Wednesday, December 13
Houston, TX
11:15 a.m.
Rice University
4-6,0-0AAC
80
vs
57
Incarnate Word
3-7,0-0Southland
1
2
F
UIW
34
23
57
Rice
37
43
80
Photo by: Maria Lysaker | Rice Athletics
Evee’s 29 Points Lead Rice to 80-57 Win over Incarnate Word
12/13/2023 2:58:00 PM | Men's Basketball
HOUSTON — Travis Evee tied a season-high with 29 points and Rice closed the game on a 16-2 run as it defeated Incarnate Word, 80-57, Wednesday morning, from Tudor Fieldhouse in front of more than 3,000 Houston area students during the 10th annual School House Mania game.
The Story
After UIW took an 8-4 lead, Mekhi Mason scored six points in an 8-0 Owl run as they took their first lead, 12-8. However, the Cardinals answered, scoring nine straight points over the next two minutes. Rice again responded, using a 19-4 run to take its largest lead of the half, 31-21, with 3:52 to play in the half. Incarnate Word came right back, scoring nine of the next 11 points. After trading baskets, Mason made a pair of free throws. But Josh Morgan made two from the line as Rice went into halftime holding a 37-34 lead.
UIW opened the second half with a three to tie the game. After trading baskets, Evee made three straight three pointers as Rice went on a 13-3 run to take a 55-42 lead five minutes into the half. But Incarnate Word scored seven of the next eight points to pull within 56-49. The Owls scored six of the next seven points. The Cardinals then made two free throws to get within 64-55 with 7:32 to play. However, Rice held UIW to just one field the rest of the game, closing on a 16-2 run.
The Stats
Rice connected on 51.7% (31-of-60) from the field but just 25.0% (6-of-24) from three. Incarnate Word was held to just 33.9% (19-of-56) from the floor and 28.6% (8-of-28) from three. The Owls also outrebounded UIW, 42-to-28.
What Head Coach Scott Pera Had to Say
"I'm proud of our guys' defense effort. We've worked hard to become a better defensive team, and we're making strides. Going back to the UC-Irvine game, I started to see the signs of it. I really did. That carried over into the last three. This is now four where I'm really proud of our defensive effort. I think for one of the first times in a long time, our defense energized our offense. I'm happy about that and I thought our overall effort in the second half was outstanding."
Notes
• This was fifth meeting between Rice and Incarnate Word, with Rice holding a 4-1 lead in the series.
• Rice has won the last four games in the series.
• In games played in Houston, the Owls are 2-1.
• Rice improves to a perfect 10-0 on School House Mania games.
• The Owls scored at least 80 points for the fourth time this season.
• Rice connected on 51.7% from the field, the third time this year it made at least 50.0% from the floor.
• Rice scored a season-high 48 points in the paint and tied a season-high with nine steals.
• G Travis Evee tied season-highs with 29 points and three steals.
• It was his ninth double-figure scoring game of the year and the 82nd of his career.
• It was also his third 20-point game of the year and the 30th of his career.
• Evee became the 10th player in school history to score 1,500 points.
• He now has 1,519 points, passing Jason McKrieth (2001-05) for ninth-place on Rice's all-time list.
• G Mekhi Mason scored 14 points, five rebounds and three assists.
• It is his seventh double-figure scoring game of the year and the 22nd of his career.
• F Max Fiedler scored 12 points, grabbed 10 rebounds and had a game-high four assists.
• It is his fourth double-figure scoring game of the year and 58th of his career.
• It is also his third double-double of the year and 28th of his career.
• F Keanu Dawes scored eight points and had six rebounds.
• G Sam Alajiki scored eight points and had five rebounds.
Next Up
Rice goes on the road for the final time in non-conference play this Saturday, Dec. 16, when it travels to Natchitoches, La., to face Northwestern State. Tip-off is scheduled for 2 p.m. CT and the game will be streamed by ESPN+.
The Story
After UIW took an 8-4 lead, Mekhi Mason scored six points in an 8-0 Owl run as they took their first lead, 12-8. However, the Cardinals answered, scoring nine straight points over the next two minutes. Rice again responded, using a 19-4 run to take its largest lead of the half, 31-21, with 3:52 to play in the half. Incarnate Word came right back, scoring nine of the next 11 points. After trading baskets, Mason made a pair of free throws. But Josh Morgan made two from the line as Rice went into halftime holding a 37-34 lead.
UIW opened the second half with a three to tie the game. After trading baskets, Evee made three straight three pointers as Rice went on a 13-3 run to take a 55-42 lead five minutes into the half. But Incarnate Word scored seven of the next eight points to pull within 56-49. The Owls scored six of the next seven points. The Cardinals then made two free throws to get within 64-55 with 7:32 to play. However, Rice held UIW to just one field the rest of the game, closing on a 16-2 run.
The Stats
Rice connected on 51.7% (31-of-60) from the field but just 25.0% (6-of-24) from three. Incarnate Word was held to just 33.9% (19-of-56) from the floor and 28.6% (8-of-28) from three. The Owls also outrebounded UIW, 42-to-28.
What Head Coach Scott Pera Had to Say
"I'm proud of our guys' defense effort. We've worked hard to become a better defensive team, and we're making strides. Going back to the UC-Irvine game, I started to see the signs of it. I really did. That carried over into the last three. This is now four where I'm really proud of our defensive effort. I think for one of the first times in a long time, our defense energized our offense. I'm happy about that and I thought our overall effort in the second half was outstanding."
Notes
• This was fifth meeting between Rice and Incarnate Word, with Rice holding a 4-1 lead in the series.
• Rice has won the last four games in the series.
• In games played in Houston, the Owls are 2-1.
• Rice improves to a perfect 10-0 on School House Mania games.
• The Owls scored at least 80 points for the fourth time this season.
• Rice connected on 51.7% from the field, the third time this year it made at least 50.0% from the floor.
• Rice scored a season-high 48 points in the paint and tied a season-high with nine steals.
• G Travis Evee tied season-highs with 29 points and three steals.
• It was his ninth double-figure scoring game of the year and the 82nd of his career.
• It was also his third 20-point game of the year and the 30th of his career.
• Evee became the 10th player in school history to score 1,500 points.
• He now has 1,519 points, passing Jason McKrieth (2001-05) for ninth-place on Rice's all-time list.
• G Mekhi Mason scored 14 points, five rebounds and three assists.
• It is his seventh double-figure scoring game of the year and the 22nd of his career.
• F Max Fiedler scored 12 points, grabbed 10 rebounds and had a game-high four assists.
• It is his fourth double-figure scoring game of the year and 58th of his career.
• It is also his third double-double of the year and 28th of his career.
• F Keanu Dawes scored eight points and had six rebounds.
• G Sam Alajiki scored eight points and had five rebounds.
Next Up
Rice goes on the road for the final time in non-conference play this Saturday, Dec. 16, when it travels to Natchitoches, La., to face Northwestern State. Tip-off is scheduled for 2 p.m. CT and the game will be streamed by ESPN+.
Team Stats
UIW
Rice
FG%
.339
.517
3FG%
.286
.250
FT%
.786
.750
RB
28
42
TO
14
12
STL
5
9
Game Leaders
Pts
29
FGM
12
3FGM
3
FTM
2
Pts
14
FGM
4
3FGM
1
FTM
5
Pts
12
FGM
6
3FGM
0
FTM
0
Pts
8
FGM
3
3FGM
1
FTM
1
Players Mentioned
F
/ Men's Basketball
F
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's BasketballF
/ Men's BasketballG
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