Monday, December 12
Austin, TX
7 p.m.
Rice University
-63,01 CUSA
81
at
87
#7 Texas
8-1,0-0Big 12
1
2
OT 1
F
Rice
33
39
9
81
Texas
29
43
15
87
Rice Drops Hard Fought Game in Overtime at No. 7 Texas
12/12/2022 11:06:00 PM | Men's Basketball
AUSTIN, Texas — The Rice men's basketball team pushed No. 7 Texas to the limit, but in the end, fell just short, as the Owls dropped an 87-81 decision in overtime, Monday night from the Moody Center.
The Story
Rice came out fast, jumping out to an 11-7 lead in the first 5:38. Texas tied the game at 11, but two straight three-pointers from Alem Huseinovic followed by one from Quincy Olivari gave the Owls a 9-0 run and a 20-11 lead midway through the first half. UT went on a 10-2 run to pull within one, but a Mekhi Mason three-point play sent Rice on an 11-2 run to take its largest lead of the game, 33-23, with 2:23 to play. But Texas scored the final six points of the half and Rice went into halftime with a 33-29 lead.
Rice made just two of its first seven shots as Texas opened the second half on a 12-5 run to take its first lead of the game. After Evee converted a three-point play to tie it at 41, UT made two straight baskets. The teams traded baskets over the next minute before Cameron Sheffield made a layup and Olivari made two free throws to tie the game. With the game tied at 55, Texas went on an 8-2 run to take a 63-58 lead. But the Owls answered back, scoring eight straight points behind a pair of three-pointers from Travis Evee, taking a 66-63 lead with 4:42 to play. The Longhorns tied the game on a three, and Sheffield made two free throws. Texas then scored six of the next eight points to take the lead, but Olivari made two free throws to tie it at 72 with 1:32 to play. Rice then forced a shot clock violation, getting one last chance to win the game. But Huseinovic's shot from the corner was off and the teams headed to overtime.
Texas scored the first seven points of overtime before Fiedler's layup and a Sheffield free throw cut the deficit to four. UT then scored two straight baskets to its largest lead of the game, 83-75, with 1:21 remaining. Baskets by Fiedler and Olivari cut the deficit to four with 26 seconds left. But, Marcus Carr made four straight free throws to ice the game.
What Head Coach Scott Pera Had to Say
"This one's tough. My disappointment isn't that we lost, it's for the players. They did everything that we asked them to do to prepare to win this game. They prepared correctly, they communicated correctly. They believed that they could win and they played well enough to win. But, sometimes, even when you do all of that, you don't win. I couldn't be prouder. The program keeps elevating, sometimes even in a loss."
The Stats
Rice connected on 43.5% (30-of-69) from the field and 32.1% (9-of-28) from three. It also connected on 70.6% (12-of-17) from the free throw line. Texas connected on 50.0% (32-of-64) from the floor but just 22.7% (5-of-22) from three. The Longhorns also won the rebounding battle, 40-to-39.
Notes
• Rice and Texas met for the first time since 2014 and the 198th time overall. It is the most games played against any opponent.
• Texas holds a 139-59 record, including a 75-20 mark in Austin.
• It was the 13th time that Rice faced a ranked Texas team.
• G Quincy Olivari scored a game-high 28 points with five rebounds and four assists.
• It was his third straight 20-point game and his fourth of the year.
• Olivari connected on four three-pointers, giving him 182 in his career to tie Marcus Jackson (2013-17) for fifth on the school's all-time list.
• G Travis Evee scored 19 points, 17 in the second half, and grabbed a season-high five rebounds.
• F Max Fiedler scored 10 points, grabbed eight rebounds and had a game-high seven assists.
• G Alem Huseinovic scored 10 points and played a career-high 31 minutes.
Next Up
Rice begins a stretch of three games in five days when it hosts North American this Thursday, Dec. 15, in its annual School House Mania game. Tip-off is scheduled for 11:15 a.m. and the game will be streamed by CUSAtv.
The Story
Rice came out fast, jumping out to an 11-7 lead in the first 5:38. Texas tied the game at 11, but two straight three-pointers from Alem Huseinovic followed by one from Quincy Olivari gave the Owls a 9-0 run and a 20-11 lead midway through the first half. UT went on a 10-2 run to pull within one, but a Mekhi Mason three-point play sent Rice on an 11-2 run to take its largest lead of the game, 33-23, with 2:23 to play. But Texas scored the final six points of the half and Rice went into halftime with a 33-29 lead.
Rice made just two of its first seven shots as Texas opened the second half on a 12-5 run to take its first lead of the game. After Evee converted a three-point play to tie it at 41, UT made two straight baskets. The teams traded baskets over the next minute before Cameron Sheffield made a layup and Olivari made two free throws to tie the game. With the game tied at 55, Texas went on an 8-2 run to take a 63-58 lead. But the Owls answered back, scoring eight straight points behind a pair of three-pointers from Travis Evee, taking a 66-63 lead with 4:42 to play. The Longhorns tied the game on a three, and Sheffield made two free throws. Texas then scored six of the next eight points to take the lead, but Olivari made two free throws to tie it at 72 with 1:32 to play. Rice then forced a shot clock violation, getting one last chance to win the game. But Huseinovic's shot from the corner was off and the teams headed to overtime.
Texas scored the first seven points of overtime before Fiedler's layup and a Sheffield free throw cut the deficit to four. UT then scored two straight baskets to its largest lead of the game, 83-75, with 1:21 remaining. Baskets by Fiedler and Olivari cut the deficit to four with 26 seconds left. But, Marcus Carr made four straight free throws to ice the game.
What Head Coach Scott Pera Had to Say
"This one's tough. My disappointment isn't that we lost, it's for the players. They did everything that we asked them to do to prepare to win this game. They prepared correctly, they communicated correctly. They believed that they could win and they played well enough to win. But, sometimes, even when you do all of that, you don't win. I couldn't be prouder. The program keeps elevating, sometimes even in a loss."
The Stats
Rice connected on 43.5% (30-of-69) from the field and 32.1% (9-of-28) from three. It also connected on 70.6% (12-of-17) from the free throw line. Texas connected on 50.0% (32-of-64) from the floor but just 22.7% (5-of-22) from three. The Longhorns also won the rebounding battle, 40-to-39.
Notes
• Rice and Texas met for the first time since 2014 and the 198th time overall. It is the most games played against any opponent.
• Texas holds a 139-59 record, including a 75-20 mark in Austin.
• It was the 13th time that Rice faced a ranked Texas team.
• G Quincy Olivari scored a game-high 28 points with five rebounds and four assists.
• It was his third straight 20-point game and his fourth of the year.
• Olivari connected on four three-pointers, giving him 182 in his career to tie Marcus Jackson (2013-17) for fifth on the school's all-time list.
• G Travis Evee scored 19 points, 17 in the second half, and grabbed a season-high five rebounds.
• F Max Fiedler scored 10 points, grabbed eight rebounds and had a game-high seven assists.
• G Alem Huseinovic scored 10 points and played a career-high 31 minutes.
Next Up
Rice begins a stretch of three games in five days when it hosts North American this Thursday, Dec. 15, in its annual School House Mania game. Tip-off is scheduled for 11:15 a.m. and the game will be streamed by CUSAtv.
Team Stats
Rice
UT
FG%
.435
.500
3FG%
.321
.227
FT%
.706
.667
RB
39
40
TO
17
15
STL
6
9
Game Leaders
Pts
28
FGM
9
3FGM
4
FTM
6
Pts
19
FGM
8
3FGM
2
FTM
1
Pts
10
FGM
5
3FGM
0
FTM
0
Pts
10
FGM
4
3FGM
2
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
G
/ Men's BasketballF
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's Basketball
G/F
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