Monday, December 19
Houston, TX
7 p.m.
Rice University
-93,01 CUSA
109
vs
64
Jarvis Christian
0-4
1
2
F
Jarvis Christian
34
30
64
Rice
56
53
109
Rice Closes Non-Conference Play with 109-64 Victory over Jarvis Christian
12/19/2022 9:50:00 PM | Men's Basketball
HOUSTON — The Rice men's basketball team placed six players in double figures as it closed its non-conference schedule with a 109-64 victory over Jarvis Christian, Monday night from Tudor Fieldhouse.
The Story
Rice came out hot from the start, hitting six of its first eight threes to jump out to a 25-11 lead in the first 5:30. After a JCU basket, Max Fiedler made back-to-back layups. Jarvis Christian scored seven of the next 11 points to cut the deficit to 33-20. The teams then traded baskets before Travis Evee made two straight three-pointers as the Owls went on a 10-0 run to take its largest lead of the half, 47-24, with 5:30 to play. They then went back-and-forth for the rest of the half, but Mekhi Mason hit a three and Seryee Lewis got his third dunk of the half to send Rice into the break with a 56-34 lead.
The second half began with the teams trading points through the first four minutes. But the Owls made just one of their next five shots as Jarvis Christian went on an 11-2 run to pull within 64-51, forcing a Rice timeout. But it came out of the timeout firing on all cylinders. Alem Huseinovic and Evee each made three-pointers, sending the Owls on a 23-2 run to take an 87-53 with seven minutes to play. They would close the game by making 18 of their final 20 field goals.
What Head Coach Scott Pera Had to Say
"This was a good way to end the non-league schedule. It's always a grind from when you start in late September to get to this point. It's good to get the guys home on a win. It's good to go 8-0 in the preseason here at home. That was a big goal of ours going into this season. We needed to protect our home floor and make it difficult for teams to come in here and win. Overall, I'm just very pleased and happy for the guys, and excited to get a couple of days off."
The Stats
Rice connected on 62.3% (43-of-69) from the field and 48.5% (16-of-33) from three. Jarvis Christian was held to just 32.9% (23-of-70) from the floor and 34.5% (10-of-29) from three. Rice also won the rebounding battle, 45-to-33.
Notes
• This was the third meeting between Rice and Jarvis Christian.
• Rice has won all three meetings.
• Rice has started 8-0 at home for the first time since 2004-05.
• The 109 points is tied for the sixth-most in school history.
• It is the first time in school history that Rice has scored 100 points in back-to-back games.
• It is also the seventh time that Rice has scored 100 points twice in a season.
• The 45-point victory was its largest since defeating Louisiana College, 103-51, on Dec. 14, 2011.
• Rice connected on 62.3% from the field, the sixth time this year it shot at least 50.0% and the third time it surpassed 60.0%.
• Rice set a school record with 31 assists.
• The Owls made 43 field goals, tying the second-most in school history.
• G Quincy Olivari scored a game-high 17 points and grabbed four rebounds.
• G Travis Evee scored 14 points.
• Evee made four three-pointers, tying Olivari for third in school history with 189.
• F Max Fiedler recorded his second double-double of the season, scoring 10 points and tying a season-high with 10 rebounds.
• Fiedler also had five assists.
• F Seryee Lewis scored 13 points and grabbed a career-high eight rebounds.
• G Mekhi Mason scored 12 points, had four rebounds and set a career-high with eight assists.
• G Jake Lieppert grabbed a career-high seven rebounds.
Next Up
Rice returns to its Conference USA schedule next Thursday, December 29, when it travels to Bowling Green, Ky., to face WKU. Tip-off is scheduled for 6 p.m. and the game will be streamed by ESPN+.
The Story
Rice came out hot from the start, hitting six of its first eight threes to jump out to a 25-11 lead in the first 5:30. After a JCU basket, Max Fiedler made back-to-back layups. Jarvis Christian scored seven of the next 11 points to cut the deficit to 33-20. The teams then traded baskets before Travis Evee made two straight three-pointers as the Owls went on a 10-0 run to take its largest lead of the half, 47-24, with 5:30 to play. They then went back-and-forth for the rest of the half, but Mekhi Mason hit a three and Seryee Lewis got his third dunk of the half to send Rice into the break with a 56-34 lead.
The second half began with the teams trading points through the first four minutes. But the Owls made just one of their next five shots as Jarvis Christian went on an 11-2 run to pull within 64-51, forcing a Rice timeout. But it came out of the timeout firing on all cylinders. Alem Huseinovic and Evee each made three-pointers, sending the Owls on a 23-2 run to take an 87-53 with seven minutes to play. They would close the game by making 18 of their final 20 field goals.
What Head Coach Scott Pera Had to Say
"This was a good way to end the non-league schedule. It's always a grind from when you start in late September to get to this point. It's good to get the guys home on a win. It's good to go 8-0 in the preseason here at home. That was a big goal of ours going into this season. We needed to protect our home floor and make it difficult for teams to come in here and win. Overall, I'm just very pleased and happy for the guys, and excited to get a couple of days off."
The Stats
Rice connected on 62.3% (43-of-69) from the field and 48.5% (16-of-33) from three. Jarvis Christian was held to just 32.9% (23-of-70) from the floor and 34.5% (10-of-29) from three. Rice also won the rebounding battle, 45-to-33.
Notes
• This was the third meeting between Rice and Jarvis Christian.
• Rice has won all three meetings.
• Rice has started 8-0 at home for the first time since 2004-05.
• The 109 points is tied for the sixth-most in school history.
• It is the first time in school history that Rice has scored 100 points in back-to-back games.
• It is also the seventh time that Rice has scored 100 points twice in a season.
• The 45-point victory was its largest since defeating Louisiana College, 103-51, on Dec. 14, 2011.
• Rice connected on 62.3% from the field, the sixth time this year it shot at least 50.0% and the third time it surpassed 60.0%.
• Rice set a school record with 31 assists.
• The Owls made 43 field goals, tying the second-most in school history.
• G Quincy Olivari scored a game-high 17 points and grabbed four rebounds.
• G Travis Evee scored 14 points.
• Evee made four three-pointers, tying Olivari for third in school history with 189.
• F Max Fiedler recorded his second double-double of the season, scoring 10 points and tying a season-high with 10 rebounds.
• Fiedler also had five assists.
• F Seryee Lewis scored 13 points and grabbed a career-high eight rebounds.
• G Mekhi Mason scored 12 points, had four rebounds and set a career-high with eight assists.
• G Jake Lieppert grabbed a career-high seven rebounds.
Next Up
Rice returns to its Conference USA schedule next Thursday, December 29, when it travels to Bowling Green, Ky., to face WKU. Tip-off is scheduled for 6 p.m. and the game will be streamed by ESPN+.
Team Stats
JC
Rice
FG%
.329
.623
3FG%
.345
.485
FT%
.615
.636
RB
33
45
TO
16
14
STL
9
10
Game Leaders
Pts
17
FGM
7
3FGM
2
FTM
1
Pts
14
FGM
4
3FGM
4
FTM
2
Pts
13
FGM
6
3FGM
0
FTM
1
Pts
12
FGM
5
3FGM
2
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
G
/ Men's Basketball
F
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's BasketballF
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's BasketballG
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