Wednesday, January 24
Houston, TX
7 p.m.
Rice University
7-12,1-5AAC
56
vs
69
Florida Atlantic
16-4,6-1AAC
1
2
F
Fla. Atlantic
33
36
69
Rice
26
30
56
Photo by: Maria Lysaker | Rice Athletics
Comeback Attempt Falls Short as Rice Falls to No. 22 Florida Atlantic
1/24/2024 10:24:00 PM | Men's Basketball
HOUSTON — Rice cut a 15-point second half deficit to five points, but it could not get any closer as No. 22 Florida Atlantic held off the Owls, 69-56, Wednesday night from Tudor Fieldhouse.
The Story
Both teams struggled to start the game. With Rice holding a 6-3 lead, FAU got two straight baskets to take its first lead of the game. But Sam Alajiki banked in a three-pointer. Florida Atlantic scored five of the next seven points. Noah Shelby made a pair of free throws, but Nick Boyd knocked down two straight threes. After Anthony Selden answered with a triple of his own to bring Rice within 18-16 with 6:04 to play, the teams went back-and-forth over the next four minutes. However, FAU closed the half on a 9-3 run to a 33-26 lead into halftime.
Alem Huseinovic hit a three to open the second half. However, Rice made just two of its next seven shots as Florida Atlantic went on a 15-4 run to take its largest lead of the game, 48-33, with 14:13 to play. Rice, though, began to chip away at the deficit. Anthony Selden and Huseinovic made back-to-back layups. Vlad Goldin made one-of-two free throws before Noah Shelby made a pair. Huseinovic followed an FAU basket with another three. Johnell Davis made two free throws, but Mekhi Mason made two buckets and Andrew Akuchie made a layup as Rice pulled within 53-48. The teams traded baskets over the next minute. With Rice trailing 57-52, with 5:30 to play, it missed six straight shots as Florida Atlantic pushed its lead back to 62-52. Rice again had a chance to cut into the lead, but Huseinovic and Alajiki combined to make just one-of-five free throws as FAU closed the game on a 12-4 run.
The Stats
Rice was held to just 34.9% (22-of-63) from the field and 29.2% (7-of-24) from three. Florida Atlantic connected on 43.6% (24-of-55) from the floor and 35.3% (6-of-17) from three. Rice was also outrebounded by FAU, 43-to-34.
What Head Coach Scott Pera Had to Say
"Give Florida Atlantic all the credit. It executed well down the stretch. I'm really proud of our guys for so many things. Defensively, I thought our effort was the best it's been all year. That was one heck of an effort by our guys defensively. That's who we need to be moving forward. If we can be that moving forward, no matter how bad we are on offense, we're going to give ourselves a chance like we did tonight. There are things to build on. Losing stinks. I am disgusted thoroughly. But, I also have a level of hope and encouragement because that was our best defensive effort of the year."
Notes
• Rice fell to 7-12 and 1-5 in the American.
• This was the 11th meeting between Rice and Florida Atlantic, with FAU holding a 7-4 record.
• When played in Houston, Rice is 1-5.
• This was the third game against a ranked opponent this year, the most since also facing three in the 2008-09 season.
• G Alem Huseinovic led the team with a season-high 16 points, his seventh double-figure scoring game this year and the ninth of his career.
• G Mekhi Mason scored 13 points and three assists.
• It was his 14th double-figure scoring game of the year and the 29th of his career.
• He also tied a season-high with three steals.
• F Max Fiedler recorded four points, 18 rebounds, and eight assists.
• It was his 10th double-figure rebounding game of the year and the 47th of his career.
• He became the first player with two games of at least 18 rebounds in a season since Michael Harris had three in 2004-05.
• With eight assists, Fiedler tied Max Guercy (2012-16) for first in school history with 503 career assists.
Next Up
Rice closes the homestand this Saturday, Jan. 27, when it hosts Tulsa. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. CT and the game will be nationally-televised on ESPNU.
The Story
Both teams struggled to start the game. With Rice holding a 6-3 lead, FAU got two straight baskets to take its first lead of the game. But Sam Alajiki banked in a three-pointer. Florida Atlantic scored five of the next seven points. Noah Shelby made a pair of free throws, but Nick Boyd knocked down two straight threes. After Anthony Selden answered with a triple of his own to bring Rice within 18-16 with 6:04 to play, the teams went back-and-forth over the next four minutes. However, FAU closed the half on a 9-3 run to a 33-26 lead into halftime.
Alem Huseinovic hit a three to open the second half. However, Rice made just two of its next seven shots as Florida Atlantic went on a 15-4 run to take its largest lead of the game, 48-33, with 14:13 to play. Rice, though, began to chip away at the deficit. Anthony Selden and Huseinovic made back-to-back layups. Vlad Goldin made one-of-two free throws before Noah Shelby made a pair. Huseinovic followed an FAU basket with another three. Johnell Davis made two free throws, but Mekhi Mason made two buckets and Andrew Akuchie made a layup as Rice pulled within 53-48. The teams traded baskets over the next minute. With Rice trailing 57-52, with 5:30 to play, it missed six straight shots as Florida Atlantic pushed its lead back to 62-52. Rice again had a chance to cut into the lead, but Huseinovic and Alajiki combined to make just one-of-five free throws as FAU closed the game on a 12-4 run.
The Stats
Rice was held to just 34.9% (22-of-63) from the field and 29.2% (7-of-24) from three. Florida Atlantic connected on 43.6% (24-of-55) from the floor and 35.3% (6-of-17) from three. Rice was also outrebounded by FAU, 43-to-34.
What Head Coach Scott Pera Had to Say
"Give Florida Atlantic all the credit. It executed well down the stretch. I'm really proud of our guys for so many things. Defensively, I thought our effort was the best it's been all year. That was one heck of an effort by our guys defensively. That's who we need to be moving forward. If we can be that moving forward, no matter how bad we are on offense, we're going to give ourselves a chance like we did tonight. There are things to build on. Losing stinks. I am disgusted thoroughly. But, I also have a level of hope and encouragement because that was our best defensive effort of the year."
Notes
• Rice fell to 7-12 and 1-5 in the American.
• This was the 11th meeting between Rice and Florida Atlantic, with FAU holding a 7-4 record.
• When played in Houston, Rice is 1-5.
• This was the third game against a ranked opponent this year, the most since also facing three in the 2008-09 season.
• G Alem Huseinovic led the team with a season-high 16 points, his seventh double-figure scoring game this year and the ninth of his career.
• G Mekhi Mason scored 13 points and three assists.
• It was his 14th double-figure scoring game of the year and the 29th of his career.
• He also tied a season-high with three steals.
• F Max Fiedler recorded four points, 18 rebounds, and eight assists.
• It was his 10th double-figure rebounding game of the year and the 47th of his career.
• He became the first player with two games of at least 18 rebounds in a season since Michael Harris had three in 2004-05.
• With eight assists, Fiedler tied Max Guercy (2012-16) for first in school history with 503 career assists.
Next Up
Rice closes the homestand this Saturday, Jan. 27, when it hosts Tulsa. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. CT and the game will be nationally-televised on ESPNU.
Team Stats
FAU
Rice
FG%
.436
.349
3FG%
.353
.292
FT%
.882
.455
RB
43
34
TO
14
11
STL
7
8
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
16
FGM
6
3FGM
3
FTM
1
Pts
13
FGM
6
3FGM
1
FTM
0
Pts
9
FGM
4
3FGM
1
FTM
0
Pts
6
FGM
2
3FGM
2
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
F
/ Men's BasketballF
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