Monday, March 20
Daytona Beach, FL
1 p.m.
Rice University
19-16
79
vs
81
Southern Utah
24-12
1
2
F
Southern Utah
49
32
81
Rice
37
42
79
Photo by: Maria Lysaker
Rice Rally Comes Up Short in CBI Loss to Southern Utah
3/20/2023 5:31:00 PM | Men's Basketball
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Rice came back from a 14-point second half deficit to tie the game, but Tevian Jones' basket with two seconds left handed Rice an 81-79 defeat to Southern Utah in the quarterfinals of the College Basketball Invitational, Monday afternoon from the Daytona Beach Ocean Center.
The Story
Rice started slow, missing its first six shots as Southern Utah jumped out to a 9-0 lead. After trading baskets, Mekhi Mason hit a three as the Owls scored six straight points to cut it three. But SUU went on a 14-6 run to take a 25-14 lead. A three by Quincy Olivari and two Travis Evee free throws cut the deficit to nine. But the Thunderbirds scored eight of the next 10 points to take its largest lead of the half, 33-21, with 8:30 to play. Rice began to chip away as Evee made two straight baskets. With SUU holdling an 11-point lead, the Owls went on an 8-2 run to get within 40-35 with 3:16 to play. But Southern Utah closed the half on a 9-2 run to head into halftime leading 49-37.
Both teams struggled to open the second half, as they combined to make just 3 of the first 19 shots through the first seven minutes. The teams traded baskets over the next six minutes before SUU took its largest lead of the game, 71-57, with 6:03 to play. But Rice began to step up its play, scoring seven of the next nine points. Southern Utah made three-of-four free throws to push its lead back to 12 with 2:40 remaining. Olivari and Max Fiedler both converted three-point plays. After two Thunderbird free throws, converted his second three-point play to make it a six-point game. Two more SUU free throws extended the lead to eighth with a minute left. Cameron Sheffield made a three, and after Harrison Butler missed two free throws, Fiedler made it a one-possession game. Sheffield then stepped in front of the inbounds pass and Olivari found an open Evee, who hit a three, tying the game at 79 with 15 seconds left. But Jones hit a fade-away jumper with two seconds left, and Olivari's desperation three was off the mark.
The Stats
Rice was held to 35.8% (29-of-81) from the field and 24.1% (7-of-29) from three. Southern Utah connected on 51.7% (31-of-60) from the floor and 40.7% (11-of-27) from three. Rice outrebounded the Thunderbirds, 44-to-41. The Owls outscored SUU, 26-to-2 off turnovers and 21-to-9 off second chances.
Notes
• Rice and Southern Utah met for first time in history.
• Rice fell to 7-14 all-time in postseason play and 2-3 in the CBI.
• Rice's 21 offensive rebounds are the most since it had 23 against TCU on Dec. 29, 2007.
• Rice's 81 field goal attempts are the most since it had 83 against Baylor on Jan. 26, 1994.
• G Travis Evee scored a team-high 25 points, his 11th 20-point game of the year.
• F Max Fiedler scored 22 points and tied a career-high with 16 rebounds.
• The 16 rebounds are the most by an Owl in postseason history.
• It was his eighth double-double of the year and the 25th of his career.
• It was also just the fifth double-double by an Owl in postseason play.
• With three assists, Fiedler became the fifth player in school history with 400 career.
• He also became the first player in school history with 1,000 points, 800 rebounds and 400 assists.
• With two blocks, Fiedler finished with 38 on the year, the fourth-most in a season in Rice history.
• G Quincy Olivari scored 14 points and had six rebounds.
• G Cameron Sheffield grabbed eight rebounds.
The Story
Rice started slow, missing its first six shots as Southern Utah jumped out to a 9-0 lead. After trading baskets, Mekhi Mason hit a three as the Owls scored six straight points to cut it three. But SUU went on a 14-6 run to take a 25-14 lead. A three by Quincy Olivari and two Travis Evee free throws cut the deficit to nine. But the Thunderbirds scored eight of the next 10 points to take its largest lead of the half, 33-21, with 8:30 to play. Rice began to chip away as Evee made two straight baskets. With SUU holdling an 11-point lead, the Owls went on an 8-2 run to get within 40-35 with 3:16 to play. But Southern Utah closed the half on a 9-2 run to head into halftime leading 49-37.
Both teams struggled to open the second half, as they combined to make just 3 of the first 19 shots through the first seven minutes. The teams traded baskets over the next six minutes before SUU took its largest lead of the game, 71-57, with 6:03 to play. But Rice began to step up its play, scoring seven of the next nine points. Southern Utah made three-of-four free throws to push its lead back to 12 with 2:40 remaining. Olivari and Max Fiedler both converted three-point plays. After two Thunderbird free throws, converted his second three-point play to make it a six-point game. Two more SUU free throws extended the lead to eighth with a minute left. Cameron Sheffield made a three, and after Harrison Butler missed two free throws, Fiedler made it a one-possession game. Sheffield then stepped in front of the inbounds pass and Olivari found an open Evee, who hit a three, tying the game at 79 with 15 seconds left. But Jones hit a fade-away jumper with two seconds left, and Olivari's desperation three was off the mark.
The Stats
Rice was held to 35.8% (29-of-81) from the field and 24.1% (7-of-29) from three. Southern Utah connected on 51.7% (31-of-60) from the floor and 40.7% (11-of-27) from three. Rice outrebounded the Thunderbirds, 44-to-41. The Owls outscored SUU, 26-to-2 off turnovers and 21-to-9 off second chances.
Notes
• Rice and Southern Utah met for first time in history.
• Rice fell to 7-14 all-time in postseason play and 2-3 in the CBI.
• Rice's 21 offensive rebounds are the most since it had 23 against TCU on Dec. 29, 2007.
• Rice's 81 field goal attempts are the most since it had 83 against Baylor on Jan. 26, 1994.
• G Travis Evee scored a team-high 25 points, his 11th 20-point game of the year.
• F Max Fiedler scored 22 points and tied a career-high with 16 rebounds.
• The 16 rebounds are the most by an Owl in postseason history.
• It was his eighth double-double of the year and the 25th of his career.
• It was also just the fifth double-double by an Owl in postseason play.
• With three assists, Fiedler became the fifth player in school history with 400 career.
• He also became the first player in school history with 1,000 points, 800 rebounds and 400 assists.
• With two blocks, Fiedler finished with 38 on the year, the fourth-most in a season in Rice history.
• G Quincy Olivari scored 14 points and had six rebounds.
• G Cameron Sheffield grabbed eight rebounds.
Team Stats
SOUTHERN
RICE
FG%
.517
.354
3FG%
.407
.241
FT%
.571
.778
RB
42
44
TO
13
5
STL
3
8
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
25
FGM
9
3FGM
1
FTM
6
Pts
22
FGM
9
3FGM
0
FTM
4
Pts
14
FGM
4
3FGM
2
FTM
4
Pts
8
FGM
3
3FGM
2
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
G
/ Men's BasketballF
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's Basketball
G/F
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