Saturday, March 5
San Antonio, TX
2 p.m.
Rice University
-1515,711 CUSA
71
at
82
UTSA
-1021,315 CUSA
1
2
F
Rice
34
37
71
UTSA
40
42
82
Photo by: ©Juan DeLeon Studio
Rice Falls to UTSA in Regular Season Finale
3/5/2022 5:20:00 PM | Men's Basketball
SAN ANTONIO, Texas — Rice got behind early and rallied but could not take the lead, falling to UTSA, 82-71, Saturday afternoon from the UTSA Convocation Center in both team's regular season finale.
The Story
Rice struggled out of the gate, turning the ball over on three of its first five possessions. With the Roadrunners leading 9-5, they went on a 9-1 run, taking its largest lead of the first half at 18-6. Back-to-back three-pointers by Riley Abercrombie and Carl Pierre sent the Owls on a 9-2 run to pull within 20-15, but UTSA scored eight of the next 11 points to extend its lead to 28-18. An Abercrombie three followed by two Terrance McBride free throws pulled the Owls within 28-23. However, a 7-0 run by the Roadrunners pushed their lead to 35-23 with 6:23 to play in the half. After Rice scored six straight, UTSA scored five straight. But Chris Mullins hit his second triple of the half and Mylyjael Poteat made two free throws as Rice cut the lead to 40-34 at halftime.
The teams opened the second half trading baskets through the first 3:25. The Owls then went on a 12-5 run, capped off by a Max Fiedler three-point play and a layup by Poteat that brought Rice within 54-53 midway through the second half. However, the Owls had six straight possessions with a chance to take the lead, but could not take advantage before the Roadrunners hit back-to-back threes to extend their lead to seven. A three-pointer by Evee cut the deficit to 60-56 with 7:11 to play. But UTSA scored nine of the next 12 points to push its lead back to double-digits. An Evee three followed by a McBride driving layup cut the deficit to 69-64 with 2:43 to play. But that's as close as Rice got as UTSA went on an 11-3 run to ice the game.
The Stats
Rice connected on 27.1% (24-of-51) from the field and 42.9% from three (9-of-21). UTSA shot 51.7% (30-of-58) from the floor and 48.1% (13-of-27) from three. Rice outrebounded the Roadrunners, 34-to-24 but UTSA outscored Rice, 25-to-9, in points off turnovers.
What Scott Pera Had to Say
"(UTSA) made shots and we didn't. We turned the ball over and they didn't. We did not play at a level that is necessary to win a road game in college basketball. You can't beat anybody with 20 turnovers. It's just disappointing."
Notes
• Rice fell to 15-15 on the season and 7-11 in Conference USA.
• Graduate student Carl Pierre scored a team-high 16 points and had three rebounds.
• Graduate student Terrance McBride scored a season-high 12 points and had four assists.
• Sophomore Max Fiedler recorded his third straight double-double and ninth of the year with 11 points and a game-high 10 rebounds while adding four assists.
• Fiedler became the first player in school history to record back-to-back seasons of 300 points, 200 rebounds, and 100 assists.
• It was just the third season ever of 300 points, 200 rebounds, and 100 assists.
• Sophomore Travis Evee scored 10 points and had four rebounds.
• With two three-pointers, Evee has 83 on the year, tying Robert Johnson (1998-99) for sixth-place on Rice's single-season list.
• Senior Chris Mullins added 10 points and tied a season-high with seven rebounds.
Next Up
Rice begins postseason play next Wednesday, March 9, when it heads to Frisco, Texas for the 2022 Heritage Landscape Supply Group Conference USA Tournament. Time and opponent are to be determined.
The Story
Rice struggled out of the gate, turning the ball over on three of its first five possessions. With the Roadrunners leading 9-5, they went on a 9-1 run, taking its largest lead of the first half at 18-6. Back-to-back three-pointers by Riley Abercrombie and Carl Pierre sent the Owls on a 9-2 run to pull within 20-15, but UTSA scored eight of the next 11 points to extend its lead to 28-18. An Abercrombie three followed by two Terrance McBride free throws pulled the Owls within 28-23. However, a 7-0 run by the Roadrunners pushed their lead to 35-23 with 6:23 to play in the half. After Rice scored six straight, UTSA scored five straight. But Chris Mullins hit his second triple of the half and Mylyjael Poteat made two free throws as Rice cut the lead to 40-34 at halftime.
The teams opened the second half trading baskets through the first 3:25. The Owls then went on a 12-5 run, capped off by a Max Fiedler three-point play and a layup by Poteat that brought Rice within 54-53 midway through the second half. However, the Owls had six straight possessions with a chance to take the lead, but could not take advantage before the Roadrunners hit back-to-back threes to extend their lead to seven. A three-pointer by Evee cut the deficit to 60-56 with 7:11 to play. But UTSA scored nine of the next 12 points to push its lead back to double-digits. An Evee three followed by a McBride driving layup cut the deficit to 69-64 with 2:43 to play. But that's as close as Rice got as UTSA went on an 11-3 run to ice the game.
The Stats
Rice connected on 27.1% (24-of-51) from the field and 42.9% from three (9-of-21). UTSA shot 51.7% (30-of-58) from the floor and 48.1% (13-of-27) from three. Rice outrebounded the Roadrunners, 34-to-24 but UTSA outscored Rice, 25-to-9, in points off turnovers.
What Scott Pera Had to Say
"(UTSA) made shots and we didn't. We turned the ball over and they didn't. We did not play at a level that is necessary to win a road game in college basketball. You can't beat anybody with 20 turnovers. It's just disappointing."
Notes
• Rice fell to 15-15 on the season and 7-11 in Conference USA.
• Graduate student Carl Pierre scored a team-high 16 points and had three rebounds.
• Graduate student Terrance McBride scored a season-high 12 points and had four assists.
• Sophomore Max Fiedler recorded his third straight double-double and ninth of the year with 11 points and a game-high 10 rebounds while adding four assists.
• Fiedler became the first player in school history to record back-to-back seasons of 300 points, 200 rebounds, and 100 assists.
• It was just the third season ever of 300 points, 200 rebounds, and 100 assists.
• Sophomore Travis Evee scored 10 points and had four rebounds.
• With two three-pointers, Evee has 83 on the year, tying Robert Johnson (1998-99) for sixth-place on Rice's single-season list.
• Senior Chris Mullins added 10 points and tied a season-high with seven rebounds.
Next Up
Rice begins postseason play next Wednesday, March 9, when it heads to Frisco, Texas for the 2022 Heritage Landscape Supply Group Conference USA Tournament. Time and opponent are to be determined.
Team Stats
Rice
UTSA
FG%
.471
.517
3FG%
.429
.481
FT%
.609
.750
RB
34
24
TO
20
11
STL
5
8
Game Leaders
Pts
16
FGM
6
3FGM
3
FTM
1
Pts
12
FGM
4
3FGM
0
FTM
4
Pts
11
FGM
4
3FGM
0
FTM
3
Pts
10
FGM
3
3FGM
2
FTM
2
Players Mentioned
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