Thursday, February 16
Houston, TX
7 p.m.
Rice University
-1610,78 CUSA
79
vs
84
UTSA
-819,214 CUSA
1
2
F
UTSA
32
52
84
Rice
28
51
79
Photo by: Maria Lysaker | Rice Athletics
Rice Rally Comes Up Short against UTSA
2/16/2023 10:34:00 PM | Men's Basketball
HOUSTON — Rice cut a 13-point second half deficit to two, but could not get any closer, as the Owls fell to UTSA, 84-79, Thursday night from Tudor Fieldhouse.
The Story
UTSA scored the first five points of the game, but Rice tied it at five. After a Roadrunner basket, Travis Evee made a layup that sent Rice on a 7-0 run, taking its largest lead of the game at 12-7. UTSA scored six of the next eight points, but Quincy Olivari converted a three-point play. However, over the next eight minutes, Rice missed its next 11 shots as the Roadrunners grabbed a 28-23 lead with 3:42 to play in the half. Two free throws by Evee followed by a layup from Alem Huseinovic cut the deficit to one. But UTSA scored four of the final five points to head into halftime with a 32-28 lead.
The teams traded baskets to start the second half. Mekhi Mason and Max Fiedler made layups before Lamin Sabally made two free throws for UTSA. But Fiedler made two free throws and a layup to cut the deficit to 39-38 just three minutes into the half. However, the Roadrunners went on an 18-6 run over the next six minutes, taking its largest lead of the game, 57-44. After trading three-pointers, Huseinovic hit a three that sent Rice on an 11-3 run. But UTSA answered with a 12-3 run, taking a 77-64 lead with 3:31 to play. The Owls, though, wouldn't go away. Cameron Sheffield drove in for a layup and Mason hit a three. After a UTSA basket, Sheffield hit a three as Rice went on an 8-0 run to cut the lead to 79-77 with 1:00 remaining. Jacob Germany missed the front-end of a one-and-one and Mason drove the length of the court. But his layup was off the mark, and Rice was forced to foul. DJ Richards made one-of-two free throws to keep it a one-possession game, but Evee lost the ball out of bounds and UTSA made four straight free throws to seal the game.
The Stats
Rice was held to 39.7% (25-of-63) from the field and 33.3% (10-of-33). UTSA connected on 52.5% (32-of-61) from the floor and 41.2% (7-of-17) from three. Rice also outrebounded the Roadrunners, 38-to-36.
Notes
• Rice and UTSA met for the second time this year and the 22nd time overall.
• Rice connected on 10 three-pointers, the 12th time this season it made at least 10 three-pointers.
• G Mekhi Mason led the Owls with 20 points and seven rebounds. It was his second 20-point game of the season.
• G Quincy Olivari scored 15 points and had five rebounds.
• It was his 23rd straight double-figure scoring game.
• Olivari became the 17th player in school history with 500 points in a season.
• G Cameron Sheffield scored 15 points, tying a career-high with four three-pointers, and grabbed six rebounds.
• F Max Fiedler recorded his seventh double-double of the year, scoring 10 points and pulling down a game-high 13 rebounds.
• Fiedler also added eight assists and three blocks.
• He passed Adam Peakes (1991-95) and J.J. Polk (1994-97) for sixth-place on Rice's all-time assist list with 360.
Next Up
Rice closes its homestand this Saturday, Feb. 18, when it hosts WKU. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. CT and will be streamed by ESPN+.
The Story
UTSA scored the first five points of the game, but Rice tied it at five. After a Roadrunner basket, Travis Evee made a layup that sent Rice on a 7-0 run, taking its largest lead of the game at 12-7. UTSA scored six of the next eight points, but Quincy Olivari converted a three-point play. However, over the next eight minutes, Rice missed its next 11 shots as the Roadrunners grabbed a 28-23 lead with 3:42 to play in the half. Two free throws by Evee followed by a layup from Alem Huseinovic cut the deficit to one. But UTSA scored four of the final five points to head into halftime with a 32-28 lead.
The teams traded baskets to start the second half. Mekhi Mason and Max Fiedler made layups before Lamin Sabally made two free throws for UTSA. But Fiedler made two free throws and a layup to cut the deficit to 39-38 just three minutes into the half. However, the Roadrunners went on an 18-6 run over the next six minutes, taking its largest lead of the game, 57-44. After trading three-pointers, Huseinovic hit a three that sent Rice on an 11-3 run. But UTSA answered with a 12-3 run, taking a 77-64 lead with 3:31 to play. The Owls, though, wouldn't go away. Cameron Sheffield drove in for a layup and Mason hit a three. After a UTSA basket, Sheffield hit a three as Rice went on an 8-0 run to cut the lead to 79-77 with 1:00 remaining. Jacob Germany missed the front-end of a one-and-one and Mason drove the length of the court. But his layup was off the mark, and Rice was forced to foul. DJ Richards made one-of-two free throws to keep it a one-possession game, but Evee lost the ball out of bounds and UTSA made four straight free throws to seal the game.
The Stats
Rice was held to 39.7% (25-of-63) from the field and 33.3% (10-of-33). UTSA connected on 52.5% (32-of-61) from the floor and 41.2% (7-of-17) from three. Rice also outrebounded the Roadrunners, 38-to-36.
Notes
• Rice and UTSA met for the second time this year and the 22nd time overall.
• Rice connected on 10 three-pointers, the 12th time this season it made at least 10 three-pointers.
• G Mekhi Mason led the Owls with 20 points and seven rebounds. It was his second 20-point game of the season.
• G Quincy Olivari scored 15 points and had five rebounds.
• It was his 23rd straight double-figure scoring game.
• Olivari became the 17th player in school history with 500 points in a season.
• G Cameron Sheffield scored 15 points, tying a career-high with four three-pointers, and grabbed six rebounds.
• F Max Fiedler recorded his seventh double-double of the year, scoring 10 points and pulling down a game-high 13 rebounds.
• Fiedler also added eight assists and three blocks.
• He passed Adam Peakes (1991-95) and J.J. Polk (1994-97) for sixth-place on Rice's all-time assist list with 360.
Next Up
Rice closes its homestand this Saturday, Feb. 18, when it hosts WKU. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. CT and will be streamed by ESPN+.
Team Stats
UTSA
Rice
FG%
.525
.397
3FG%
.412
.333
FT%
.684
.760
RB
36
38
TO
13
15
STL
9
5
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
20
FGM
7
3FGM
2
FTM
4
Pts
15
FGM
5
3FGM
1
FTM
4
Pts
15
FGM
5
3FGM
4
FTM
1
Pts
10
FGM
3
3FGM
0
FTM
4
Players Mentioned
G
/ Men's BasketballF
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's BasketballG/F
/ Men's BasketballRice Men's Basketball Team Impact Signing
Friday, March 28
Rice MBB vs. Wichita State Postgame Presser
Friday, March 07
Rice vs. Tulsa Postgame Press Conference 2/22/25
Saturday, February 22
MBB Postgame Presser vs. UAB 2/19/25
Thursday, February 20