Saturday, January 14
Houston, TX
2 p.m.
Rice University
-125,33 CUSA
83
vs
82
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UTEP
-98,24 CUSA
1
2
F
UTEP
41
41
82
Rice
38
45
83
Photo by: ©Maria Lysaker - Rice Athletics
Evee’s Buzzer Beater Lifts Rice to 83-82 Win over UTEP
1/14/2023 5:53:00 PM | Men's Basketball
HOUSTON, Texas — Travis Evee drove the length of the floor and hit a runner at the buzzer, scoring his 1,500th career point to lift Rice to an 83-82 victory over UTEP, Saturday afternoon from Tudor Fieldhouse.
The Story
The game began as a fast-paced affair. Rice made its first three field goals of the game, but after trading buckets, UTEP went on an 8-1 run to take a 14-9 lead, 5:34 into the game. Rice cut the lead to four before going on a 7-2 run to take a 19-18 lead. However, after tying the game at 22, UTEP went on a 13-3 run, taking its largest lead of the half at 35-25 with 4:56 to play. However, after two Cameron Sheffield free throws, Quincy Olivari took over, scoring 11 straight points to pull the Owls within one at 39-38. But two UTEP free throws sent Rice into halftime trailing 41-38.
UTEP opened the second half with back-to-back baskets, but a layup by Olivari and a here from Mekhi Mason cut the lead to two. After trading baskets, the Miners scored six of eight points to take a 53-47 lead. But the Owls got hot as Olivari and Evee combined for all the points in an 11-0 run to take a 60-53 lead midway through the half. UTEP cut the lead to three, but a layup and three-pointer by Seryee Lewis and Mason followed by a free throw from Jake Lieppert gave Rice its largest lead of the game, 66-57, with 7:12 to play. The teams then went back-and-forth over the next three minutes. After a three-pointer by Evee made it an eight-point lead with 4:25 left. But the Miners began to cut into the lead, scoring seven of the next nine points to pull within three. Evee and Max Fiedler then made two free throws apiece to give Rice an 81-76 lead with 31 seconds remaining. However, after a UTEP layup, Cameron Sheffield threw the ball away. Another Miner layup made it a one-point game. But on the next possession, Olivari lost the ball out of bounds and Sheffield committed a foul with 6.3 seconds. Tae Hardy made both free throws to give UTEP an 82-81 lead. But Evee went the length of the court and put up a floater that dropped through the net as time expired to give Rice the victory.
What Head Coach Scott Pera Had to Say
"Some of these game in this series with UTEP have just been incredible endings. Ones that we've won. Ones that they won. It's almost every game. It's just been an unbelievable series. I'm really proud of our kids. Obviously, I'm really happy for Travis (Evee). That's something he'll never forget. That's what makes me most happy."
The Stats
Rice connected on 56.9% (29-of-51) from the field and 43.5% (10-of-23) from three. It also connected on 15-of-19 (78.9%) from the free throw line. UTEP shot 50.0% (35-of-70) from the floor but just 22.2% (4-of-18) from three. The Miners won the rebounding battle, 32-to-29.
Notes
• This was the 46th meeting between Rice and UTEP.
• The Owls are 16-30 in the series and 9-10 in Houston.
• Rice swept the season series for the first time since 2011-12.
• Rice shot over 50.0% from the floor for the seventh time this year.
• The Owls connected on 10 three-pointers, the ninth time it made at least 10.
• G Quincy Olivari led all players with 23 points and nine rebounds, his 14th straight double-figure scoring game.
• It was also his second straight 20-point game and his eighth of the year.
• He also made four three-pointers, becoming the fourth player in school history with 200 career threes.
• G Travis Evee scored 21 points, his sixth 20-point game of the year.
• With 21 points, Evee has scored 1,500 in his career.
• F Max Fiedler scored 12 points on a perfect five-of-five from the field, and tied a career-high with four steals.
• G Mekhi Mason scored 10 points and had four rebounds.
Next Up
Rice begins a two-game road trip this Monday, January 16, when it travels to San Antonio to face UTSA. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. and the game will be streamed by ESPN+.
The Story
The game began as a fast-paced affair. Rice made its first three field goals of the game, but after trading buckets, UTEP went on an 8-1 run to take a 14-9 lead, 5:34 into the game. Rice cut the lead to four before going on a 7-2 run to take a 19-18 lead. However, after tying the game at 22, UTEP went on a 13-3 run, taking its largest lead of the half at 35-25 with 4:56 to play. However, after two Cameron Sheffield free throws, Quincy Olivari took over, scoring 11 straight points to pull the Owls within one at 39-38. But two UTEP free throws sent Rice into halftime trailing 41-38.
UTEP opened the second half with back-to-back baskets, but a layup by Olivari and a here from Mekhi Mason cut the lead to two. After trading baskets, the Miners scored six of eight points to take a 53-47 lead. But the Owls got hot as Olivari and Evee combined for all the points in an 11-0 run to take a 60-53 lead midway through the half. UTEP cut the lead to three, but a layup and three-pointer by Seryee Lewis and Mason followed by a free throw from Jake Lieppert gave Rice its largest lead of the game, 66-57, with 7:12 to play. The teams then went back-and-forth over the next three minutes. After a three-pointer by Evee made it an eight-point lead with 4:25 left. But the Miners began to cut into the lead, scoring seven of the next nine points to pull within three. Evee and Max Fiedler then made two free throws apiece to give Rice an 81-76 lead with 31 seconds remaining. However, after a UTEP layup, Cameron Sheffield threw the ball away. Another Miner layup made it a one-point game. But on the next possession, Olivari lost the ball out of bounds and Sheffield committed a foul with 6.3 seconds. Tae Hardy made both free throws to give UTEP an 82-81 lead. But Evee went the length of the court and put up a floater that dropped through the net as time expired to give Rice the victory.
What Head Coach Scott Pera Had to Say
"Some of these game in this series with UTEP have just been incredible endings. Ones that we've won. Ones that they won. It's almost every game. It's just been an unbelievable series. I'm really proud of our kids. Obviously, I'm really happy for Travis (Evee). That's something he'll never forget. That's what makes me most happy."
The Stats
Rice connected on 56.9% (29-of-51) from the field and 43.5% (10-of-23) from three. It also connected on 15-of-19 (78.9%) from the free throw line. UTEP shot 50.0% (35-of-70) from the floor but just 22.2% (4-of-18) from three. The Miners won the rebounding battle, 32-to-29.
Notes
• This was the 46th meeting between Rice and UTEP.
• The Owls are 16-30 in the series and 9-10 in Houston.
• Rice swept the season series for the first time since 2011-12.
• Rice shot over 50.0% from the floor for the seventh time this year.
• The Owls connected on 10 three-pointers, the ninth time it made at least 10.
• G Quincy Olivari led all players with 23 points and nine rebounds, his 14th straight double-figure scoring game.
• It was also his second straight 20-point game and his eighth of the year.
• He also made four three-pointers, becoming the fourth player in school history with 200 career threes.
• G Travis Evee scored 21 points, his sixth 20-point game of the year.
• With 21 points, Evee has scored 1,500 in his career.
• F Max Fiedler scored 12 points on a perfect five-of-five from the field, and tied a career-high with four steals.
• G Mekhi Mason scored 10 points and had four rebounds.
Next Up
Rice begins a two-game road trip this Monday, January 16, when it travels to San Antonio to face UTSA. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. and the game will be streamed by ESPN+.
Team Stats
UTEP
Rice
FG%
.500
.569
3FG%
.222
.435
FT%
.615
.789
RB
32
29
TO
12
19
STL
13
7
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
23
FGM
8
3FGM
4
FTM
3
Pts
21
FGM
8
3FGM
2
FTM
3
Pts
12
FGM
5
3FGM
0
FTM
2
Pts
10
FGM
4
3FGM
2
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
G
/ Men's BasketballF
/ Men's Basketball
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/ Men's Basketball
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/ Men's BasketballG
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G/F
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