Tuesday, January 16
Houston, TX
7 p.m.
Rice University
6-11,0-4AAC
79
vs
81
Charlotte
10-7,4-1AAC
1
2
OT 1
F
Charlotte
30
40
11
81
Rice
38
32
9
79
Rice Drops Overtime Thriller to Charlotte
1/16/2024 11:56:00 PM | Men's Basketball
HOUSTON — Travis Evee scored a team-high 21 points, but his jumper at the last second in overtime was blocked and Rice fell, 81-79, to Charlotte, Tuesday night at Tudor Fieldhouse.
The Story
Rice came out on fire, making its first six shots. With the Owls holding a 6-4 lead, Mekhi Mason and Keanu Dawes made back-to-back baskets as they went on an 18-0 run, taking its largest lead of the game at 24-4 with 11:53 to play. However, Rice missed its next seven shots, allowing Charlotte to score 13 straight points and pull within 24-17. Alem Huseinovic ended the run with a three and Mason made a layup to push Rice's lead back to double-digits. After trading baskets, Max Fiedler and Travis Evee made layups to extend the Owls' lead to 36-23. But a 7-0 run cut the deficit to six before Fiedler closed the half with a layup to send Rice into the break with a 38-30 lead.
Charlotte scored five of the fist six points to begin the second half. The teams traded baskets over the next 2:30 before consecutive baskets pulled the 49ers within one point. Huseinovic hit two free throws. But two straight Dishon Jackson buckets gave Charlotte a 50-49 lead with 11:00 to play. The teams then traded leads. With the 49ers holding a 54-51 advantage, Sam Alajiki made a jumper and one-of-two free throws to tie the game. After a Robert Braswell three, the teams exchanged baskets. Huseinovic and Alajiki then connected on back-to-back threes to give the Owls a 62-59 lead with 5:55 remaining. However, Charlotte answered with five straight points to retake the lead. Evee made two free throws and Fiedler made a layup. After the 49ers grabbed the lead, Evee hit a three to give Rice a 69-67 with 46 seconds left. Jackson and Fiedler but made one-of-two free throws. But with 10 seconds left, Lu'cye Patterson made two free throws to tie the game at 70, and Dawes' three-pointer was off the mark, sending the game to overtime.
The extra session began with a layup from Fiedler. After Nik Graves and Evee traded threes, Charlotte scored seven straight points to take a five-point lead. Evee made two free throws, and Graves made one-of-two. With Charlotte holding an 81-77 lead with 13 seconds left, Evee drove to the basket, made a contested jumper and was fouled with three second remaining. Evee purposefully missed the free throw, got the rebound, and attempted a shot to tie the game, but it was blocked by Igor Milicic, Jr., sealing the win for Charlotte.
The Stats
Rice connected on 52.7% (29-of-55) from the field and 45.5% (10-of-22) from three. Charlotte connected on 46.0% (29-of-63) from the floor and 45.5% (10-of-22) from three. The Owls were outrebounded, 36-to-33.
What Head Coach Scott Pera Had to Say
"Give the credit to Charlotte. The margin of error and the difference in these teams is so slim. Now we've taken three gut punches in a row in the last minute of games. Obviously, that is difficult to grasp, especially when your kids are fighting as hard as they are and care as much as they do. When you keep getting those gut punches, you've got to figure out a way to be the one throwing the punches. They made enough plays to win and we didn't."
Notes
• Rice fell to 6-11 and 0-4 in the American.
• This 18th meeting between Rice and Charlotte, with Rice holding a 10-8 lead.
• When played in Houston, the series is tied at five.
• Rice connected on 52.7% from the field, the sixth time this year it made at least 50.0% from the floor.
• The Owls hit 10 three-pointers, the fourth time this year it made at least 10 three-pointers.
• G Travis Evee led the Owls with 21 points and tied a career-high with eight rebounds.
• He also tied a season-high with three steals.
• It was his 14th double-figure scoring game of the year and the 87th of his career.
• It was also his sixth 20-point game of the year and the 33rd of his career.
• F Max Fiedler recorded his second straight double-double scoring 15 points and grabbing 10 rebounds, while adding a game-high seven assists.
• It is his fifth double-double of the year and 30th of his career.
• It was his eighth double-figure scoring game of the year and ninth double-figure rebounding game.
• With 10 rebounds, Fiedler became the third player in school history to record 1,000 career rebounds.
• G Mekhi Mason scored 14 points and had a season-high seven assists.
• G Alem Huseinovic scored a season-high 13 points, his fifth double-figure scoring game this year and the seventh of his career.
Next Up
Rice returns to the road this Saturday, Jan. 20, when it travels to Philadelphia, Pa., to face Temple. Tip-off is scheduled for 1 p.m. CT and the game will be streamed by ESPN+.
The Story
Rice came out on fire, making its first six shots. With the Owls holding a 6-4 lead, Mekhi Mason and Keanu Dawes made back-to-back baskets as they went on an 18-0 run, taking its largest lead of the game at 24-4 with 11:53 to play. However, Rice missed its next seven shots, allowing Charlotte to score 13 straight points and pull within 24-17. Alem Huseinovic ended the run with a three and Mason made a layup to push Rice's lead back to double-digits. After trading baskets, Max Fiedler and Travis Evee made layups to extend the Owls' lead to 36-23. But a 7-0 run cut the deficit to six before Fiedler closed the half with a layup to send Rice into the break with a 38-30 lead.
Charlotte scored five of the fist six points to begin the second half. The teams traded baskets over the next 2:30 before consecutive baskets pulled the 49ers within one point. Huseinovic hit two free throws. But two straight Dishon Jackson buckets gave Charlotte a 50-49 lead with 11:00 to play. The teams then traded leads. With the 49ers holding a 54-51 advantage, Sam Alajiki made a jumper and one-of-two free throws to tie the game. After a Robert Braswell three, the teams exchanged baskets. Huseinovic and Alajiki then connected on back-to-back threes to give the Owls a 62-59 lead with 5:55 remaining. However, Charlotte answered with five straight points to retake the lead. Evee made two free throws and Fiedler made a layup. After the 49ers grabbed the lead, Evee hit a three to give Rice a 69-67 with 46 seconds left. Jackson and Fiedler but made one-of-two free throws. But with 10 seconds left, Lu'cye Patterson made two free throws to tie the game at 70, and Dawes' three-pointer was off the mark, sending the game to overtime.
The extra session began with a layup from Fiedler. After Nik Graves and Evee traded threes, Charlotte scored seven straight points to take a five-point lead. Evee made two free throws, and Graves made one-of-two. With Charlotte holding an 81-77 lead with 13 seconds left, Evee drove to the basket, made a contested jumper and was fouled with three second remaining. Evee purposefully missed the free throw, got the rebound, and attempted a shot to tie the game, but it was blocked by Igor Milicic, Jr., sealing the win for Charlotte.
The Stats
Rice connected on 52.7% (29-of-55) from the field and 45.5% (10-of-22) from three. Charlotte connected on 46.0% (29-of-63) from the floor and 45.5% (10-of-22) from three. The Owls were outrebounded, 36-to-33.
What Head Coach Scott Pera Had to Say
"Give the credit to Charlotte. The margin of error and the difference in these teams is so slim. Now we've taken three gut punches in a row in the last minute of games. Obviously, that is difficult to grasp, especially when your kids are fighting as hard as they are and care as much as they do. When you keep getting those gut punches, you've got to figure out a way to be the one throwing the punches. They made enough plays to win and we didn't."
Notes
• Rice fell to 6-11 and 0-4 in the American.
• This 18th meeting between Rice and Charlotte, with Rice holding a 10-8 lead.
• When played in Houston, the series is tied at five.
• Rice connected on 52.7% from the field, the sixth time this year it made at least 50.0% from the floor.
• The Owls hit 10 three-pointers, the fourth time this year it made at least 10 three-pointers.
• G Travis Evee led the Owls with 21 points and tied a career-high with eight rebounds.
• He also tied a season-high with three steals.
• It was his 14th double-figure scoring game of the year and the 87th of his career.
• It was also his sixth 20-point game of the year and the 33rd of his career.
• F Max Fiedler recorded his second straight double-double scoring 15 points and grabbing 10 rebounds, while adding a game-high seven assists.
• It is his fifth double-double of the year and 30th of his career.
• It was his eighth double-figure scoring game of the year and ninth double-figure rebounding game.
• With 10 rebounds, Fiedler became the third player in school history to record 1,000 career rebounds.
• G Mekhi Mason scored 14 points and had a season-high seven assists.
• G Alem Huseinovic scored a season-high 13 points, his fifth double-figure scoring game this year and the seventh of his career.
Next Up
Rice returns to the road this Saturday, Jan. 20, when it travels to Philadelphia, Pa., to face Temple. Tip-off is scheduled for 1 p.m. CT and the game will be streamed by ESPN+.
Team Stats
CLT
Rice
FG%
.460
.527
3FG%
.455
.455
FT%
.650
.647
RB
36
33
TO
10
13
STL
11
6
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
21
FGM
7
3FGM
3
FTM
4
Pts
15
FGM
7
3FGM
0
FTM
1
Pts
14
FGM
5
3FGM
1
FTM
3
Pts
13
FGM
4
3FGM
3
FTM
2
Players Mentioned
F
/ Men's Basketball
F
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's BasketballF
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's BasketballRice Men's Basketball Team Impact Signing
Friday, March 28
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