Sunday, December 4
San Marcos, TX
2 p.m.
Rice University
-62,01 CUSA
83
at
71
Texas State
5-4,0-0Sun Belt
1
2
F
Rice
40
43
83
Texas St.
30
41
71
Photo by: © Maria Lysaker
Rice Dominates Texas State in 83-71 Road Victory
12/4/2022 5:57:00 PM | Men's Basketball
SAN MARCOS, Texas — Quincy Olivari scored a season-high 30 points and the Rice men's basketball team led from start to finish, picking up its fifth straight victory, 83-71, at Texas State, Sunday afternoon.
The Story
Rice started the game off strong, making seven of its first 10 shots as it held a 16-6 lead through the first six minutes. After trading baskets, Texas State cut the lead in half with five straight points. But Quincy Olivari bookended a 12-0 run with a pair of three-pointers. The Bobcats made a layup, but Cameron Sheffield hit a triple to give Rice its largest lead of the game, 33-15, with 6:32 to play in the half. However, the Owls went scoreless over the next 3:41 as TXST went on a 10-0 run to cut the deficit to eight. Layups by Sheffield and Olivari pushed the lead back to 12 points. But Texas State scored five of the last seven points and Rice went into halftime with a 40-30 lead.
The teams traded baskets through the first three minutes before Sheffield converted a four-point play. Two straight Texas State baskets cut the deficit to nine, but the Owls answered with an 11-0 run over the next three minutes, capped off by an Olivari three-pointer that gave Rice its largest lead of the game, 61-41, midway through the second half. The Bobcats slowly began to cut into the lead, going on a 19-8 run that brought them within 69-60 with 4:33 remaining. But Olivari's fifth three of the game pushed Rice's lead back to 12, and Bobcats never got within single digits the rest of the game.
What Head Coach Scott Pera Had to Say
"It was definitely our most complete game for 40 minutes, home or on the road. That's what you have to do to a good team on their home floor. I thought our guys were really good in their preparation leading up to the game, they were tremendous in their walk-through this morning, and then they executed, which is what it really comes down to. We led the entire game. I'm just really, really happy for them."
The Stats
Rice connected on 53.8% (28-of-52) from the field and a season-high 57.1% (12-of-21) from three. It also connected on 75.0% (15-of-20) from the free throw line. Texas State connected on 46.7% (28-of-60) from the floor but just 28.6% (4-of-4) from three. TXST won the rebounding battle, 32-to-29.
Notes
• Rice and Texas State met for the second straight year and the 16th time overall. Rice holds a 10-6 record, but the series is tied 2-2 in San Marcos.
• Rice has won its fifth straight game for the first time since 2016-17.
• Rice connected on 53.8% from the field, the third time this year it shot over 50.0%.
• The Owls shot a season-high 57.1% from three.
• Rice connected on 12 three-pointers, the fifth time this year it made at least 10.
• G Quincy Olivari scored a game and season-high 30 points, going 10-of-17 from the floor, 5-of-8 from three and 5-of-7 from the free throw line.
• It was his second career 30-point game.
• Olivari also recorded five rebounds and four assists.
• Olivari connected on five three-pointers, giving him 178 in his career to pass Adam Peakes (1991-95) for sixth on the school's all-time list.
• F Max Fiedler recorded his first double-double of the year with 12 points and 10 rebounds. He also had a game-high five assists.
• It was Fiedler's 18th double-double of his career.
• G/F Cameron Sheffield scored a season-high 13 points and added six rebounds and two steals.
• G Mekhi Mason had 13 points and four rebounds.
• G Travis Evee made two three-pointers, giving him 183 at Rice to pass Marcus Jackson (2013-17) for fourth-place in school history.
Next Up
Rice will have a week between games before it closes its road trip next Monday, Dec. 12, when it travels to Austin to face second-ranked Texas. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. and the game will be televised by the Longhorn Network.
The Story
Rice started the game off strong, making seven of its first 10 shots as it held a 16-6 lead through the first six minutes. After trading baskets, Texas State cut the lead in half with five straight points. But Quincy Olivari bookended a 12-0 run with a pair of three-pointers. The Bobcats made a layup, but Cameron Sheffield hit a triple to give Rice its largest lead of the game, 33-15, with 6:32 to play in the half. However, the Owls went scoreless over the next 3:41 as TXST went on a 10-0 run to cut the deficit to eight. Layups by Sheffield and Olivari pushed the lead back to 12 points. But Texas State scored five of the last seven points and Rice went into halftime with a 40-30 lead.
The teams traded baskets through the first three minutes before Sheffield converted a four-point play. Two straight Texas State baskets cut the deficit to nine, but the Owls answered with an 11-0 run over the next three minutes, capped off by an Olivari three-pointer that gave Rice its largest lead of the game, 61-41, midway through the second half. The Bobcats slowly began to cut into the lead, going on a 19-8 run that brought them within 69-60 with 4:33 remaining. But Olivari's fifth three of the game pushed Rice's lead back to 12, and Bobcats never got within single digits the rest of the game.
What Head Coach Scott Pera Had to Say
"It was definitely our most complete game for 40 minutes, home or on the road. That's what you have to do to a good team on their home floor. I thought our guys were really good in their preparation leading up to the game, they were tremendous in their walk-through this morning, and then they executed, which is what it really comes down to. We led the entire game. I'm just really, really happy for them."
The Stats
Rice connected on 53.8% (28-of-52) from the field and a season-high 57.1% (12-of-21) from three. It also connected on 75.0% (15-of-20) from the free throw line. Texas State connected on 46.7% (28-of-60) from the floor but just 28.6% (4-of-4) from three. TXST won the rebounding battle, 32-to-29.
Notes
• Rice and Texas State met for the second straight year and the 16th time overall. Rice holds a 10-6 record, but the series is tied 2-2 in San Marcos.
• Rice has won its fifth straight game for the first time since 2016-17.
• Rice connected on 53.8% from the field, the third time this year it shot over 50.0%.
• The Owls shot a season-high 57.1% from three.
• Rice connected on 12 three-pointers, the fifth time this year it made at least 10.
• G Quincy Olivari scored a game and season-high 30 points, going 10-of-17 from the floor, 5-of-8 from three and 5-of-7 from the free throw line.
• It was his second career 30-point game.
• Olivari also recorded five rebounds and four assists.
• Olivari connected on five three-pointers, giving him 178 in his career to pass Adam Peakes (1991-95) for sixth on the school's all-time list.
• F Max Fiedler recorded his first double-double of the year with 12 points and 10 rebounds. He also had a game-high five assists.
• It was Fiedler's 18th double-double of his career.
• G/F Cameron Sheffield scored a season-high 13 points and added six rebounds and two steals.
• G Mekhi Mason had 13 points and four rebounds.
• G Travis Evee made two three-pointers, giving him 183 at Rice to pass Marcus Jackson (2013-17) for fourth-place in school history.
Next Up
Rice will have a week between games before it closes its road trip next Monday, Dec. 12, when it travels to Austin to face second-ranked Texas. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. and the game will be televised by the Longhorn Network.
Team Stats
Rice
TXST
FG%
.538
.467
3FG%
.571
.286
FT%
.750
.786
RB
29
32
TO
13
12
STL
4
8
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
30
FGM
10
3FGM
5
FTM
5
Pts
13
FGM
5
3FGM
1
FTM
2
Pts
13
FGM
3
3FGM
2
FTM
5
Pts
12
FGM
5
3FGM
0
FTM
2
Players Mentioned
G
/ Men's BasketballF
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's BasketballG/F
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