Thursday, February 24
Houston, TX
7 p.m.
Rice University
-1413,69 CUSA
79
vs
83
Louisiana Tech
-207,114 CUSA
1
2
F
Louisiana Tech
34
49
83
Rice
27
52
79
Rice Battles but Falls to Louisiana Tech
2/24/2022 10:39:00 PM | Men's Basketball
HOUSTON — Rice fought until the end, coming back to pull within two points. But in the end, the Bulldogs made their free throws late as the Owls fell, 83-79, Thursday night at Tudor Fieldhouse.
The Story
The game started slowly as Louisiana Tech led just 4-3 through the first six minutes. After Travis Evee made a layup, the Bulldogs got back-to-back buckets. But Evee tied the game at eight with a three-pointer. La Tech again scored two straight baskets, but a Cameron Sheffield three brought the Owls within 12-11 midway through the first half. However, Louisiana Tech scored eight of the next 10 points to lead 20-13 with 7:18 to play. After trading baskets, Carl Pierre hit a triple to bring Rice within three points. La Tech scored seven of the next 10 points before Max Fiedler converted a three-point play to make it a five-point game with 2:11 to play. But the Bulldogs scored six of the final eight points as Rice headed into halftime trailing 34-27.
The teams traded three-pointers through the first three minutes of the second half. After two Keaston Willis free throws, Max Fiedler converted a three-point play. A three-pointer by Exavian Christon pushed the lead to nine, but a 10-3 run by the Owls, capped by a three-pointer by Evee, cut the deficit to 50-48. However, La Tech scored seven of the next eight points to extend the lead to 57-49. Mylyjael Poteat then made three straight baskets as Rice pulled within four points. After a Louisiana Tech basket, Fiedler made one-of-two free throws. Over the next two minutes, the teams traded baskets. With the Bulldogs leading, 68-60 with 4:52 to play, Fiedler made consecutive buckets to make it a four-point game. The teams went back-and-forth until La Tech led, 76-68, with 39 seconds left. Pierre then bookended a pair of threes around two free throws to pull within four with 24 seconds left. After Cobe Williams made a pair of free throws, Terrance McBride converted a three-point play. Rice then fouled Willis, who made one-of-two free throws. Another McBride layup made it a two-point game with 11 seconds left. The Owls then fouled Williams who made both free throws to seal the victory.
The Stats
Rice connected on 44.6% (29-of-65) from the field, 40.7% from three (11-of-27), and 76.9% (10-of-13) from the free throw line. Louisiana Tech shot 51.7% (30-of-58) from the floor, 41.2% (7-of-17) from three, and 76.2% (16-of-21) from the charity stripe. The Bulldogs also won the rebounding battle, 36-to-30.
What Scott Pera Had to Say
"That was a heck of a college basketball game. I thought two teams played pretty well. It came down to (Louisiana Tech) not missing free throws. They made big shots and big plays every time we cut into the lead. That's what good teams do. I really credit our guys for how they competed how they battled to the end and how they did all the right things to give us a chance. We take great pride in that and that will help us somewhere down the road."
Notes
• Rice dropped to 14-13 on the season and 6-9 in Conference USA.
• Rice scored 52 points in the second half, the sixth time this year it scored at least 50 in a half.
• Rice connected on 11 three-pointers, the 15th time this year it make at least 10.
• The Owls tied a season-low with six turnovers.
• Graduate student Carl Pierre scored a game-high 20 points and had a season-high five assists.
• It was his team-leading sixth 20-point game of the year.
• With four three-pointers, Pierre has 82 on the season, tying Omar-Seli Mance (2002-03) for sixth-place on the school's single-season list.
• Sophomore Travis Evee scored 19 points on five three-pointers.
• With five three-pointers, Evee moved into a tie for 13th-place on the school single-season list with Tommy McGhee (1995-96) with 76.
• Evee also became the 15th-player in Rice history with 150 career three-pointers.
• Sophomore Max Fiedler scored 19 points and added five assists.
• Cameron Sheffield led all players with a career-high 10 rebounds, his first career double-digit rebound game.
• Second-year freshman Mylyjael Poteat scored eight points and grabbed eight rebounds.
• Graduate student Terrance McBride had seven points and five assists.
Next Up
Rice closes its home schedule this Saturday, Feb. 26, when it hosts Southern Miss on Senior Day. Tip-off is scheduled for 6 p.m. and will be streamed by CUSAtv.
The Story
The game started slowly as Louisiana Tech led just 4-3 through the first six minutes. After Travis Evee made a layup, the Bulldogs got back-to-back buckets. But Evee tied the game at eight with a three-pointer. La Tech again scored two straight baskets, but a Cameron Sheffield three brought the Owls within 12-11 midway through the first half. However, Louisiana Tech scored eight of the next 10 points to lead 20-13 with 7:18 to play. After trading baskets, Carl Pierre hit a triple to bring Rice within three points. La Tech scored seven of the next 10 points before Max Fiedler converted a three-point play to make it a five-point game with 2:11 to play. But the Bulldogs scored six of the final eight points as Rice headed into halftime trailing 34-27.
The teams traded three-pointers through the first three minutes of the second half. After two Keaston Willis free throws, Max Fiedler converted a three-point play. A three-pointer by Exavian Christon pushed the lead to nine, but a 10-3 run by the Owls, capped by a three-pointer by Evee, cut the deficit to 50-48. However, La Tech scored seven of the next eight points to extend the lead to 57-49. Mylyjael Poteat then made three straight baskets as Rice pulled within four points. After a Louisiana Tech basket, Fiedler made one-of-two free throws. Over the next two minutes, the teams traded baskets. With the Bulldogs leading, 68-60 with 4:52 to play, Fiedler made consecutive buckets to make it a four-point game. The teams went back-and-forth until La Tech led, 76-68, with 39 seconds left. Pierre then bookended a pair of threes around two free throws to pull within four with 24 seconds left. After Cobe Williams made a pair of free throws, Terrance McBride converted a three-point play. Rice then fouled Willis, who made one-of-two free throws. Another McBride layup made it a two-point game with 11 seconds left. The Owls then fouled Williams who made both free throws to seal the victory.
The Stats
Rice connected on 44.6% (29-of-65) from the field, 40.7% from three (11-of-27), and 76.9% (10-of-13) from the free throw line. Louisiana Tech shot 51.7% (30-of-58) from the floor, 41.2% (7-of-17) from three, and 76.2% (16-of-21) from the charity stripe. The Bulldogs also won the rebounding battle, 36-to-30.
What Scott Pera Had to Say
"That was a heck of a college basketball game. I thought two teams played pretty well. It came down to (Louisiana Tech) not missing free throws. They made big shots and big plays every time we cut into the lead. That's what good teams do. I really credit our guys for how they competed how they battled to the end and how they did all the right things to give us a chance. We take great pride in that and that will help us somewhere down the road."
Notes
• Rice dropped to 14-13 on the season and 6-9 in Conference USA.
• Rice scored 52 points in the second half, the sixth time this year it scored at least 50 in a half.
• Rice connected on 11 three-pointers, the 15th time this year it make at least 10.
• The Owls tied a season-low with six turnovers.
• Graduate student Carl Pierre scored a game-high 20 points and had a season-high five assists.
• It was his team-leading sixth 20-point game of the year.
• With four three-pointers, Pierre has 82 on the season, tying Omar-Seli Mance (2002-03) for sixth-place on the school's single-season list.
• Sophomore Travis Evee scored 19 points on five three-pointers.
• With five three-pointers, Evee moved into a tie for 13th-place on the school single-season list with Tommy McGhee (1995-96) with 76.
• Evee also became the 15th-player in Rice history with 150 career three-pointers.
• Sophomore Max Fiedler scored 19 points and added five assists.
• Cameron Sheffield led all players with a career-high 10 rebounds, his first career double-digit rebound game.
• Second-year freshman Mylyjael Poteat scored eight points and grabbed eight rebounds.
• Graduate student Terrance McBride had seven points and five assists.
Next Up
Rice closes its home schedule this Saturday, Feb. 26, when it hosts Southern Miss on Senior Day. Tip-off is scheduled for 6 p.m. and will be streamed by CUSAtv.
Team Stats
LATech
Rice
FG%
.517
.446
3FG%
.412
.407
FT%
.762
.769
RB
36
30
TO
11
6
STL
3
6
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
20
FGM
8
3FGM
4
FTM
0
Pts
19
FGM
7
3FGM
5
FTM
0
Pts
19
FGM
6
3FGM
0
FTM
7
Pts
8
FGM
3
3FGM
0
FTM
2
Players Mentioned
G
/ Men's BasketballF
/ Men's Basketball
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/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's BasketballF
/ Men's Basketball
G/F
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