Photo by: Joe Buvid
Late FIU Run Dooms Rice on Senior Day
3/4/2023 5:36:00 PM | Men's Basketball
HOUSTON — FIU closed the game on a 12-2 run as Rice fell on Senior Day, 90-83, Saturday afternoon at Tudor Fieldhouse.
The Story
The teams went back-and-forth through the first four minutes. With FIU leading 11-9, Cameron Sheffield drove in for a layup as Rice scored seven of the next nine points to take a 16-13 lead. However, the Owls were held scoreless over their next six possessions as FIU went on a 10-0 run, taking its largest lead of the half, 23-16, midway through the first half. But Rice responded. After Jake Lieppert made two free throws, Travis Evee scored eight straight points, including back-to-back three-pointers as Rice went on its own 10-0 run. FIU scored eight of the next 10 points, but the Owls answered with an 8-0 run behind consecutive threes from Evee and Alem Huseinovic. FIU converted a three-point play, but Rice closed the half on an 8-2 run to head into halftime with a 44-36 lead.
FIU hit its first six shots of the second half to cut Rice's lead to two. After Mekhi Mason hit two free throws, the Panthers scored eight straight points to take the lead. Evee then made two straight three-pointers. But after trading baskets, FIU went on an 11-3 run, taking a 72-66 lead with 8:50 to play. A minute later, with the Panthers leading by five, Rice went on a 10-2 run, taking an 81-78 lead with 4:33 remaining. However, over its next five possessions, Rice turned it over three times as FIU went on an 8-0 run. Evee made two free throws with 16 seconds left, cutting the deficit to three. But that's as close as the Owls would get.
What Head Coach Scott Pera Had to Say
"Credit to FIU. They played a great second half. We didn't do a good job of guarding them and when we did guard them, we couldn't get a rebound. That was the story of the second half. They missed 15 shots and got 10 of them back. You have to be near perfect on offense. We shot 51% from the floor, 44% from three and 86% from the foul line and lost. That makes it hard to swallow."
The Stats
Rice connected on 50.8% (30-of-59) from the field and 44.0% (11-of-25) from three. It was also 85.7% (12-of-14) from the free throw line. FIU connected on 49.2% (31-of-63) from the floor, 37.5% (6-of-16) from three, and 84.6% (22-of-26) from the charity stripe. Rice was also outrebounded, 34-to-30.
Notes
• Rice and FIU met for the second time this year and the 12th time overall.
• This was the first meeting in Houston since 2020.
• Rice connected on 50.8% from the floor, the ninth time it hit at least 50.0% this season.
• Rice hit 11 three-pointers, the 15th time this season it made at least 10 three-pointers.
• G Quincy Olivari scored a team-high 23 points, his 28th straight double-figure scoring game.
• It was also his 15th 20-point game of the year.
• Olivari became the 12th player in school history to score 1,400 career points.
• With four three-pointers, Olivari now has 89 on the year to tie Austin Ramljak (2013-14) for second-place on Rice's season list.
• Olivari also passed Robert Johnson (1995-99) for 11th-place on Rice's all-time scoring list with 1,432 points.
• G Travis Evee scored 22 points, his ninth 20-point game of the year.
• With four three-pointers, he passed Ako Adams (2016-20) for second-place in school history with 232.
• He also passed Gary Reist (1968-71) for 18th-place on Rice's all-time scoring list with 1,283 points.
• F Max Fiedler scored 10 points and added eight assists and seven rebounds.
• With eight assists, Fiedler now has 157 on the year, passing Dana Hardy (1991-92) for fourth-place on Rice's single-season list.
• G Mekhi Mason scored 14 points.
Next Up
Rice begins the Conference USA Tournament next Wednesday, Mar. 8, in Frisco, Texas. Time and opponent will be announced later tonight.
The Story
The teams went back-and-forth through the first four minutes. With FIU leading 11-9, Cameron Sheffield drove in for a layup as Rice scored seven of the next nine points to take a 16-13 lead. However, the Owls were held scoreless over their next six possessions as FIU went on a 10-0 run, taking its largest lead of the half, 23-16, midway through the first half. But Rice responded. After Jake Lieppert made two free throws, Travis Evee scored eight straight points, including back-to-back three-pointers as Rice went on its own 10-0 run. FIU scored eight of the next 10 points, but the Owls answered with an 8-0 run behind consecutive threes from Evee and Alem Huseinovic. FIU converted a three-point play, but Rice closed the half on an 8-2 run to head into halftime with a 44-36 lead.
FIU hit its first six shots of the second half to cut Rice's lead to two. After Mekhi Mason hit two free throws, the Panthers scored eight straight points to take the lead. Evee then made two straight three-pointers. But after trading baskets, FIU went on an 11-3 run, taking a 72-66 lead with 8:50 to play. A minute later, with the Panthers leading by five, Rice went on a 10-2 run, taking an 81-78 lead with 4:33 remaining. However, over its next five possessions, Rice turned it over three times as FIU went on an 8-0 run. Evee made two free throws with 16 seconds left, cutting the deficit to three. But that's as close as the Owls would get.
What Head Coach Scott Pera Had to Say
"Credit to FIU. They played a great second half. We didn't do a good job of guarding them and when we did guard them, we couldn't get a rebound. That was the story of the second half. They missed 15 shots and got 10 of them back. You have to be near perfect on offense. We shot 51% from the floor, 44% from three and 86% from the foul line and lost. That makes it hard to swallow."
The Stats
Rice connected on 50.8% (30-of-59) from the field and 44.0% (11-of-25) from three. It was also 85.7% (12-of-14) from the free throw line. FIU connected on 49.2% (31-of-63) from the floor, 37.5% (6-of-16) from three, and 84.6% (22-of-26) from the charity stripe. Rice was also outrebounded, 34-to-30.
Notes
• Rice and FIU met for the second time this year and the 12th time overall.
• This was the first meeting in Houston since 2020.
• Rice connected on 50.8% from the floor, the ninth time it hit at least 50.0% this season.
• Rice hit 11 three-pointers, the 15th time this season it made at least 10 three-pointers.
• G Quincy Olivari scored a team-high 23 points, his 28th straight double-figure scoring game.
• It was also his 15th 20-point game of the year.
• Olivari became the 12th player in school history to score 1,400 career points.
• With four three-pointers, Olivari now has 89 on the year to tie Austin Ramljak (2013-14) for second-place on Rice's season list.
• Olivari also passed Robert Johnson (1995-99) for 11th-place on Rice's all-time scoring list with 1,432 points.
• G Travis Evee scored 22 points, his ninth 20-point game of the year.
• With four three-pointers, he passed Ako Adams (2016-20) for second-place in school history with 232.
• He also passed Gary Reist (1968-71) for 18th-place on Rice's all-time scoring list with 1,283 points.
• F Max Fiedler scored 10 points and added eight assists and seven rebounds.
• With eight assists, Fiedler now has 157 on the year, passing Dana Hardy (1991-92) for fourth-place on Rice's single-season list.
• G Mekhi Mason scored 14 points.
Next Up
Rice begins the Conference USA Tournament next Wednesday, Mar. 8, in Frisco, Texas. Time and opponent will be announced later tonight.
Players Mentioned
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