Friday, January 12
Tampa, FL
6 p.m.
Rice University
6-10,0-3AAC
73
at
81
South Florida
9-5,2-1AAC
1
2
F
Rice
40
33
73
South Fla.
31
50
81
Photo by: Maria Lysaker | Rice Athletics
Second Half Run Dooms Rice at South Florida
1/12/2024 10:13:00 PM | Men's Basketball
TAMPA, Fla. — Rice led for over 35 minutes, but South Florida used a 30-11 run to close the game to hand the Owls an 81-73 defeat, Friday night at the Yuengling Center.
The Story
Rice came out strong, jumping out to a 7-0 lead. But South Florida scored seven of the next eight points. After trading three-pointers, USF scored five of the next seven points. Travis Evee hit a three, but the Owls then missed their next five shots as South Florida scored five straight to take a 17-16 lead. But Rice came right back, going on a 12-0 run, capped off by back-to-back three-pointers by Mekhi Mason, to take a 28-17 lead with 7:37 to play. After a Bulls timeout, they scored six straight to pull within four. But a 10-2 run gave the Owls their largest lead of the half, 38-26. But South Florida scored five of the final seven points as Rice went into the break with a 40-31 lead.
The teams exchanged baskets to open the second half. South Florida pulled to within seven, but a 10-5 run pushed Rice's lead to 55-43 five minutes into the half. The teams then went back-and-forth over the next four minutes. With 11:31 to play, Andrew Akuchie made a layup to give the Owls a 62-51 advantage. But that's when things began to turn. Rice had three turnovers in the next five possessions as a USF scored six straight points. Rice pushed its lead to 64-57 on a pair of Evee free throws. The Bulls scored seven of the next nine points to cut the deficit to two. Keanu Dawes made two free throws. But six straight South Florida points, capped by a Kesean Pryor layup, gave USF a 70-68 lead with 2:03 remaining. Mason made one-of-two free throws. After a USF basket, Mason was called for a travel, and Pryor hit two free throws. A Fiedler layup brought the Owls within three with 30 seconds to play, but the Bulls made seven of eight free throws to ice the game.
The Stats
Rice connected on 46.4% (26-of-56) from the field and 50.0% (9-of-18) from three. South Florida was held to 40.0% (24-of-60) from the floor and 33.3% (8-of-24) from three. The Owls also outrebounded USF, 41-to-29, but USF outscored Rice 28-to-4 off turnovers.
Notes
• This was just the second meeting between Rice and South Florida, and the first in Tampa.
• F Max Fiedler recorded his fourth double-double of the year with 17 points and a career-high 19 rebounds, while adding four assists.
• It was his seventh double-figure scoring game of the year and eighth double-figure rebounding game.
his third double-figure scoring game of the year, and had three rebounds.
• The 19 rebounds are the most by a Rice player since Sean Obi against South Alabama on Dec. 7, 2013 and are the most in the AAC this year.
• G Mekhi Mason scored a team-high 18 points and had a season-high seven rebounds.
• He also tied a career-high four three-pointers.
• It is his 11th double-figure scoring game this year and the 26th of his career.
• G Alem Huseinovic scored 12 points, his fourth double-figure scoring game this year and the sixth of his career.
• He also tied a career-high with four three-pointers.
Next Up
Rice returns home next Tuesday, Jan. 16, when it hosts Charlotte. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. CT and the game will be streamed by ESPN+.
The Story
Rice came out strong, jumping out to a 7-0 lead. But South Florida scored seven of the next eight points. After trading three-pointers, USF scored five of the next seven points. Travis Evee hit a three, but the Owls then missed their next five shots as South Florida scored five straight to take a 17-16 lead. But Rice came right back, going on a 12-0 run, capped off by back-to-back three-pointers by Mekhi Mason, to take a 28-17 lead with 7:37 to play. After a Bulls timeout, they scored six straight to pull within four. But a 10-2 run gave the Owls their largest lead of the half, 38-26. But South Florida scored five of the final seven points as Rice went into the break with a 40-31 lead.
The teams exchanged baskets to open the second half. South Florida pulled to within seven, but a 10-5 run pushed Rice's lead to 55-43 five minutes into the half. The teams then went back-and-forth over the next four minutes. With 11:31 to play, Andrew Akuchie made a layup to give the Owls a 62-51 advantage. But that's when things began to turn. Rice had three turnovers in the next five possessions as a USF scored six straight points. Rice pushed its lead to 64-57 on a pair of Evee free throws. The Bulls scored seven of the next nine points to cut the deficit to two. Keanu Dawes made two free throws. But six straight South Florida points, capped by a Kesean Pryor layup, gave USF a 70-68 lead with 2:03 remaining. Mason made one-of-two free throws. After a USF basket, Mason was called for a travel, and Pryor hit two free throws. A Fiedler layup brought the Owls within three with 30 seconds to play, but the Bulls made seven of eight free throws to ice the game.
The Stats
Rice connected on 46.4% (26-of-56) from the field and 50.0% (9-of-18) from three. South Florida was held to 40.0% (24-of-60) from the floor and 33.3% (8-of-24) from three. The Owls also outrebounded USF, 41-to-29, but USF outscored Rice 28-to-4 off turnovers.
Notes
• This was just the second meeting between Rice and South Florida, and the first in Tampa.
• F Max Fiedler recorded his fourth double-double of the year with 17 points and a career-high 19 rebounds, while adding four assists.
• It was his seventh double-figure scoring game of the year and eighth double-figure rebounding game.
his third double-figure scoring game of the year, and had three rebounds.
• The 19 rebounds are the most by a Rice player since Sean Obi against South Alabama on Dec. 7, 2013 and are the most in the AAC this year.
• G Mekhi Mason scored a team-high 18 points and had a season-high seven rebounds.
• He also tied a career-high four three-pointers.
• It is his 11th double-figure scoring game this year and the 26th of his career.
• G Alem Huseinovic scored 12 points, his fourth double-figure scoring game this year and the sixth of his career.
• He also tied a career-high with four three-pointers.
Next Up
Rice returns home next Tuesday, Jan. 16, when it hosts Charlotte. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. CT and the game will be streamed by ESPN+.
Team Stats
Rice
USF
FG%
.464
.400
3FG%
.500
.333
FT%
.750
.862
RB
41
29
TO
18
6
STL
4
12
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
18
FGM
6
3FGM
4
FTM
2
Pts
17
FGM
8
3FGM
0
FTM
1
Pts
12
FGM
4
3FGM
4
FTM
0
Pts
9
FGM
2
3FGM
1
FTM
4
Players Mentioned
F
/ Men's Basketball
F
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's BasketballF
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's BasketballG
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