Thursday, March 3
El Paso, TX
8 p.m.
Rice University
-1514,710 CUSA
67
at
70
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UTEP
-1712,107 CUSA
1
2
F
Rice
34
33
67
UTEP
34
36
70
Photo by: ©Maria Lysaker - Rice Athletics
Pierre’s Record Night Not Enough as Rice Drops Heartbreaker at UTEP
3/3/2022 11:43:00 PM | Men's Basketball
EL PASO, Texas — Carl Pierre had career-highs of 30 points and 11 rebounds and set the Rice single-season record for three-pointers, but it was not enough as the Owls fell, 70-67, Thursday night at the Don Haskins Center.
The Story
Rice started strong, scoring the first five points. However, after missing its first four, UTEP made its next seven shots to go on a 15-3 run. The teams then went back and forth over the next six minutes. A three-pointer by Alfred Hollins gave the Miners their largest lead of the game, 30-18. After Carl Pierre hit a three, Jamal Bieniemy drove in for a layup as UTEP led, 32-21, with 6:57 to play in the half. But the Owls stepped up their play. A 7-0 run, capped off by a Cameron Sheffield three, brought Rice within 32-28. A layup by UTEP extended its lead to six. The game stayed that way for two minutes until a Max Fiedler three-point play made it a one-possession game. The teams traded possessions before Rice got a stop with less than 10 seconds to play when Pierre drove the length of the court for a layup, got fouled, and converted the three-point play as the Owls closed the half on a 13-2 run to go into halftime tied at 34.
The Owls came out scorching in the second half, opening with three-pointers from Chris Mullins and Pierre. After trading baskets, Pierre hit a three and Fiedler converted and three-point play. UTEP scored six of the next nine points, but a jumper by Terrance McBride followed by Pierre's sixth three-pointer of the game gave Rice its largest lead, 56-45, with 12:16 to play. However, the Miners stepped up their defense. They went on a 9-2 run over the next four minutes to cut the deficit to four. Fiedler then made a layup, but UTEP scored four of the next five points. Pierre and Mylyjael Poteat split four free throws to extend Rice's lead to five, but five straight points by Jamal Bieniemy tied the game at 63 with 4:19 to play. Rice regained the lead on two Pierre free throws, but back-to-back baskets by Souley Boum gave UTEP a 67-65 lead. Two Pierre free throws tied the game with 58 seconds to play. Travis Evee was then called for a foul and Keonte Kennedy made one-of-two free throws. Pierre drove in for a layup but was called for an offensive foul. The Owls were forced to foul, and Kennedy made both free throws to give UTEP the three-point lead with 25 seconds left. Rice had two chances at a three, but both Mullins and Pierre couldn't hit, giving UTEP the ball with three seconds to play. The Miners tried to inbound the ball into the backcourt, but Fiedler stole it and sent a half-court shot that bounced off the backboard and rattled the rim before falling out, preserving the victory for UTEP.
The Stats
Rice connected on 42.6% (23-of-54) from the field and 34.6% from three (9-of-26). UTEP shot 53.7% (29-of-54) from the floor, and 43.8% (7-of-16) from three. Rice also outrebounded the Miners, 34-to-27 while outscoring them 12-to-2 in second chance points.
What Scott Pera Had to Say
"It was a terrific effort by our guys. I'm really proud of how they fought. They got down (and) got it tied at the half. We got the lead in the second half and we knew (UTEP) was going to make a run. Our guys held their ground. We didn't get enough stops defensively when we needed it. But we gave ourselves an opportunity. They've done a great job of that all year. But, at the end of the day, UTEP played just a little better."
Notes
• Rice fell to 15-14 on the season and 7-10 in Conference USA.
• Graduate student Carl Pierre recorded his second straight double-double and third of the year, tying a career-high with 30 points and grabbing a career-best 11 rebounds.
• It was his second 30-point game of the season, becoming the first player with multiple 30-point games in a season since Egor Koulechov in 2016-17.
• With six three-pointers, Pierre now has 90 on the year, breaking Austin Ramljak's (2013-14) single-season school record.
• Pierre and Travis Evee have combined for 171 three-pointers to set a new school record for three-pointers by a duo.
• Sophomore Max Fiedler recorded his second straight double-double and eighth of the year with 13 points and 10 rebounds while tying a season-high with seven assists.
• It is the fifth time this year Rice has had two players record double-doubles in a game.
• Senior Chris Mullins added 10 points.
Next Up
Rice closes the regular season this Saturday, Mar. 5, when it travels to San Antonio to face UTSA. Tip-off is scheduled for 2 p.m. and will be streamed by ESPN+.
The Story
Rice started strong, scoring the first five points. However, after missing its first four, UTEP made its next seven shots to go on a 15-3 run. The teams then went back and forth over the next six minutes. A three-pointer by Alfred Hollins gave the Miners their largest lead of the game, 30-18. After Carl Pierre hit a three, Jamal Bieniemy drove in for a layup as UTEP led, 32-21, with 6:57 to play in the half. But the Owls stepped up their play. A 7-0 run, capped off by a Cameron Sheffield three, brought Rice within 32-28. A layup by UTEP extended its lead to six. The game stayed that way for two minutes until a Max Fiedler three-point play made it a one-possession game. The teams traded possessions before Rice got a stop with less than 10 seconds to play when Pierre drove the length of the court for a layup, got fouled, and converted the three-point play as the Owls closed the half on a 13-2 run to go into halftime tied at 34.
The Owls came out scorching in the second half, opening with three-pointers from Chris Mullins and Pierre. After trading baskets, Pierre hit a three and Fiedler converted and three-point play. UTEP scored six of the next nine points, but a jumper by Terrance McBride followed by Pierre's sixth three-pointer of the game gave Rice its largest lead, 56-45, with 12:16 to play. However, the Miners stepped up their defense. They went on a 9-2 run over the next four minutes to cut the deficit to four. Fiedler then made a layup, but UTEP scored four of the next five points. Pierre and Mylyjael Poteat split four free throws to extend Rice's lead to five, but five straight points by Jamal Bieniemy tied the game at 63 with 4:19 to play. Rice regained the lead on two Pierre free throws, but back-to-back baskets by Souley Boum gave UTEP a 67-65 lead. Two Pierre free throws tied the game with 58 seconds to play. Travis Evee was then called for a foul and Keonte Kennedy made one-of-two free throws. Pierre drove in for a layup but was called for an offensive foul. The Owls were forced to foul, and Kennedy made both free throws to give UTEP the three-point lead with 25 seconds left. Rice had two chances at a three, but both Mullins and Pierre couldn't hit, giving UTEP the ball with three seconds to play. The Miners tried to inbound the ball into the backcourt, but Fiedler stole it and sent a half-court shot that bounced off the backboard and rattled the rim before falling out, preserving the victory for UTEP.
The Stats
Rice connected on 42.6% (23-of-54) from the field and 34.6% from three (9-of-26). UTEP shot 53.7% (29-of-54) from the floor, and 43.8% (7-of-16) from three. Rice also outrebounded the Miners, 34-to-27 while outscoring them 12-to-2 in second chance points.
What Scott Pera Had to Say
"It was a terrific effort by our guys. I'm really proud of how they fought. They got down (and) got it tied at the half. We got the lead in the second half and we knew (UTEP) was going to make a run. Our guys held their ground. We didn't get enough stops defensively when we needed it. But we gave ourselves an opportunity. They've done a great job of that all year. But, at the end of the day, UTEP played just a little better."
Notes
• Rice fell to 15-14 on the season and 7-10 in Conference USA.
• Graduate student Carl Pierre recorded his second straight double-double and third of the year, tying a career-high with 30 points and grabbing a career-best 11 rebounds.
• It was his second 30-point game of the season, becoming the first player with multiple 30-point games in a season since Egor Koulechov in 2016-17.
• With six three-pointers, Pierre now has 90 on the year, breaking Austin Ramljak's (2013-14) single-season school record.
• Pierre and Travis Evee have combined for 171 three-pointers to set a new school record for three-pointers by a duo.
• Sophomore Max Fiedler recorded his second straight double-double and eighth of the year with 13 points and 10 rebounds while tying a season-high with seven assists.
• It is the fifth time this year Rice has had two players record double-doubles in a game.
• Senior Chris Mullins added 10 points.
Next Up
Rice closes the regular season this Saturday, Mar. 5, when it travels to San Antonio to face UTSA. Tip-off is scheduled for 2 p.m. and will be streamed by ESPN+.
Team Stats
Rice
UTEP
FG%
.426
.537
3FG%
.346
.438
FT%
.632
.625
RB
34
27
TO
12
9
STL
4
7
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
30
FGM
9
3FGM
6
FTM
6
Pts
13
FGM
5
3FGM
0
FTM
3
Pts
10
FGM
4
3FGM
1
FTM
1
Pts
7
FGM
3
3FGM
0
FTM
1
Players Mentioned
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