Monday, January 16
San Antonio, TX
7 p.m.
Rice University
-135,43 CUSA
88
at
81
UTSA
-712,17 CUSA
1
2
OT 1
F
Rice
32
40
16
88
UTSA
45
27
9
81
Photo by: ©Maria Lysaker - Rice Athletics
Max Fiedler’s Triple-Double Leads Rice Comeback at UTSA
1/16/2023 11:01:00 PM | Men's Basketball
SAN ANTONIO, Texas — Max Fiedler recorded the second triple-double in Rice history with 24 points, 13 rebounds and 11 assists, as Rice came back from an 18-point deficit to defeat UTSA in overtime, 88-81, Monday night from the UTSA Convocation Center.
The Story
The game started off as a fast-paced affair, as both teams began 6-of-11 into the first media timeout with UTSA holding a 15-14 lead. But, the Owls went cold, missing eight straight shots as the Roadrunners went on a 12-0 run over the next 5:22. The teams traded baskets, but UTSA hit three straight threes to push its lead to 16. Rice cut the deficit to 13 on a Max Fiedler layup. However, a jumper and a three-pointer by UTSA's John Buggs III gave it its largest lead of the half, 43-25, with 4:07 to play. The Owls, though, scored seven of the final nine points to go into halftime trailing 45-32.
Fiedler scored six of the first eight points of the second half as Rice cut the deficit to single-digits. After two UTSA baskets, Rice went on an 8-2 run, including a three-pointer by Quincy Olivari that brought the Owls within 54-46, six minutes into the half. However, the Roadrunners went on an 11-3 run to take 65-49 lead with 8:25 to play. But that's when Rice turned up its play. It made five-of-six shots to go on a 14-14 run and pull within 69-63 with 2:40 to play. After UTSA pushed its lead to eight, Fiedler made a layup and Travis Evee hit a three. The Owls got a stop and Mekhi Mason drove the length of the court for a layup to make it a one-point game. Cameron Sheffield then stole the ensuing inbounds, resulting in a held ball that went to Rice. Evee gave the Owls its first lead since 3-0 with a floater with 17 seconds to play. Japhet Medor then drove in and was fouled with 1.1 second left. But he made just one-of-two from the line, and the game went into overtime time at 72.
Rice wasted no time in overtime, as Sheffield immediately scored. After UTSA went up one on a three-pointer, Mekhki Mason answered with a triple of his own. Evee made one-of-two free throws and Medor made a pair to pull the Roadrunners within 78-77 with 2:14 to play. But Evee hit a big three-pointer and the Owls made seven-of-10 free throws down the stretch to put the game away.
What Head Coach Scott Pera Had to Say
"We made a big-time halftime adjustment defensively, which really changed the game. You have to give credit to our kids for that, and to Van (Green) and Greg (Howell) for implementing it. Offensively, down the stretch, we were down 10 and we decided that everything had to be three feet and in. We just couldn't afford to keep shooting threes. I needed their mindset to be to get the ball to the basket. (UTSA) had 10 fouls so we were shooting free throws. Quincy (Olivari) did a great job of that. So many things happened, but here's what I know. Cameron (Sheffield) made an unbelievable play to get the ball, Travis made an unbelievable shot. We thought we got the stop (but) they called the foul. We got lucky that he made one-of-two, and somehow we're going home with a win."
The Stats
Rice connected on 47.1% (32-of-68) from the field and 32.1% (9-of-28) from three. UTSA shot 43.2% (32-of-74) from the floor 35.5% (11-of-31) from three. The Owls also won the rebounding battle, 44-to-37.
Notes
• This was the 20th meeting between Rice and UTSA.
• The Owls are 9-11 in the series and 2-7 in San Antonio.
• Rice improved to 2-2 in overtime this season. It's just the fourth time that it has played four overtime games in a season and the first in 2014-15.
• Rice scored 80 points for the 12 time this year.
• The Owls connected on 10 three-pointers, the ninth time it made at least 10.
• F Max Fiedler recorded the second triple-double in school history with a season-high 24 points, 13 rebounds and a career-high 11 assists.
• Fiedler connected on 12-of-14 from the field and added two blocks.
• G Quincy Olivari led all players with 30 points, his 15th straight double-figure scoring game,
and grabbed eight rebounds.
• It was his third 30-point game of the year and the fourth of his career.
• He's the first player with three 30-point games in a season since Marcus Evans in 2015-16.
• G Travis Evee scored 19 points and had five assists.
• G Cameron Sheffield added nine rebounds.
Next Up
Rice closes its road trip this Thursday, January 19, when it travels to Denton to face North Texas. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. and the game will be streamed by ESPN+.
The Story
The game started off as a fast-paced affair, as both teams began 6-of-11 into the first media timeout with UTSA holding a 15-14 lead. But, the Owls went cold, missing eight straight shots as the Roadrunners went on a 12-0 run over the next 5:22. The teams traded baskets, but UTSA hit three straight threes to push its lead to 16. Rice cut the deficit to 13 on a Max Fiedler layup. However, a jumper and a three-pointer by UTSA's John Buggs III gave it its largest lead of the half, 43-25, with 4:07 to play. The Owls, though, scored seven of the final nine points to go into halftime trailing 45-32.
Fiedler scored six of the first eight points of the second half as Rice cut the deficit to single-digits. After two UTSA baskets, Rice went on an 8-2 run, including a three-pointer by Quincy Olivari that brought the Owls within 54-46, six minutes into the half. However, the Roadrunners went on an 11-3 run to take 65-49 lead with 8:25 to play. But that's when Rice turned up its play. It made five-of-six shots to go on a 14-14 run and pull within 69-63 with 2:40 to play. After UTSA pushed its lead to eight, Fiedler made a layup and Travis Evee hit a three. The Owls got a stop and Mekhi Mason drove the length of the court for a layup to make it a one-point game. Cameron Sheffield then stole the ensuing inbounds, resulting in a held ball that went to Rice. Evee gave the Owls its first lead since 3-0 with a floater with 17 seconds to play. Japhet Medor then drove in and was fouled with 1.1 second left. But he made just one-of-two from the line, and the game went into overtime time at 72.
Rice wasted no time in overtime, as Sheffield immediately scored. After UTSA went up one on a three-pointer, Mekhki Mason answered with a triple of his own. Evee made one-of-two free throws and Medor made a pair to pull the Roadrunners within 78-77 with 2:14 to play. But Evee hit a big three-pointer and the Owls made seven-of-10 free throws down the stretch to put the game away.
What Head Coach Scott Pera Had to Say
"We made a big-time halftime adjustment defensively, which really changed the game. You have to give credit to our kids for that, and to Van (Green) and Greg (Howell) for implementing it. Offensively, down the stretch, we were down 10 and we decided that everything had to be three feet and in. We just couldn't afford to keep shooting threes. I needed their mindset to be to get the ball to the basket. (UTSA) had 10 fouls so we were shooting free throws. Quincy (Olivari) did a great job of that. So many things happened, but here's what I know. Cameron (Sheffield) made an unbelievable play to get the ball, Travis made an unbelievable shot. We thought we got the stop (but) they called the foul. We got lucky that he made one-of-two, and somehow we're going home with a win."
The Stats
Rice connected on 47.1% (32-of-68) from the field and 32.1% (9-of-28) from three. UTSA shot 43.2% (32-of-74) from the floor 35.5% (11-of-31) from three. The Owls also won the rebounding battle, 44-to-37.
Notes
• This was the 20th meeting between Rice and UTSA.
• The Owls are 9-11 in the series and 2-7 in San Antonio.
• Rice improved to 2-2 in overtime this season. It's just the fourth time that it has played four overtime games in a season and the first in 2014-15.
• Rice scored 80 points for the 12 time this year.
• The Owls connected on 10 three-pointers, the ninth time it made at least 10.
• F Max Fiedler recorded the second triple-double in school history with a season-high 24 points, 13 rebounds and a career-high 11 assists.
• Fiedler connected on 12-of-14 from the field and added two blocks.
• G Quincy Olivari led all players with 30 points, his 15th straight double-figure scoring game,
and grabbed eight rebounds.
• It was his third 30-point game of the year and the fourth of his career.
• He's the first player with three 30-point games in a season since Marcus Evans in 2015-16.
• G Travis Evee scored 19 points and had five assists.
• G Cameron Sheffield added nine rebounds.
Next Up
Rice closes its road trip this Thursday, January 19, when it travels to Denton to face North Texas. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. and the game will be streamed by ESPN+.
Team Stats
Rice
UTSA
FG%
.471
.432
3FG%
.321
.355
FT%
.577
.667
RB
44
37
TO
12
11
STL
4
3
Game Leaders
Pts
30
FGM
9
3FGM
5
FTM
7
Pts
24
FGM
12
3FGM
0
FTM
0
Pts
19
FGM
5
3FGM
3
FTM
6
Pts
5
FGM
2
3FGM
1
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
G
/ Men's BasketballF
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's Basketball
G/F
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