Thursday, January 5
Houston, TX
7 p.m.
Rice University
-114,22 CUSA
82
vs
88
Louisiana Tech
-96,22 CUSA
1
2
OT 1
F
Louisiana Tech
41
28
19
88
Rice
40
29
13
82
Evee’s Big Night Not Enough as Rice Falls to La Tech in Overtime
1/5/2023 11:04:00 PM | Men's Basketball
HOUSTON, Texas — Travis Evee scored a game-high 28 points, including a three-pointer to send the game into overtime, but it was not enough as Rice fell to Louisiana Tech, 88-82, Thursday night from Tudor Fieldhouse.
The Story
Louisiana Tech opened the scoring, but Rice went on a 10-3 run. The Owls pushed its lead to 17-13, but missed its next five shots as La Tech went on a 9-1 run to take a 22-18 lead. Alem Huseinovic hit a three, and after a layup by the Bulldogs, Mekhi Mason made jumper as Rice went on a 9-4 run, taking a 30-28 lead with 7:00 to play in the half. The teams then traded leads, with La Tech taking a 36-32 advantage. Evee made a three and Jake Lieppert drove in for a layup to take a 37-36 lead. After La Tech hit a three, Evee answered with one of his own. But Cobe Williams drove in for a layup to end the half and give Louisiana Tech a 41-40 lead at the half.
Rice came out firing in the second half. Cameron Sheffield hit a three and Mason made a jumper. After trading points, Quincy Olivari made two straight threes as the Owls went on a 7-0 run to take its largest lead of the game, 54-45, just five minutes into the half. However, Rice made just one of its next six shots over the next five minutes, with the Bulldogs going on a 10-2 run to pull within 56-55. Olivari found Lieppert underneath for a layup, but a Keaston Willis three tied the game. A layup by Olivari followed by a free throw from Mason gave the Owls a three-point lead. But La Tech scored eight of the next 11 points, taking a 66-64 lead with 3:16 to play. The game stayed that way until Fiedler tipped in Olivari's miss, tying the game with 29 seconds left. La Tech ran the clock down before Quandre Bullock's three with 2.9 seconds remaining gave the Bulldogs a three-point lead. But, after a timeout, Sheffield threw a baseball pass to Fiedler, who found Evee just inside half-court. Evee's attempt found nothing but net, tying the game at 69 and sending it into overtime.
However, Louisiana Tech began overtime by scoring the first five points. Evee made a pair of free throws, but after trading baskets, Willis gave La Tech a six-point lead with a three. But the Owls came back. Evee made two free throws, and after the Bulldogs pushed its lead back to six, Fiedler made a layup and Evee hit his fifth three of the game, pulling Rice within 81-80 with 41 seconds remaining. But Isaiah Crawford converted a three-point play. But with a chance to tie the game, both Evee and Olivari made just one-of-two free throws and La Tech made its final four from the line, sealing the win for the Bulldogs.
What Head Coach Scott Pera Had to Say
"It was a heck of a ballgame. Two kids made big shots late. One for (Louisiana Tech), one for (Rice) to send it to overtime. At the end of the day, in overtime, we couldn't get the stops that we needed. I thought we missed some opportunities when we had a (nine) point lead in the second half that really would have been big if we hit one of those shots. But we let them back in it. To their credit, they played really well. They deserved to win."
The Stats
Rice connected on 42.1% (24-of-57) from the field and 42.9% (12-of-28) from three. It was also 22-of-30 (73.3%) from the free throw line. Louisiana Tech was 51.5% (34-of-66) from the floor and 40.0% (10-of-25) from three. Rice won rebounding battle, 38-to-35.
Notes
• This was the 28th meeting between Rice and Louisiana Tech.
• The Owls are 7-21 in the series and 4-9 in Houston.
• Rice is to 1-2 in overtime this year.
• Rice has played two straight overtime games for the first time since 2014-15.
• The Owls connected on 12 three-pointers. It is the eighth time this year it made at least 10 threes.
• G Travis Evee scored a game-high 28 points and had a season-high three assists.
• It was his fifth 20-point game this year.
• With five three-pointers, Evee became the third player in school history with 200 threes at Rice.
• G Quincy Olivari scored 16 points, his 12th straight double-figure scoring game.
• He added four rebounds and four assists.
• F Max Fiedler scored eight points and recorded six assists.
• He also grabbed a game-high 14 rebounds, his fourth straight double-digit rebound game.
• With 14 rebounds, Fiedler became the eighth player in Rice history with 700 career.
• With six assists, he became the 12th player in school history with 300 career.
• G Cameron Sheffield scored seven points while pulling down 13 rebounds, his fourth double-digit rebound game of the season.
Next Up
Rice continues its homestand next Wednesday, January 11, when it hosts Middle Tennessee. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. and the game will be streamed by ESPN+.
The Story
Louisiana Tech opened the scoring, but Rice went on a 10-3 run. The Owls pushed its lead to 17-13, but missed its next five shots as La Tech went on a 9-1 run to take a 22-18 lead. Alem Huseinovic hit a three, and after a layup by the Bulldogs, Mekhi Mason made jumper as Rice went on a 9-4 run, taking a 30-28 lead with 7:00 to play in the half. The teams then traded leads, with La Tech taking a 36-32 advantage. Evee made a three and Jake Lieppert drove in for a layup to take a 37-36 lead. After La Tech hit a three, Evee answered with one of his own. But Cobe Williams drove in for a layup to end the half and give Louisiana Tech a 41-40 lead at the half.
Rice came out firing in the second half. Cameron Sheffield hit a three and Mason made a jumper. After trading points, Quincy Olivari made two straight threes as the Owls went on a 7-0 run to take its largest lead of the game, 54-45, just five minutes into the half. However, Rice made just one of its next six shots over the next five minutes, with the Bulldogs going on a 10-2 run to pull within 56-55. Olivari found Lieppert underneath for a layup, but a Keaston Willis three tied the game. A layup by Olivari followed by a free throw from Mason gave the Owls a three-point lead. But La Tech scored eight of the next 11 points, taking a 66-64 lead with 3:16 to play. The game stayed that way until Fiedler tipped in Olivari's miss, tying the game with 29 seconds left. La Tech ran the clock down before Quandre Bullock's three with 2.9 seconds remaining gave the Bulldogs a three-point lead. But, after a timeout, Sheffield threw a baseball pass to Fiedler, who found Evee just inside half-court. Evee's attempt found nothing but net, tying the game at 69 and sending it into overtime.
However, Louisiana Tech began overtime by scoring the first five points. Evee made a pair of free throws, but after trading baskets, Willis gave La Tech a six-point lead with a three. But the Owls came back. Evee made two free throws, and after the Bulldogs pushed its lead back to six, Fiedler made a layup and Evee hit his fifth three of the game, pulling Rice within 81-80 with 41 seconds remaining. But Isaiah Crawford converted a three-point play. But with a chance to tie the game, both Evee and Olivari made just one-of-two free throws and La Tech made its final four from the line, sealing the win for the Bulldogs.
What Head Coach Scott Pera Had to Say
"It was a heck of a ballgame. Two kids made big shots late. One for (Louisiana Tech), one for (Rice) to send it to overtime. At the end of the day, in overtime, we couldn't get the stops that we needed. I thought we missed some opportunities when we had a (nine) point lead in the second half that really would have been big if we hit one of those shots. But we let them back in it. To their credit, they played really well. They deserved to win."
The Stats
Rice connected on 42.1% (24-of-57) from the field and 42.9% (12-of-28) from three. It was also 22-of-30 (73.3%) from the free throw line. Louisiana Tech was 51.5% (34-of-66) from the floor and 40.0% (10-of-25) from three. Rice won rebounding battle, 38-to-35.
Notes
• This was the 28th meeting between Rice and Louisiana Tech.
• The Owls are 7-21 in the series and 4-9 in Houston.
• Rice is to 1-2 in overtime this year.
• Rice has played two straight overtime games for the first time since 2014-15.
• The Owls connected on 12 three-pointers. It is the eighth time this year it made at least 10 threes.
• G Travis Evee scored a game-high 28 points and had a season-high three assists.
• It was his fifth 20-point game this year.
• With five three-pointers, Evee became the third player in school history with 200 threes at Rice.
• G Quincy Olivari scored 16 points, his 12th straight double-figure scoring game.
• He added four rebounds and four assists.
• F Max Fiedler scored eight points and recorded six assists.
• He also grabbed a game-high 14 rebounds, his fourth straight double-digit rebound game.
• With 14 rebounds, Fiedler became the eighth player in Rice history with 700 career.
• With six assists, he became the 12th player in school history with 300 career.
• G Cameron Sheffield scored seven points while pulling down 13 rebounds, his fourth double-digit rebound game of the season.
Next Up
Rice continues its homestand next Wednesday, January 11, when it hosts Middle Tennessee. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. and the game will be streamed by ESPN+.
Team Stats
LATech
Rice
FG%
.515
.421
3FG%
.400
.429
FT%
.667
.733
RB
35
38
TO
12
14
STL
10
5
Game Leaders
Pts
28
FGM
7
3FGM
5
FTM
9
Pts
16
FGM
5
3FGM
3
FTM
3
Pts
8
FGM
3
3FGM
1
FTM
1
Pts
8
FGM
3
3FGM
0
FTM
2
Players Mentioned
G
/ Men's BasketballF
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G
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/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's BasketballG
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G/F
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