Saturday, January 27
Houston, TX
7 p.m.
Rice University
7-13,1-6AAC
83
vs
85
Tulsa
11-8,2-5AAC
1
2
F
Tulsa
36
49
85
Rice
31
52
83
Rice Battles but Falls to Tulsa
1/27/2024 11:09:00 PM | Men's Basketball
HOUSTON — Mekhi Mason's last-second, game-tying layup was blocked and Rice's comeback attempt came up just short as it fell to Tulsa, 85-83, Saturday night from Tudor Fieldhouse.
The Story
The game began as a battle of runs. Tulsa scored the first five points, but Max Fiedler got Rice on the board with two straight baskets as it scored seven straight. But the Golden Hurricane answered with an 11-0 run. Alem Huseinovic made two three-pointers as Rice pulled within 19-15. However, an 8-0 run gave Tulsa its largest lead of the half, 27-15, with 7:20 to play. The Owls then began to chip away. After Anthony Selden drove in for a layup, Mekhi Mason hit two three-pointers and Huseinovic drilled his third of the half. Tulsa pushed its lead to five, but Noah Shelby hit a three to pull Rice within 32-29. The teams traded baskets and Rice had a chance to hold for the last shot. But, Mason turned it over and PJ Haggerty drove in for a basket just as time expired as Rice went into halftime trailing, 36-31.
Tulsa came out in the second half and made its first six shots, pushing its lead to 49-38. Fiedler made two straight baskets, but the Golden Hurricane scored seven straight points to take its largest lead of the game, 56-42, seven minutes into the half. The teams went back-and-forth over the next five minutes. After a Fiedler dunk, Travis Evee converted a three-point play. But, Tulsa scored six of the next nine points. Mason converted a three-point play and Fiedler made a layup, but TU pushed its lead to 76-65 with 3:15 remaining. That's when Rice began to chip away at the deficit. Mason made two free throws. After a Tulsa basket, Mason made a three-pointer and Evee hit a jumper. Tulsa scored five of the next eight points before Evee hit a three. Jesaiah McWright made two free throws, and Evee answered with another three. After trading free throws, Mason hit a three-pointer to pull Rice within 85-82 with four seconds left. Keanu Dawes then forced a Tulsa turnover. After Noah Shelby was fouled, he made one-of-two free throws. Evee's three-pointer was blocked and went out of bounds. With 0.2 seconds left, Rice had one last chance, Fiedler's inbounds pass to Mason was right at the basket, but his attempt was blocked, sealing the win for Tulsa.
The Stats
Rice connected on 43.5% (30-of-69) from the field and 38.2% (13-of-34) from three. Tulsa shot 55.1% (27-of-49) from the floor and 47.8% (11-of-23) from three. Rice outrebounded the Golden Hurricane, 36-to-31.
What Head Coach Scott Pera Had to Say
"All the credit goes to Tulsa. Congratulations to them on a hard-fought road win. They outplayed us and deserved to win. I'm proud of our kids. They are never going to quit. But, that's life. You can say that they don't deserve this. How many times is it going to happen? It keeps happening because we keep putting ourselves in this position. It's all on us. We have to play better, and there's nothing else to it."
Notes
• Rice fell to 7-13 and 1-6 in the American.
• This was the 35th meeting between Rice and Tulsa and the first since 2014.
• Tulsa holds a 29-6 record overall, and 10-5 in Houston.
• Rice connected on 13 three-pointers, the fifth time this year it made at least 10 threes.
• Rice scored 52 second-half points, the fifth time this year it scored at least 50 points in a half.
• The Owls set season-highs with 10 steals and 24 points off turnovers.
• G Mekhi Mason scored a team-high 19 points and tied season-highs with seven assists, four three-pointers, and three steals.
• It was his 15th double-figure scoring game of the year and the 30th of his career.
• G Travis Evee scored 15 points and had three rebounds.
• F Max Fiedler recorded his sixth double-double of the year and 31st of his career with 14 points and 11 rebounds.
• He was a perfect seven-of-seven from the field and added seven assists.
• Fiedler became Rice's all-time assist leader with 510, passing Max Guercy (2012-16).
• G Alem Huseinovic scored 12 points, his eighth double-figure scoring game this year and the 10th of his career.
• He also tied a career-high with four three-pointers.
• G Noah Shelby scored 10 points, his third double-figure scoring game this year and the fifth of his career.
• Shelby also tied a season-high with three, three-pointers.
Next Up
Rice begins a two-game road trip next Wednesday, Jan. 31, when it travels to No. 19 Memphis. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. CT and the game will be streamed by ESPN+.
The Story
The game began as a battle of runs. Tulsa scored the first five points, but Max Fiedler got Rice on the board with two straight baskets as it scored seven straight. But the Golden Hurricane answered with an 11-0 run. Alem Huseinovic made two three-pointers as Rice pulled within 19-15. However, an 8-0 run gave Tulsa its largest lead of the half, 27-15, with 7:20 to play. The Owls then began to chip away. After Anthony Selden drove in for a layup, Mekhi Mason hit two three-pointers and Huseinovic drilled his third of the half. Tulsa pushed its lead to five, but Noah Shelby hit a three to pull Rice within 32-29. The teams traded baskets and Rice had a chance to hold for the last shot. But, Mason turned it over and PJ Haggerty drove in for a basket just as time expired as Rice went into halftime trailing, 36-31.
Tulsa came out in the second half and made its first six shots, pushing its lead to 49-38. Fiedler made two straight baskets, but the Golden Hurricane scored seven straight points to take its largest lead of the game, 56-42, seven minutes into the half. The teams went back-and-forth over the next five minutes. After a Fiedler dunk, Travis Evee converted a three-point play. But, Tulsa scored six of the next nine points. Mason converted a three-point play and Fiedler made a layup, but TU pushed its lead to 76-65 with 3:15 remaining. That's when Rice began to chip away at the deficit. Mason made two free throws. After a Tulsa basket, Mason made a three-pointer and Evee hit a jumper. Tulsa scored five of the next eight points before Evee hit a three. Jesaiah McWright made two free throws, and Evee answered with another three. After trading free throws, Mason hit a three-pointer to pull Rice within 85-82 with four seconds left. Keanu Dawes then forced a Tulsa turnover. After Noah Shelby was fouled, he made one-of-two free throws. Evee's three-pointer was blocked and went out of bounds. With 0.2 seconds left, Rice had one last chance, Fiedler's inbounds pass to Mason was right at the basket, but his attempt was blocked, sealing the win for Tulsa.
The Stats
Rice connected on 43.5% (30-of-69) from the field and 38.2% (13-of-34) from three. Tulsa shot 55.1% (27-of-49) from the floor and 47.8% (11-of-23) from three. Rice outrebounded the Golden Hurricane, 36-to-31.
What Head Coach Scott Pera Had to Say
"All the credit goes to Tulsa. Congratulations to them on a hard-fought road win. They outplayed us and deserved to win. I'm proud of our kids. They are never going to quit. But, that's life. You can say that they don't deserve this. How many times is it going to happen? It keeps happening because we keep putting ourselves in this position. It's all on us. We have to play better, and there's nothing else to it."
Notes
• Rice fell to 7-13 and 1-6 in the American.
• This was the 35th meeting between Rice and Tulsa and the first since 2014.
• Tulsa holds a 29-6 record overall, and 10-5 in Houston.
• Rice connected on 13 three-pointers, the fifth time this year it made at least 10 threes.
• Rice scored 52 second-half points, the fifth time this year it scored at least 50 points in a half.
• The Owls set season-highs with 10 steals and 24 points off turnovers.
• G Mekhi Mason scored a team-high 19 points and tied season-highs with seven assists, four three-pointers, and three steals.
• It was his 15th double-figure scoring game of the year and the 30th of his career.
• G Travis Evee scored 15 points and had three rebounds.
• F Max Fiedler recorded his sixth double-double of the year and 31st of his career with 14 points and 11 rebounds.
• He was a perfect seven-of-seven from the field and added seven assists.
• Fiedler became Rice's all-time assist leader with 510, passing Max Guercy (2012-16).
• G Alem Huseinovic scored 12 points, his eighth double-figure scoring game this year and the 10th of his career.
• He also tied a career-high with four three-pointers.
• G Noah Shelby scored 10 points, his third double-figure scoring game this year and the fifth of his career.
• Shelby also tied a season-high with three, three-pointers.
Next Up
Rice begins a two-game road trip next Wednesday, Jan. 31, when it travels to No. 19 Memphis. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. CT and the game will be streamed by ESPN+.
Team Stats
Tulsa
Rice
FG%
.551
.435
3FG%
.478
.382
FT%
.769
.667
RB
31
36
TO
16
13
STL
8
10
Game Leaders
Pts
19
FGM
5
3FGM
4
FTM
5
Pts
15
FGM
5
3FGM
2
FTM
3
Pts
14
FGM
7
3FGM
0
FTM
0
Pts
12
FGM
4
3FGM
4
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
F
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/ Men's BasketballF
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