Thursday, November 30
Houston, TX
7 p.m.
Rice University
2-5,0-0AAC
98
vs
78
UT Martin
5-3,0-0OVC
1
2
F
UT Martin
37
41
78
Rice
47
51
98
Evee Sets Career Three-Point Record to Lead Rice over UT-Martin
11/30/2023 10:23:00 PM | Men's Basketball
HOUSTON — Travis Evee scored a season-high 29 points and set the school career three-point record to lead Rice to a 98-78 victory over UT-Martin, Thursday night at Tudor Fieldhouse.
The Story
After Rice began the game making just one of its first six shots, Travis Evee got them going, making four three-pointers as the Owls made seven of its next eight shots in an 18-5 run that gave them a 20-9 lead seven minutes into the game. UT-Martin scored four straight, but Noah Shelby hit a three that sent Rice on a 14-0 run as the Owls took their largest lead of the half, 34-13, with 8:52 to play in the half. However, Rice made just two of its next 11 shots as the Skyhawks began to chip away at the lead. A 17-4 UTM run cut the deficit to 42-35. But a three-point play by Alem Huseinovic and a layup by Evee allowed the Owls to close the half scoring five of the last seven points and head into the break with a 47-37 lead.
Rice opened the half with a 16-3 run in the first five minutes to extend its lead to 63-40. UT-Martin scored of the next 10. After Rice scored five straight, the teams went back-and-forth over the next two minutes. But the Owls scored six straight in a 13-2 run to put the game away.
The Stats
Rice connected on 50.7% (37-of-73) from the field but was just 28.6% (8-of-28) from three. UT-Martin was held to 40.3% (27-of-67) from the floor but was 43.3% (13-of-30) from three. The Owls also outrebounded UTM, 48-to-33.
What Head Coach Scott Pera Had to Say
"This was just a really, really good team win. I'm really proud of the guys in their approach all week, and their attention to detail with the game plan. I thought for the first time all year, we executed the game plan defensively to the best of our ability. It made a huge difference. Mekhi (Mason) was tremendous on (Jordan) Sears. But we played team defense, we rebounded. We held (UT-Martin) to 40.0% shooting. They are a very good team. I'm just really proud of our guys and obviously, we need that for a lot of reasons.
Notes
• This was first-ever meeting between Rice and UT-Martin.
• Rice set season-highs in rebounds (48), steals (9), and second chance points (20).
• The Owls scored at least 90 points for the second time this year and 80 points for the third time.
• Rice connected on at least 50.0% from the field for the second time this season.
• The Owls scored 51 points in the second half. It was the third time this year scoring at least 50 point in a half.
• G Travis Evee scored a season-high 29 points and added five rebounds and four assists. It was his seventh double-figure scoring game of the year and the 101st of his career.
• It was also his second 20-point game of the year and the 29th of his career.
• With five three-pointers, Evee now has 253 in his Rice career to set the school record.
• G Mekhi Mason scored 17 points, his fifth double-figure game of the year and the 20th of his career, and tied a season-high with six rebounds.
• F Max Fiedler grabbed a game-high 11 rebounds and had a team-high six assists. It was his third double-figure rebounding game of the year and the 40th of his career.
• G Alem Huseinovic scored a season-high 11 points. It was his first double-figure scoring game of the year and the third of his career.
• F Andrew Akuchie set season-highs with nine points and five rebounds.
Next Up
Rice gets right back on the hardwood this Saturday, Dec. 2, when it hosts crosstown foe Houston Christian. Tip-off is scheduled for 4 p.m. CT and the game will be streamed by ESPN+.
The Story
After Rice began the game making just one of its first six shots, Travis Evee got them going, making four three-pointers as the Owls made seven of its next eight shots in an 18-5 run that gave them a 20-9 lead seven minutes into the game. UT-Martin scored four straight, but Noah Shelby hit a three that sent Rice on a 14-0 run as the Owls took their largest lead of the half, 34-13, with 8:52 to play in the half. However, Rice made just two of its next 11 shots as the Skyhawks began to chip away at the lead. A 17-4 UTM run cut the deficit to 42-35. But a three-point play by Alem Huseinovic and a layup by Evee allowed the Owls to close the half scoring five of the last seven points and head into the break with a 47-37 lead.
Rice opened the half with a 16-3 run in the first five minutes to extend its lead to 63-40. UT-Martin scored of the next 10. After Rice scored five straight, the teams went back-and-forth over the next two minutes. But the Owls scored six straight in a 13-2 run to put the game away.
The Stats
Rice connected on 50.7% (37-of-73) from the field but was just 28.6% (8-of-28) from three. UT-Martin was held to 40.3% (27-of-67) from the floor but was 43.3% (13-of-30) from three. The Owls also outrebounded UTM, 48-to-33.
What Head Coach Scott Pera Had to Say
"This was just a really, really good team win. I'm really proud of the guys in their approach all week, and their attention to detail with the game plan. I thought for the first time all year, we executed the game plan defensively to the best of our ability. It made a huge difference. Mekhi (Mason) was tremendous on (Jordan) Sears. But we played team defense, we rebounded. We held (UT-Martin) to 40.0% shooting. They are a very good team. I'm just really proud of our guys and obviously, we need that for a lot of reasons.
Notes
• This was first-ever meeting between Rice and UT-Martin.
• Rice set season-highs in rebounds (48), steals (9), and second chance points (20).
• The Owls scored at least 90 points for the second time this year and 80 points for the third time.
• Rice connected on at least 50.0% from the field for the second time this season.
• The Owls scored 51 points in the second half. It was the third time this year scoring at least 50 point in a half.
• G Travis Evee scored a season-high 29 points and added five rebounds and four assists. It was his seventh double-figure scoring game of the year and the 101st of his career.
• It was also his second 20-point game of the year and the 29th of his career.
• With five three-pointers, Evee now has 253 in his Rice career to set the school record.
• G Mekhi Mason scored 17 points, his fifth double-figure game of the year and the 20th of his career, and tied a season-high with six rebounds.
• F Max Fiedler grabbed a game-high 11 rebounds and had a team-high six assists. It was his third double-figure rebounding game of the year and the 40th of his career.
• G Alem Huseinovic scored a season-high 11 points. It was his first double-figure scoring game of the year and the third of his career.
• F Andrew Akuchie set season-highs with nine points and five rebounds.
Next Up
Rice gets right back on the hardwood this Saturday, Dec. 2, when it hosts crosstown foe Houston Christian. Tip-off is scheduled for 4 p.m. CT and the game will be streamed by ESPN+.
Team Stats
UTM
Rice
FG%
.403
.507
3FG%
.433
.286
FT%
1.000
.696
RB
33
48
TO
13
9
STL
3
9
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
29
FGM
10
3FGM
5
FTM
4
Pts
17
FGM
5
3FGM
0
FTM
7
Pts
11
FGM
5
3FGM
0
FTM
1
Pts
9
FGM
3
3FGM
0
FTM
3
Players Mentioned
F
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's Basketball
F
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's BasketballWBB: Rice vs. Marshall Postgame Presser
Wednesday, March 09
VB: Rice-Texas Postgame Presser
Saturday, December 04
VB: Rice-San Diego Postgame Presser
Thursday, December 02