursday, Nov. 10, when it hosts St. Thomas. Tip-off is scheduled for 5 p.m. The game will be streamed at CUSAtv.
The Story
The first half began as a game of runs. With Rice trailing 7-4, Cameron Sheffield hit a three to send Rice on an 8-0 run. Pepperdine went on a 10-1 run to take a 17-13 lead, but Travis Evee hit a pair of threes and Jake Lieppert added one of his own to give Rice a 22-17 advantage. However, Pepperdine answered with a 9-0 run of its own. Quincy Olivari hit a three as Rice scored eight of the next 10 points, but eight straight by the Waves gave them a 36-30 lead with 3:01 left in the half. The teams traded baskets for the final three minutes, but Houston Mallette hit a three at the buzzer as Rice went into halftime trailing 46-38.
The teams opened the second half trading baskets. But Pepperdine made five of its next six shots, going on a 14-3 run, taking a 62-43 lead just four minutes into the half. They went back-and-forth over the 2:35, but the Waves went on a 15-4 run to put the game away.
What Head Coach Scott Pera Had to Say
"Pepperdine just had more pop to them. Playing at home on opening night after what we did to them last year, they were ready. I thought we were ready too, but we didn't see it go in early. We shot it poorly early. We missed point blank layups. We missed shots from guys who usually make them, and their good shooters didn't miss shots. It is a make-or-miss game, but our defense was obviously less than stellar. It's extremely disappointing."
The Stats
Rice was held to 38.1% (24-of-63) from the field and 31.3% (10-of-32) from three. Pepperdine connected on 62.9% (44-of-70) from the floor and 50.0% (15-of-30) from three. Pepperdine won the rebounding battle, 41-to-31.
Notes
• Rice faced Pepperdine for the fifth time. Rice is 2-3 in the series.
• This was the second straight season that Rice faced Pepperdine in its season opener.
• Rice is 61-49 all-time in season openers.
• This was the third time that Rice opened the season against the West Coast Conference. Rice is 2-1.
• G Mekhi Mason made his first career start.
• Mason, F Andre Akuchie, G Mason Jones, and F Ifeanyi Ufochukwu all made their collegiate debuts.
• G Alem Huseinovic saw his first action at Rice.
• G Quincy Olivari scored a team-high 15 points and tied a career-high with six assists.
• G Travis Evee scored 10 points.
• With four and two three pointers, respectively, Olivari and Evee are tied for ninth-place in Rice history with 162 career threes.
• G/F Cameron Sheffield scored 10 points.
• F Max Fiedler led the Owls with five rebounds and added five assists.
Next Up
Rice opens its 2022-23 home slate this Thursday, Nov. 10, when it hosts St. Thomas. Tip-off is scheduled for 5 p.m. The game will be streamed at CUSAtv.
Team Stats
Rice
PEP
FG%
.381
.629
3FG%
.313
.500
FT%
.409
.750
RB
31
41
TO
14
13
STL
7
8
Game Leaders
Pts
15
FGM
5
3FGM
4
FTM
1
Pts
10
FGM
4
3FGM
2
FTM
0
Pts
10
FGM
4
3FGM
2
FTM
0
Pts
7
FGM
2
3FGM
1
FTM
2
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