Friday, November 10
Houston, TX
7 p.m.
Rice University
1-1,0-0AAC
76
vs
89
Harvard
2-0,0-0Ivy League
1
2
F
Harvard
43
46
89
Rice
33
43
76
Photo by: Maria Lysaker | Rice Athletics
Rice Comeback Attempt Comes Up Short against Harvard
11/10/2023 10:46:00 PM | Men's Basketball
HOUSTON — Rice rallied from an 18-point deficit to take the lead, but Harvard closed the game on a 25-12 run, as the Owls dropped their first game of the season, 89-76, Friday night from Tudor Fieldhouse.
The Story
Harvard jumped out to an early 14-3 lead. A 7-2 run cut the deficit to four. However, Rice missed two of its next 12 shots as the Crimson went on an 18-6 run over the six minutes to take a 33-17 lead. After a Mekhi Mason layup, Harvard scored eight of the next 10 points to take its largest lead of the game, 40-22, with 4:07 to play in the half. The Owls began to chip away as a Max Fiedler layup sent Rice on an 11-0 run to cut the deficit to seven. But Chandler Pigge converted a three-point play to send Rice into halftime trailing, 43-33.
The Crimson opened the second half with back-to-back baskets. A Mason three-pointer sent Rice on an 8-1 run, but Harvard answered with an 8-2 run to extend its lead back to 13 points. That's when the Owls got going. Fiedler made a layup and Mason made one-of-two free throws. After a Harvard basket, Rice scored eight straight points to pull within four. Two Malik Mack free throws pushed the lead to six. But Anthony Selden made a three, Noah Shelby hit two free throws, and Travis Evee made a triple to give Rice its first lead of the game, 62-60. The Crimson retook the lead on a pair of baskets, but Evee made two free throws to tie the game at 64 with 7:39 remaining. Pigge then scored five straight points. Evee again made two free throws, but Mack made a layup. After a layup by Fiedler, Evee had a chance to make it a one-point game. But he missed two free throws and the Crimson went on a 7-0 run to extend its lead to 78-68 with 3:23 to play. Rice got no closer than eight points the rest of the way.
The Stats
Rice was held to 41.7% from the field and 33.3% from three. Harvard connected on 53.3% from the floor and 35.0% from three. The Crimson also outrebounded the Owls, 38-to-33.
What Head Coach Scott Pera Had to Say
"All the credit goes to Harvard. I thought they played a really good game from start to finish. They were just the better team. They were the better team out of the gate. They were the better team down the stretch. Their players made plays when they needed them most. In every category that matters, they outplayed us."
Notes
• This was the fifth meeting between Rice and Harvard.
• Rice fell to 1-4 in the series and 1-2 in Houston.
• Mekhi Mason led the team with 20 points and five assists. It was his first double-digit game of the year and the 16th of his career.
• It was also his third career 20-point game.
• Mason also tied a career-high with four three-pointers.
• Anthony Selden scored 18 points. It was his first double-digit scoring game of the year and the 32nd of his career.
• Max Fielder scored 13 points on 6-of-7 shooting and grabbed a game-high eight rebounds.
• It was his second double-figure scoring game of the year and the 56th of his career.
• Fiedler also had a team-high five assists.
• Travis Evee scored 11 points. It was his second double-figure scoring game of the year and the 75th of his career.
Next Up
Rice goes on the road for the first time when it begins a four-game road trip next Wednesday, Nov. 15, at No. 18 Texas. Tip-off is scheduled for 8 p.m., and the game will be televised by the Longhorn Network.
The Story
Harvard jumped out to an early 14-3 lead. A 7-2 run cut the deficit to four. However, Rice missed two of its next 12 shots as the Crimson went on an 18-6 run over the six minutes to take a 33-17 lead. After a Mekhi Mason layup, Harvard scored eight of the next 10 points to take its largest lead of the game, 40-22, with 4:07 to play in the half. The Owls began to chip away as a Max Fiedler layup sent Rice on an 11-0 run to cut the deficit to seven. But Chandler Pigge converted a three-point play to send Rice into halftime trailing, 43-33.
The Crimson opened the second half with back-to-back baskets. A Mason three-pointer sent Rice on an 8-1 run, but Harvard answered with an 8-2 run to extend its lead back to 13 points. That's when the Owls got going. Fiedler made a layup and Mason made one-of-two free throws. After a Harvard basket, Rice scored eight straight points to pull within four. Two Malik Mack free throws pushed the lead to six. But Anthony Selden made a three, Noah Shelby hit two free throws, and Travis Evee made a triple to give Rice its first lead of the game, 62-60. The Crimson retook the lead on a pair of baskets, but Evee made two free throws to tie the game at 64 with 7:39 remaining. Pigge then scored five straight points. Evee again made two free throws, but Mack made a layup. After a layup by Fiedler, Evee had a chance to make it a one-point game. But he missed two free throws and the Crimson went on a 7-0 run to extend its lead to 78-68 with 3:23 to play. Rice got no closer than eight points the rest of the way.
The Stats
Rice was held to 41.7% from the field and 33.3% from three. Harvard connected on 53.3% from the floor and 35.0% from three. The Crimson also outrebounded the Owls, 38-to-33.
What Head Coach Scott Pera Had to Say
"All the credit goes to Harvard. I thought they played a really good game from start to finish. They were just the better team. They were the better team out of the gate. They were the better team down the stretch. Their players made plays when they needed them most. In every category that matters, they outplayed us."
Notes
• This was the fifth meeting between Rice and Harvard.
• Rice fell to 1-4 in the series and 1-2 in Houston.
• Mekhi Mason led the team with 20 points and five assists. It was his first double-digit game of the year and the 16th of his career.
• It was also his third career 20-point game.
• Mason also tied a career-high with four three-pointers.
• Anthony Selden scored 18 points. It was his first double-digit scoring game of the year and the 32nd of his career.
• Max Fielder scored 13 points on 6-of-7 shooting and grabbed a game-high eight rebounds.
• It was his second double-figure scoring game of the year and the 56th of his career.
• Fiedler also had a team-high five assists.
• Travis Evee scored 11 points. It was his second double-figure scoring game of the year and the 75th of his career.
Next Up
Rice goes on the road for the first time when it begins a four-game road trip next Wednesday, Nov. 15, at No. 18 Texas. Tip-off is scheduled for 8 p.m., and the game will be televised by the Longhorn Network.
Team Stats
HU
Rice
FG%
.533
.417
3FG%
.350
.333
FT%
.783
.643
RB
38
33
TO
10
9
STL
8
6
Game Leaders
Pts
20
FGM
7
3FGM
4
FTM
2
Pts
18
FGM
5
3FGM
1
FTM
7
Pts
13
FGM
6
3FGM
0
FTM
1
Pts
11
FGM
2
3FGM
1
FTM
6
Players Mentioned
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