Thursday, February 9
Boca Raton, FL
6 p.m.
Rice University
-159,67 CUSA
81
at
90
Florida Atlantic
-232,131 CUSA
1
2
F
Rice
32
49
81
Fla. Atlantic
38
52
90
Photo by: JC Ridley/jcridley.work
Rice Drops Battle of Owls at Florida Atlantic
2/9/2023 9:53:00 PM | Men's Basketball
BOCA RATON, Fla. — Rice battled toe-to-toe with the top team in Conference USA, but in the end, it fell just short, dropping a 90-81 decision at Florida Atlantic Thursday night from Baldwin Arena.
The Story
After Travis Evee opened the game with a three, Florida Atlantic went on an 11-2 run. Quincy Olivari converted a three-point play before FAU scored five straight. Rice scored eight of the next nine points behind back-to-back threes by Olivari and Alem Huseinovic. However, it turned the ball over on four straight possessions as FAU went on a 15-3 run to take its largest lead of the game, 32-19, with 5:08 to play. Olivari made two straight triples, and after trading baskets, Johnell Davis made one-of-two free throws. But with 0.8 seconds left, Mekhi Mason hit a three to send Rice into halftime trailing 38-32.
Florida Atlantic, who came into the game receiving votes in both the Associated Press and Coaches polls, opened the second half on a 10-5 run to stretch its lead to 11. After trading baskets, Evee and Olivari scored eight of the next 10 points to pull within five. The teams went back-and-forth over the next minute and a half. With Rice trailing 58-53, it stopped FAU on six straight possessions. However, it could not capitalize, missing five straight shots before Florida Atlantic scored five consecutive points to push its lead to 63-53. Rice came right back, scoring eight of the next 11 points to get within 66-61 with 8:13 to play. But FAU extended its lead back to 11 over the next two minutes and Rice would get no closer than seven points the rest of the way.
The Stats
Rice connected on 46.0% (29-of-63) from the field and 41.4% (12-of-29). It was also 11-of-13 (84.6%) from the free throw line. Florida Atlantic connected on 49.2% (29-of-59) from the floor but just 32.0% (8-of-25) from three. Rice was also outrebounded, 39-to-28.
Notes
• Rice and Florida Atlantic met for the ninth time overall.
• FAU holds a 5-4 record in the series, but is just 2-3 in Boca Raton.
• Rice connected on 12 three-pointers, the 10th time this season it made at least 10 three-pointers.
• G Quincy Olivari scored a game-high 27 points, his 12th 20-point game of the season, and had five rebounds.
• It was also his 21st straight double-figure scoring game.
• G Cameron Sheffield scored 10 points and grabbed four rebounds.
• G Mekhi Mason scored nine points and grabbed a team-high six rebounds.
• F Max Fiedler scored seven points and had four assists.
• With four assists, Fiedler passed Mike Wilks (19997-2001) for eighth-place on Rice's all-time list with 350.
Next Up
Rice closes its Florida trip this Saturday, Feb. 11, when it travels to Miami to face FIU. Tip-off is scheduled for 6 p.m. CT and will be streamed at ESPN+.
The Story
After Travis Evee opened the game with a three, Florida Atlantic went on an 11-2 run. Quincy Olivari converted a three-point play before FAU scored five straight. Rice scored eight of the next nine points behind back-to-back threes by Olivari and Alem Huseinovic. However, it turned the ball over on four straight possessions as FAU went on a 15-3 run to take its largest lead of the game, 32-19, with 5:08 to play. Olivari made two straight triples, and after trading baskets, Johnell Davis made one-of-two free throws. But with 0.8 seconds left, Mekhi Mason hit a three to send Rice into halftime trailing 38-32.
Florida Atlantic, who came into the game receiving votes in both the Associated Press and Coaches polls, opened the second half on a 10-5 run to stretch its lead to 11. After trading baskets, Evee and Olivari scored eight of the next 10 points to pull within five. The teams went back-and-forth over the next minute and a half. With Rice trailing 58-53, it stopped FAU on six straight possessions. However, it could not capitalize, missing five straight shots before Florida Atlantic scored five consecutive points to push its lead to 63-53. Rice came right back, scoring eight of the next 11 points to get within 66-61 with 8:13 to play. But FAU extended its lead back to 11 over the next two minutes and Rice would get no closer than seven points the rest of the way.
The Stats
Rice connected on 46.0% (29-of-63) from the field and 41.4% (12-of-29). It was also 11-of-13 (84.6%) from the free throw line. Florida Atlantic connected on 49.2% (29-of-59) from the floor but just 32.0% (8-of-25) from three. Rice was also outrebounded, 39-to-28.
Notes
• Rice and Florida Atlantic met for the ninth time overall.
• FAU holds a 5-4 record in the series, but is just 2-3 in Boca Raton.
• Rice connected on 12 three-pointers, the 10th time this season it made at least 10 three-pointers.
• G Quincy Olivari scored a game-high 27 points, his 12th 20-point game of the season, and had five rebounds.
• It was also his 21st straight double-figure scoring game.
• G Cameron Sheffield scored 10 points and grabbed four rebounds.
• G Mekhi Mason scored nine points and grabbed a team-high six rebounds.
• F Max Fiedler scored seven points and had four assists.
• With four assists, Fiedler passed Mike Wilks (19997-2001) for eighth-place on Rice's all-time list with 350.
Next Up
Rice closes its Florida trip this Saturday, Feb. 11, when it travels to Miami to face FIU. Tip-off is scheduled for 6 p.m. CT and will be streamed at ESPN+.
Team Stats
Rice
FAU
FG%
.460
.492
3FG%
.414
.320
FT%
.846
.828
RB
28
39
TO
11
9
STL
5
7
Game Leaders
Pts
27
FGM
9
3FGM
4
FTM
5
Pts
25
FGM
10
3FGM
5
FTM
0
Pts
10
FGM
2
3FGM
1
FTM
5
Pts
9
FGM
4
3FGM
1
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
G
/ Men's Basketball
F
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's BasketballG/F
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