Saturday, February 18
Houston, TX
7 p.m.
Rice University
-1710,88 CUSA
83
vs
77
WKU
-1413,610 CUSA
1
2
F
Western Ky.
27
50
77
Rice
43
40
83
Photo by: Maria Lysaker | Rice Athletics
Olivari’s Big Night Leads Rice to 83-77 Victory over WKU
2/18/2023 10:32:00 PM | Men's Basketball
HOUSTON — Quincy Olivari recorded his second double-double of the year, scoring a season-high 34 points and tying a season-high with 12 rebounds as Rice swept the season series from WKU, 83-77, Saturday night at Tudor Fieldhouse.
The Story
Rice came out on fire, scoring the first 10 points of the game. The teams traded baskets over the next two minutes, but Olivari made three straight threes, giving the Owls a 25-9 lead and forcing a WKU timeout. The Hilltoppers scored five straight, but Olivari found Lieppert with a full-court pass for a layup that sent Rice on an 8-0 run. After a Hilltopper bucket, Mekhi Mason hit a three as Rice took its largest lead of the game, 36-16, with 5:11 to play. However, Rice missed six straight shots as WKU went on an 11-0 run. But Lieppert hit a three as Rice closed the final 1:21 on a 7-0 run, taking a 43-27 lead into halftime.
WKU opened up the first 6:30 of the second half on a 15-5 run to cut Rice's lead to 48-42. But Max Fiedler made a layup and Travis Evee hit a three from the top of the key to push its lead back to 11. The teams traded baskets over the next 6:30. With the Owls holding a 60-52 lead, Olivari made two free throws, scoring five points in a 9-2 run as Rice took a 69-54 lead with 3:48 to play. The Hilltoppers wouldn't go away, making eight of nine shots, including five straight three pointers, to pull within five points. But the Owls made 13-of-17 free throws in the final 2:17 to put the game away.
What Head Coach Scott Pera Had to Say
"What an effort by our guys. We have such great kids and you know when you tell them things that they are going to try to do what you ask them. Tonight was all about a better start (and) being energized out of the gate. Actually trying to have a halftime lead. So, I changed everything up. Shootaround, pregame warm-up and they responded, to their credit, with just a lot of energy and togetherness. You could see, it was 10-0 out of the gate. So, I was really happy to see that."
The Stats
Rice connected on 44.3% (27-of-61) from the field and 37.0% (10-of-27). It also was 19-of-23 (82.6%) from the free throw line. WKU was 43.9% (29-of-66) from the floor and 34.5% (10-of-29) from three. Rice also outrebounded the Hilltoppers, 37-to-36.
Notes
• Rice and WKU met for the second time this year and the 12th time overall.
• Rice connected on 10 three-pointers, the 13th time this season it made at least 10 three-pointers.
• With the win, Rice clinched a winning season.
• G Quincy Olivari recorded his second double-double of the year, scoring a season-high 34 points while tying his season-high with 12 rebounds.
• It was his fourth 30-point game of the year and fifth of his career.
• It was also his 24th straight double-figure scoring game.
• Olivari passed Marcus Evans (2015-17) and Marvin Moore (1989-93) for 12th-place on Rice's all-time scoring list with 1,371
• G Mekhi Mason scored 14 points on a perfect three-of-three from three.
• F Max Fiedler scored 12 points and had five rebounds and a game-high six assists.
• Fiedler became the sixth player in school history with 800 career rebounds.
• He also passed Dana Hardy (1990-91) and D'Wayne Tanner (1989-90) for ninth-place on Rice's season assist list with 138.
• G Cameron Sheffield grabbed 11 rebounds, his sixth game this year with at least 10 rebounds.
• Travis Evee connected on one three-pointer, giving him 300 for his career.
• Evee also had two steals to become the 22nd player in school history with 100 steals and the 13th player with at least 1,000 points, 200 rebounds, 200 assists and 100 steals.
• Jake Lieppert added seven points.
Next Up
Rice begins its final regular season road trip next Thursday, Feb. 23, when it travels to Birmingham, Ala., to face UAB. Tip-off is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. CT and will be streamed by ESPN+.
The Story
Rice came out on fire, scoring the first 10 points of the game. The teams traded baskets over the next two minutes, but Olivari made three straight threes, giving the Owls a 25-9 lead and forcing a WKU timeout. The Hilltoppers scored five straight, but Olivari found Lieppert with a full-court pass for a layup that sent Rice on an 8-0 run. After a Hilltopper bucket, Mekhi Mason hit a three as Rice took its largest lead of the game, 36-16, with 5:11 to play. However, Rice missed six straight shots as WKU went on an 11-0 run. But Lieppert hit a three as Rice closed the final 1:21 on a 7-0 run, taking a 43-27 lead into halftime.
WKU opened up the first 6:30 of the second half on a 15-5 run to cut Rice's lead to 48-42. But Max Fiedler made a layup and Travis Evee hit a three from the top of the key to push its lead back to 11. The teams traded baskets over the next 6:30. With the Owls holding a 60-52 lead, Olivari made two free throws, scoring five points in a 9-2 run as Rice took a 69-54 lead with 3:48 to play. The Hilltoppers wouldn't go away, making eight of nine shots, including five straight three pointers, to pull within five points. But the Owls made 13-of-17 free throws in the final 2:17 to put the game away.
What Head Coach Scott Pera Had to Say
"What an effort by our guys. We have such great kids and you know when you tell them things that they are going to try to do what you ask them. Tonight was all about a better start (and) being energized out of the gate. Actually trying to have a halftime lead. So, I changed everything up. Shootaround, pregame warm-up and they responded, to their credit, with just a lot of energy and togetherness. You could see, it was 10-0 out of the gate. So, I was really happy to see that."
The Stats
Rice connected on 44.3% (27-of-61) from the field and 37.0% (10-of-27). It also was 19-of-23 (82.6%) from the free throw line. WKU was 43.9% (29-of-66) from the floor and 34.5% (10-of-29) from three. Rice also outrebounded the Hilltoppers, 37-to-36.
Notes
• Rice and WKU met for the second time this year and the 12th time overall.
• Rice connected on 10 three-pointers, the 13th time this season it made at least 10 three-pointers.
• With the win, Rice clinched a winning season.
• G Quincy Olivari recorded his second double-double of the year, scoring a season-high 34 points while tying his season-high with 12 rebounds.
• It was his fourth 30-point game of the year and fifth of his career.
• It was also his 24th straight double-figure scoring game.
• Olivari passed Marcus Evans (2015-17) and Marvin Moore (1989-93) for 12th-place on Rice's all-time scoring list with 1,371
• G Mekhi Mason scored 14 points on a perfect three-of-three from three.
• F Max Fiedler scored 12 points and had five rebounds and a game-high six assists.
• Fiedler became the sixth player in school history with 800 career rebounds.
• He also passed Dana Hardy (1990-91) and D'Wayne Tanner (1989-90) for ninth-place on Rice's season assist list with 138.
• G Cameron Sheffield grabbed 11 rebounds, his sixth game this year with at least 10 rebounds.
• Travis Evee connected on one three-pointer, giving him 300 for his career.
• Evee also had two steals to become the 22nd player in school history with 100 steals and the 13th player with at least 1,000 points, 200 rebounds, 200 assists and 100 steals.
• Jake Lieppert added seven points.
Next Up
Rice begins its final regular season road trip next Thursday, Feb. 23, when it travels to Birmingham, Ala., to face UAB. Tip-off is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. CT and will be streamed by ESPN+.
Team Stats
WestKy
Rice
FG%
.439
.443
3FG%
.345
.370
FT%
.900
.826
RB
36
37
TO
10
9
STL
3
6
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
34
FGM
9
3FGM
4
FTM
12
Pts
14
FGM
4
3FGM
3
FTM
3
Pts
12
FGM
5
3FGM
0
FTM
2
Pts
7
FGM
3
3FGM
1
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
G
/ Men's BasketballF
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's Basketball
G/F
/ Men's BasketballRice Men's Basketball Team Impact Signing
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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