Thursday, December 15
Houston, TX
11:15 a.m.
Rice University
-73,01 CUSA
92
vs
54
North American
0-4
1
2
F
North American
22
32
54
Rice
37
55
92
Photo by: © Maria Lysaker
Olivari Scores 1,000th Point as Rice Defeats North American, 92-54
12/15/2022 2:35:00 PM | Men's Basketball
HOUSTON — Quincy Olivari scored a game-high 22 points, including his 1,000th career point, as the Rice men's basketball team defeated North American, 92-54, Thursday afternoon from Tudor Fieldhouse in the annual School House Mania game.
The Story
Olivari opened the game wit a three as Rice jumped out to a 9-4 run in the first four minutes. North American then scored six straight points in less than a minute to take a 10-9 lead. But the Owls responded, as Cameron Sheffield's three sent Rice on a 9-0 run. The teams then went back-and-forth over the next nine minutes, trading baskets. With Rice leading 27-20, Max Fiedler made a layup that sent it on an 8-0 run. NAU made two free throws, but a layup by Travis Evee sent the Owls into halftime with a 37-22 lead.
Rice came out firing in the second half. Olivari scored 10 of its first 13 points as it opened the half on a 15-4 run. After an NAU three-pointer, Mekhi Mason and Fiedler hit back-to-back baskets. The teams then traded buckets before a Seryee Lewis hook shot sent the Owls on a 13-0 run. Rice led by as many as 38 points the rest of the way.
What Head Coach Scott Pera Had to Say
"This was a really good response from our guys. I'm proud of them for being able to come here and get a win. I was worried, but not surprised, that the first half was a little sloppy. We're all human. The effort, energy and performance that we put in on Monday is hard to shake off. But we got it out of our system and we played our game in the second half. The first group really set the tone in the second half and I'm really glad we were able to get a lot of guys some minutes."
The Stats
Rice connected on 52.7% (39-of-74) from the field but just 29.2% (7-of-24) from three. It also connected on 77.8% (7-of-9) from the free throw line. North American was held to just 37.1% (23-of-62) from the floor and 11.1% (2-of-18) from three. Rice also won the rebounding battle, 52-to-25.
Notes
• This is the first-ever meeting between Rice and North American.
• Rice has started 6-0 at home for the first time since 2011-12.
• Rice connected on 52.7% from the field, the fourth time this year it shot at least 50.0%.
• Rice 13 steals are the most in a game under Head Coach Scott Pera and the most since recording 14 against Houston Baptist on Nov. 30, 2016.
• G Quincy Olivari scored a game-high 22 points with four assists, three rebounds and two steals.
• It was his fourth straight 20-point game and his fifth of the year.
• He is the first player with four straight 20-point games since Marcus Evans did it in seven straight over the 2015-16 and 2016-17 seasons.
• Olivari became the 39th player in school history to score 1,000 career points.
• Olivari connected on four three-pointers, giving him 186 in his career to tie Robert Johnson (1995-99) for third on the school's all-time list.
• F Max Fiedler scored 10 points, grabbed seven rebounds and had four assists.
• F Seryee scored 10 points and grabbed four rebounds.
• F Andrew Akuchie scored 10 points, his first career double-digit scoring game, and grabbed four rebounds.
• G Travis Evee led all players with six assists.
Next Up
Rice continues its homestand this Saturday, December 17, when it hosts Northwestern State. Tip-off is scheduled for 2 p.m. and the game will be streamed by CUSAtv.
The Story
Olivari opened the game wit a three as Rice jumped out to a 9-4 run in the first four minutes. North American then scored six straight points in less than a minute to take a 10-9 lead. But the Owls responded, as Cameron Sheffield's three sent Rice on a 9-0 run. The teams then went back-and-forth over the next nine minutes, trading baskets. With Rice leading 27-20, Max Fiedler made a layup that sent it on an 8-0 run. NAU made two free throws, but a layup by Travis Evee sent the Owls into halftime with a 37-22 lead.
Rice came out firing in the second half. Olivari scored 10 of its first 13 points as it opened the half on a 15-4 run. After an NAU three-pointer, Mekhi Mason and Fiedler hit back-to-back baskets. The teams then traded buckets before a Seryee Lewis hook shot sent the Owls on a 13-0 run. Rice led by as many as 38 points the rest of the way.
What Head Coach Scott Pera Had to Say
"This was a really good response from our guys. I'm proud of them for being able to come here and get a win. I was worried, but not surprised, that the first half was a little sloppy. We're all human. The effort, energy and performance that we put in on Monday is hard to shake off. But we got it out of our system and we played our game in the second half. The first group really set the tone in the second half and I'm really glad we were able to get a lot of guys some minutes."
The Stats
Rice connected on 52.7% (39-of-74) from the field but just 29.2% (7-of-24) from three. It also connected on 77.8% (7-of-9) from the free throw line. North American was held to just 37.1% (23-of-62) from the floor and 11.1% (2-of-18) from three. Rice also won the rebounding battle, 52-to-25.
Notes
• This is the first-ever meeting between Rice and North American.
• Rice has started 6-0 at home for the first time since 2011-12.
• Rice connected on 52.7% from the field, the fourth time this year it shot at least 50.0%.
• Rice 13 steals are the most in a game under Head Coach Scott Pera and the most since recording 14 against Houston Baptist on Nov. 30, 2016.
• G Quincy Olivari scored a game-high 22 points with four assists, three rebounds and two steals.
• It was his fourth straight 20-point game and his fifth of the year.
• He is the first player with four straight 20-point games since Marcus Evans did it in seven straight over the 2015-16 and 2016-17 seasons.
• Olivari became the 39th player in school history to score 1,000 career points.
• Olivari connected on four three-pointers, giving him 186 in his career to tie Robert Johnson (1995-99) for third on the school's all-time list.
• F Max Fiedler scored 10 points, grabbed seven rebounds and had four assists.
• F Seryee scored 10 points and grabbed four rebounds.
• F Andrew Akuchie scored 10 points, his first career double-digit scoring game, and grabbed four rebounds.
• G Travis Evee led all players with six assists.
Next Up
Rice continues its homestand this Saturday, December 17, when it hosts Northwestern State. Tip-off is scheduled for 2 p.m. and the game will be streamed by CUSAtv.
Team Stats
M-506558
M-574
FG%
.371
.527
3FG%
.111
.292
FT%
.667
.778
RB
25
52
TO
18
16
STL
10
13
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
22
FGM
7
3FGM
4
FTM
4
Pts
10
FGM
5
3FGM
0
FTM
0
Pts
10
FGM
5
3FGM
0
FTM
0
Pts
10
FGM
5
3FGM
0
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
F
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's BasketballF
/ Men's BasketballF
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's Basketball
G/F
/ Men's BasketballRice Men's Basketball Team Impact Signing
Friday, March 28
Rice MBB vs. Wichita State Postgame Presser
Friday, March 07
Rice vs. Tulsa Postgame Press Conference 2/22/25
Saturday, February 22
MBB Postgame Presser vs. UAB 2/19/25
Thursday, February 20