Tuesday, November 7
Houston, TX
7 p.m.
Rice University
1-0,0-0AAC
101
vs
57
St. Thomas (TX)
0-0,0-0SCAC
1
2
F
St. Thomas (TX)
25
32
57
Rice
47
54
101
Rice Dominates St. Thomas in Season Opener
11/7/2023 10:39:00 PM | Men's Basketball
HOUSTON — Rice had 13 players score as it scored its most points in a season opener since 2006-07, defeating crosstown foe St. Thomas, 101-57, Tuesday night from Tudor Fieldhouse.
The Story
Rice started the game just two-of-eight at St. Thomas jumped out to a 7-4 lead. But the Owls offense got going with a 12-4 run behind three, three-pointers to take a 19-11 lead. After two UST free throws, Rice used a 22-4 run over the next 6:12 to take its largest lead of the half, 41-17. The Celts scored eight of the next 10 points, but baskets by Noah Shelby and Andrew Akuchie sent the Owls into halftime with a 47-25 lead.
St. Thomas opened the second half on a 12-6 run to cut the deficit to 16 points just five minutes in. But following a Max Fiedler layup, Travis Evee hit a pair of three-pointers followed by one from Sam Alajiki as the Owls went on an 11-5 run. Following a pair of UST free throws, Shelby sparked the Owls to a 23-6 run over a 4:56 span to put the game out of reach.
The Stats
Rice connected on 53.5% from the field and 45.2% from three. St. Thomas was held to 36.8% from the floor and 28.6% from three. Rice also outrebounded the Celts, 45-to-27.
What Head Coach Scott Pera Had to Say
"It was really fun to get out there and play one that counts. That's the big thing. Last year, we started on the road at Pepperdine. We wanted to schedule one to get us going. We had stretches that were really good. I think what you saw was the depth tonight. I think Alem (Huseinovic) and Sam (Alajiki) really sparked us tonight. I was really pleased with only five turnovers for the game."
Notes
• This was the 11th meeting between Rice and St. Thomas
• Rice improved to 10-1 in the series.
• The 101 points are the most scored in a season-opener since scoring a school record 118 against Paul Quinn on Nov. 11, 2006.
• 15 players saw action for the Owls with 10 playing at least 10 minutes.
• 13 players scored for the Owls.
• Rice shot 53.5% from the field 45.2% from three.
• The Owls connected on 14 three-pointers by six different players.
• Sam Alajiki scored a team-high 17 points behind a perfect 5-for-5 from three.
• His 5-for-5 ties the third-most threes in a game without a miss
• Max Fielder recorded a double-double, scoring 16 points and grabbing 11 rebounds while adding six assists.
• Fiedler started his 104th game, tying D'Wayne Tanner (1986-90) for the fifth-most in school history.
• Noah Shelby scored a career-high 14 points on three, three-pointers and added a career-high four assists.
• Travis Evee scored 10 points and had three assists.
• Andrew Akuchie scored nine points.
Next Up
Rice closes its season-opening homestand this Friday, Nov. 10, when it hosts Harvard. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m., and the game will be streamed at ESPN+.
The Story
Rice started the game just two-of-eight at St. Thomas jumped out to a 7-4 lead. But the Owls offense got going with a 12-4 run behind three, three-pointers to take a 19-11 lead. After two UST free throws, Rice used a 22-4 run over the next 6:12 to take its largest lead of the half, 41-17. The Celts scored eight of the next 10 points, but baskets by Noah Shelby and Andrew Akuchie sent the Owls into halftime with a 47-25 lead.
St. Thomas opened the second half on a 12-6 run to cut the deficit to 16 points just five minutes in. But following a Max Fiedler layup, Travis Evee hit a pair of three-pointers followed by one from Sam Alajiki as the Owls went on an 11-5 run. Following a pair of UST free throws, Shelby sparked the Owls to a 23-6 run over a 4:56 span to put the game out of reach.
The Stats
Rice connected on 53.5% from the field and 45.2% from three. St. Thomas was held to 36.8% from the floor and 28.6% from three. Rice also outrebounded the Celts, 45-to-27.
What Head Coach Scott Pera Had to Say
"It was really fun to get out there and play one that counts. That's the big thing. Last year, we started on the road at Pepperdine. We wanted to schedule one to get us going. We had stretches that were really good. I think what you saw was the depth tonight. I think Alem (Huseinovic) and Sam (Alajiki) really sparked us tonight. I was really pleased with only five turnovers for the game."
Notes
• This was the 11th meeting between Rice and St. Thomas
• Rice improved to 10-1 in the series.
• The 101 points are the most scored in a season-opener since scoring a school record 118 against Paul Quinn on Nov. 11, 2006.
• 15 players saw action for the Owls with 10 playing at least 10 minutes.
• 13 players scored for the Owls.
• Rice shot 53.5% from the field 45.2% from three.
• The Owls connected on 14 three-pointers by six different players.
• Sam Alajiki scored a team-high 17 points behind a perfect 5-for-5 from three.
• His 5-for-5 ties the third-most threes in a game without a miss
• Max Fielder recorded a double-double, scoring 16 points and grabbing 11 rebounds while adding six assists.
• Fiedler started his 104th game, tying D'Wayne Tanner (1986-90) for the fifth-most in school history.
• Noah Shelby scored a career-high 14 points on three, three-pointers and added a career-high four assists.
• Travis Evee scored 10 points and had three assists.
• Andrew Akuchie scored nine points.
Next Up
Rice closes its season-opening homestand this Friday, Nov. 10, when it hosts Harvard. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m., and the game will be streamed at ESPN+.
Team Stats
UST-TX
Rice
FG%
.368
.535
3FG%
.286
.452
FT%
.778
.688
RB
27
45
TO
14
5
STL
4
8
Game Leaders
Pts
17
FGM
5
3FGM
5
FTM
2
Pts
16
FGM
8
3FGM
0
FTM
0
Pts
14
FGM
4
3FGM
3
FTM
3
Pts
10
FGM
4
3FGM
2
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
F
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