Wednesday, December 20
Houston, TX
7 p.m.
Rice University
6-6,0-0AAC
82
vs
56
Prairie View A&M
5-6,0-0SWAC
1
2
F
Prairie View
21
35
56
Rice
35
47
82
Rice Defeats Prairie View A&M, 82-56, Behind Evee’s 28 Points
12/20/2023 10:20:00 PM | Men's Basketball
HOUSTON — Eleven players scored for Rice, led by Travis Evee's game-high 28 points, as the Owls earned their fifth win in the last six games, 82-56, Wednesday night at Tudor Fieldhouse.
The Story
Both teams started off slow, combining to make just 2-of-13 shots in the first four minutes. After trading baskets over the next two minutes, Rice scored six of the next eight points. Prairie View A&M twice retook the lead. But with the Panthers holding a 16-15 lead, the Owls stepped up their play. Travis Evee made two free throws and Max Fiedler made a layup. The Panthers cut the deficit to one, but after Fiedler made a layup, Evee scored 10 straight points as Rice went on a 14-0 run to take its largest lead of the half. A three by Nick Gazelas cut it to 12. But Sam Alajiki's layup right before the buzzer sent Rice into halftime with a 35-21 lead.
Rice opened the second half with a three from Mekhi Mason and a layup from Fiedler. The teams went back-and-forth for the next three minutes before Prairie View used a 12-2 run to cut Rice's lead to 49-40. But after trading baskets, Anthony Selden and Noah Shelby hit back-to-back threes to push Rice's lead to 57-42. Orlando Horton, Jr. answered with a three of his own. However, the Owls put the game away with a 15-3 run, leading by as many as 28 points in the second half.
The Stats
Rice connected on 52.4 (33-of-64) from the field and 30.4% (7-of-23) from three. Prairie View A&M was held to just 33.3% (21-of-63) from the floor and 31.6% (6-of-19) from three. The Owls also outrebounded PVAMU, 47-to-26.
What Head Coach Scott Pera Had to Say
"It's good to say that an underlying theme for us is our defense. Again, it was a great effort defensively. We held them to 33% from the floor and outrebounded them by 21. You do those things, it's really hard to lose a game. We did a lot of things that equate to winning basketball. Our defense continues to improve. I'm just really happy to get another home win."
Notes
• This was ninth meeting between Rice and Prairie View A&M, with Rice holding a 9-0 lead in the series.
• In games played in Houston, the Owls are 7-0.
• Rice connected on 52.4% from the field, the third straight game making at least 50.0% from the floor and the fifth time this year.
• The Owls scored at least 80 points for the fifth time this season.
• Rice tied season-highs with 49 points in the paint and six blocks.
• G Travis Evee led all players with 28 points and four assists and added five rebounds.
• It was his fourth 20-point game of the year and the 31st of his career.
• Evee passed Greg Hines (1983-87) and Torrey Andrews (1990-94) for seventh-place on Rice's all-time scoring list with 1,555 points.
• G Mekhi Mason scored 14 points and had four rebounds and a career-high three blocks.
• It is his ninth double-figure scoring game of the year and the 24th of his career.
• G Anthony Selden scored 11 points, his third double-figure scoring game of the year and the 34th of his career.
• F Max Fiedler led all players with a season-high 14 rebounds.
• It is his sixth double-figure rebounding game of the year and 43rd of his career.
Next Up
Rice closes its non-conference slate this Saturday, Dec. 22, against Louisiana. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. CT and the game will be streamed by ESPN+.
The Story
Both teams started off slow, combining to make just 2-of-13 shots in the first four minutes. After trading baskets over the next two minutes, Rice scored six of the next eight points. Prairie View A&M twice retook the lead. But with the Panthers holding a 16-15 lead, the Owls stepped up their play. Travis Evee made two free throws and Max Fiedler made a layup. The Panthers cut the deficit to one, but after Fiedler made a layup, Evee scored 10 straight points as Rice went on a 14-0 run to take its largest lead of the half. A three by Nick Gazelas cut it to 12. But Sam Alajiki's layup right before the buzzer sent Rice into halftime with a 35-21 lead.
Rice opened the second half with a three from Mekhi Mason and a layup from Fiedler. The teams went back-and-forth for the next three minutes before Prairie View used a 12-2 run to cut Rice's lead to 49-40. But after trading baskets, Anthony Selden and Noah Shelby hit back-to-back threes to push Rice's lead to 57-42. Orlando Horton, Jr. answered with a three of his own. However, the Owls put the game away with a 15-3 run, leading by as many as 28 points in the second half.
The Stats
Rice connected on 52.4 (33-of-64) from the field and 30.4% (7-of-23) from three. Prairie View A&M was held to just 33.3% (21-of-63) from the floor and 31.6% (6-of-19) from three. The Owls also outrebounded PVAMU, 47-to-26.
What Head Coach Scott Pera Had to Say
"It's good to say that an underlying theme for us is our defense. Again, it was a great effort defensively. We held them to 33% from the floor and outrebounded them by 21. You do those things, it's really hard to lose a game. We did a lot of things that equate to winning basketball. Our defense continues to improve. I'm just really happy to get another home win."
Notes
• This was ninth meeting between Rice and Prairie View A&M, with Rice holding a 9-0 lead in the series.
• In games played in Houston, the Owls are 7-0.
• Rice connected on 52.4% from the field, the third straight game making at least 50.0% from the floor and the fifth time this year.
• The Owls scored at least 80 points for the fifth time this season.
• Rice tied season-highs with 49 points in the paint and six blocks.
• G Travis Evee led all players with 28 points and four assists and added five rebounds.
• It was his fourth 20-point game of the year and the 31st of his career.
• Evee passed Greg Hines (1983-87) and Torrey Andrews (1990-94) for seventh-place on Rice's all-time scoring list with 1,555 points.
• G Mekhi Mason scored 14 points and had four rebounds and a career-high three blocks.
• It is his ninth double-figure scoring game of the year and the 24th of his career.
• G Anthony Selden scored 11 points, his third double-figure scoring game of the year and the 34th of his career.
• F Max Fiedler led all players with a season-high 14 rebounds.
• It is his sixth double-figure rebounding game of the year and 43rd of his career.
Next Up
Rice closes its non-conference slate this Saturday, Dec. 22, against Louisiana. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. CT and the game will be streamed by ESPN+.
Team Stats
PVAM
Rice
FG%
.333
.524
3FG%
.316
.304
FT%
.800
.900
RB
26
47
TO
9
13
STL
10
4
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
28
FGM
11
3FGM
2
FTM
4
Pts
14
FGM
6
3FGM
2
FTM
0
Pts
11
FGM
4
3FGM
1
FTM
2
Pts
6
FGM
3
3FGM
0
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
F
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