Hot Shooting Propels Owls to 91-78 Victory over UTSA

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Nov 24

3:30 p.m.

HOUSTON — Rice had its best shooting night in over five years, connecting on 62.3% from the field on its way to a 91-78 victory over UTSA, Thursday night from Tudor Fieldhouse.

The Story
The teams went back-and-forth through the first six and a half minutes. With Rice holding a 12-11 lead, Mylyjael Poteat made back-to-back baskets. After a UTSA layup cut the lead to three, Cameron Sheffield made a pair of free throws that sent the Owls on a 7-0 run, giving them a 23-13 lead. The Roadrunners scored four of the next six points, but Rice went on a 13-4 run, including its first three-pointer of the game by Carl Pierre, as it took its largest lead of the game, 38-21, with 4:00 to play in the half. However, UTSA started to come back, going on a 10-1 run. Pierre made his second three to push the lead back to 11 with 2:17 remaining. But the Roadrunners closed the half on a 9-2 run as Rice went into halftime with a 44-40 lead.

UTSA opened the second half with back-to-back baskets to tie the game. But a Travis Evee three-pointer sent the Owls on an 11-2 run to grab a nine-point lead. After two straight baskets by the Roadrunners, the teams traded buckets over the next two minutes. Rice extended its lead to seven points, but a UTSA layup followed by a three-pointer cut the lead to 63-61 with 11:19 to play. Quincy Olivari then drilled a three, sending the Owls on a 10-3 run. Again, the Roadrunners answered, scoring five straight to pull within 73-69 with 6:35 to play. But a 13-4 Rice run over the next four minutes sealed the victory.

The Stats
Rice connected on 62.3% (33-of-53) from the field, 50.0% from three (7-of-14), and 72.0% (18-of-25) from the free throw line. UTSA shot 50.0% (33-of-66) from the floor and 43.8% (7-of-16) from three. Rice outrebounded the Roadrunners, 31-to-29. Rice also outscored UTSA off turnovers, 19-to-7.

What Scott Pera Had to Say
"That was a great home win tonight for our guys. Offensively, we were really humming. (We were) pushing the pace (and) getting good shots. We scored at the rim with Mylyjael (Poteat) and Max (Fiedler) combining for 34 (points). We scored on the perimeter and got to the foul line. We did all the things, offensively, that we talk about and need to do to be successful. We're happy to come out with the win."

Notes
• Rice improved to 13-8 on the season and 6-4 in Conference USA.
• Rice scored at least 90 points for the third time this year.
• The Owls connected on a season-high 62.3% from the field, the first time it made at least 60.0% from the floor since Feb. 1, 2020, against North Texas and its highest shooting percentage since Nov. 19, 2016, at Omaha.
• It was also the 10th time this season it connected on at least 50.0% from the floor.
• Rice connected on 50.0% from three, the fourth time this season it made at least 50.0% from beyond the arc.
• The Owls recorded at least 20 assists for the fifth time this year.
• Rice tied a season-high with 46 points in the paint.
• Sophomore Max Fiedler scored a game-high 22 points while recording four assists and tying a career-high with four steals.
• It was Fiedler's second 20-point game this season and the third of his career.
• Graduate student Carl Pierre scored 19 points and had four rebounds.
• Sophomore Travis Evee scored 16 points and had a team-high five assists.
• Sophomore Quincy Olivari recorded his third straight double-double, scoring 12 points and pulling down a career-high 13 rebounds.
• The 13 rebounds tied the most by an Owl this year.
• Second-year freshman Mylyjael Poteat scored 12 points on 5-of-6 shooting.

Next Up
Rice continues its homestand this Saturday, Feb. 5 when it hosts UTEP. Tip-off is scheduled for 2 p.m. CT and it will be streamed by CUSAtv.

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