Saturday, December 17
Houston, TX
2 p.m.
Rice University
-83,01 CUSA
110
vs
73
Northwestern State
8-3,0-0Southland
1
2
F
Northwestern St.
35
38
73
Rice
48
62
110
Rice Rides Hot Shooting to 110-73 Victory over Northwestern State
12/17/2022 5:55:00 PM | Men's Basketball
HOUSTON — Rice had its best shooting day in almost 20 years, connecting on 67.2% from the field as it defeated Northwestern State, 110-73, Saturday afternoon from Tudor Fieldhouse.
The Story
Northwestern State began the game making five of its first eight shots as it built an 11-4 lead in the first four minutes. However, Rice picked up its play, holding the Demons scoreless over the next five minutes while going on a 15-0 run to take a 19-11 lead. The teams went back-and-forth before Max Fiedler made a layup and Alem Huseinovic hit two free throws to give Rice a 28-18 lead with 7:27 to play. The teams then traded baskets as the Owls couldn't extend its lead. But with Rice leading 41-33, Quincy Olivari drove coast-to-coast for a layup, and after it got a stop, Travis Evee found Olivari in the corner for a three to give Rice its largest lead, 46-33. NSU made two free throws, but a layup by Fiedler sent Rice into halftime with a 48-33 lead.
The Owls picked up where they left off in the second half, making its first six of its first eight shots of the half to push there lead to 62-42. After a Northwestern State jumper, Cameron Sheffield drove in for a layup that started an 11-2 run. The Demons scored seven of the next nine points to cut the deficit to 20, but Rice responded with a 15-5 run that pushed its lead to 88-58. The Owls would lead by as many as 39 points the rest of the way.
What Head Coach Scott Pera Had to Say
"It was a total team effort today. The guys knew that Northwestern State is a good team. We knew that this was going to be a challenge and our guys were really up for it. We had that burst at the beginning of the second half. Once we got the lead to 20, we were able to get to a good place. I knew we could get the shots that we needed to get. It was a great job by Quincy (Olivari) in the first half that really sparked us. We had great patience to get the right shots. That's what I'm most proud of. It was a tremendous win and a tremendous team effort.
The Stats
Rice connected on 67.2% (39-of-58) from the field and was just 3-of-8 from three. It also connected on 85.3% (29-of-34) from the free throw line. Northwestern State was held to just 34.6% (27-of-78) from the floor and 26.7% (8-of-30) from three. Rice also won the rebounding battle, 55-to-23.
Notes
• This was the first meeting between Rice and Northwestern State since 2019-20 and the 10th overall.
• Rice holds a perfect 10-0 record and is 8-0 in Houston.
• Rice has started 7-0 at home for the first time since 2004-05.
• The 110 points is tied for the fourth-most in school history.
• It is the most since Nov. 11, 2006 against Paul Quinn and the most against a Division I opponent since Dec. 6, 2004 against Grambling State.
• Rice connected on 67.2% from the field, the fifth time this year it shot at least 50.0% and the second time it surpassed 60.0%.
• It is also the third highest field goal percentage in a game in school history.
• Rice scored a season-high 62 points in the second half, tying the fourth-most in in a half in school history.
• Rice grabbed a season-high 55 rebounds. It is the most since pulling down 55 against Incarnate Word on Dec. 16, 2021.
• G Quincy Olivari tied a season-high with 30 points while grabbing six rebounds.
• It was his second 30-point game of the year and the third of his career.
• He is the first player with five straight 20-point games since Marcus Evans did it in seven straight over the 2015-16 and 2016-17 seasons.
• F Max Fiedler scored a season-high 22 points, grabbed eight rebounds, a game-high five assists and two blocks.
• Fiedler now has 70 career blocks, tying Tony Barnett (1982-85) for eighth-place in school history.
• F Seryee scored six points and grabbed a career-high seven rebounds.
• F Andrew Akuchie grabbed a career-high seven rebounds.
Next Up
Rice closes its non-conference schedule this Monday, December 19, when it hosts Jarvis Christian. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. and the game will be streamed by CUSAtv.
The Story
Northwestern State began the game making five of its first eight shots as it built an 11-4 lead in the first four minutes. However, Rice picked up its play, holding the Demons scoreless over the next five minutes while going on a 15-0 run to take a 19-11 lead. The teams went back-and-forth before Max Fiedler made a layup and Alem Huseinovic hit two free throws to give Rice a 28-18 lead with 7:27 to play. The teams then traded baskets as the Owls couldn't extend its lead. But with Rice leading 41-33, Quincy Olivari drove coast-to-coast for a layup, and after it got a stop, Travis Evee found Olivari in the corner for a three to give Rice its largest lead, 46-33. NSU made two free throws, but a layup by Fiedler sent Rice into halftime with a 48-33 lead.
The Owls picked up where they left off in the second half, making its first six of its first eight shots of the half to push there lead to 62-42. After a Northwestern State jumper, Cameron Sheffield drove in for a layup that started an 11-2 run. The Demons scored seven of the next nine points to cut the deficit to 20, but Rice responded with a 15-5 run that pushed its lead to 88-58. The Owls would lead by as many as 39 points the rest of the way.
What Head Coach Scott Pera Had to Say
"It was a total team effort today. The guys knew that Northwestern State is a good team. We knew that this was going to be a challenge and our guys were really up for it. We had that burst at the beginning of the second half. Once we got the lead to 20, we were able to get to a good place. I knew we could get the shots that we needed to get. It was a great job by Quincy (Olivari) in the first half that really sparked us. We had great patience to get the right shots. That's what I'm most proud of. It was a tremendous win and a tremendous team effort.
The Stats
Rice connected on 67.2% (39-of-58) from the field and was just 3-of-8 from three. It also connected on 85.3% (29-of-34) from the free throw line. Northwestern State was held to just 34.6% (27-of-78) from the floor and 26.7% (8-of-30) from three. Rice also won the rebounding battle, 55-to-23.
Notes
• This was the first meeting between Rice and Northwestern State since 2019-20 and the 10th overall.
• Rice holds a perfect 10-0 record and is 8-0 in Houston.
• Rice has started 7-0 at home for the first time since 2004-05.
• The 110 points is tied for the fourth-most in school history.
• It is the most since Nov. 11, 2006 against Paul Quinn and the most against a Division I opponent since Dec. 6, 2004 against Grambling State.
• Rice connected on 67.2% from the field, the fifth time this year it shot at least 50.0% and the second time it surpassed 60.0%.
• It is also the third highest field goal percentage in a game in school history.
• Rice scored a season-high 62 points in the second half, tying the fourth-most in in a half in school history.
• Rice grabbed a season-high 55 rebounds. It is the most since pulling down 55 against Incarnate Word on Dec. 16, 2021.
• G Quincy Olivari tied a season-high with 30 points while grabbing six rebounds.
• It was his second 30-point game of the year and the third of his career.
• He is the first player with five straight 20-point games since Marcus Evans did it in seven straight over the 2015-16 and 2016-17 seasons.
• F Max Fiedler scored a season-high 22 points, grabbed eight rebounds, a game-high five assists and two blocks.
• Fiedler now has 70 career blocks, tying Tony Barnett (1982-85) for eighth-place in school history.
• F Seryee scored six points and grabbed a career-high seven rebounds.
• F Andrew Akuchie grabbed a career-high seven rebounds.
Next Up
Rice closes its non-conference schedule this Monday, December 19, when it hosts Jarvis Christian. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. and the game will be streamed by CUSAtv.
Team Stats
NW
Rice
FG%
.346
.672
3FG%
.267
.375
FT%
.579
.853
RB
23
55
TO
10
22
STL
10
4
Game Leaders
Pts
30
FGM
9
3FGM
1
FTM
11
Pts
22
FGM
10
3FGM
0
FTM
2
Pts
8
FGM
4
3FGM
0
FTM
0
Pts
8
FGM
2
3FGM
0
FTM
4
Players Mentioned
F
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's BasketballF
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's Basketball
G/F
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