Saturday, January 6
Houston, TX
2 p.m.
Rice University
82
vs
89
UTSA
Evee Records 2,000th Career Point in Overtime Loss to UTSA
1/6/2024 7:45:00 PM | Men's Basketball
HOUSTON — Travis Evee scored a game-high 25 points, including his 2,000th career, but it was not enough as Rice fell in overtime to UTSA, 89-82, Saturday afternoon.
The game was played at the Jerabeck Activity Center on the campus of the University of St. Thomas due to water damage at Tudor Fieldhouse.
The Story
After Rice jumped out to an early 5-3 lead, it missed seven of its next nine shots as UTSA went on a 20-7 run to take its largest lead of the game, 23-12 with 8:57 to play in the half. But the Owls began to chip away at the deficit, making five of their next seven to pull within 28-24. The teams traded baskets over the next three minutes. But with the Roadrunners holding a 35-30 advantage, Rice went on a 7-0 run, capped off by a three-pointer by Noah Shelby that gave Rice a 37-35 lead. Trey Edmonds made one-of-two free throws, and the teams exchanged baskets. But Shelby hit a floater with three seconds left to send Rice into halftime with a 41-38 lead.
Evee opened the second half with two free throws, and following a Roadrunner basket, made a layup. UTSA cut the deficit to three. But Evee capped a 7-0 Rice run with a three, giving the Owls their largest lead of the game, 52-42, forcing a UTSA timeout. However, Rice missed six straight shots as the Roadrunners used a 13-1 run to take a 55-53 lead. Mekhi Mason made two jumpers and Shelby added a basket to retake the lead. But the teams traded leads over the next five minutes. With two minutes to play, the Owls held a 73-70 lead. But following a Shelby turnover, Christian Tucker hit a three to tie the game. The teams traded baskets before Evee gave Rice the lead with a jumper with 10 seconds left. But Jordan Ivy-Curry drew a foul with three second remaining, and hit both free throws to send the game to overtime.
UTSA opened the extra session with a layup, but Keanu Dawes tied the game with a pair of free throws. The Roadrunners took a four-point lead, but Max Fiedler found Mason underneath for a dunk. Again, UTSA made a layup, but Dawes split a pair of free throws to pull within 85-82, with 1:13 to play. However, the Owls were held scoreless the rest of the game.
The Stats
Rice connected on 44.1% (30-of-68) from the field but just 26.7% (8-of-30) from three. UTSA connected on 47.6% (30-of-63) from the floor and 45.2% (14-of-31) from three. The Owls were also outrebounded by the Roadrunners, 39-to-33.
What Head Coach Scott Pera Had to Say
"We didn't handle the end of the game the way we needed to. We tried to play fast in a situation that we didn't need to, and (UTSA) made us pay. Those are hard lessons to learn. This is a really hard thing to do, win college basketball games at this level. To their credit, they made big shots. They made 14 threes and shot 45% from three and we shot 26%. We missed some open shots. We missed some plays that we could have made. It's a very unfortunate loss. Give credit to UTSA. They deserved to win."
Notes
• This was 23rd meeting between Rice and UTSA, with the Roadrunners holding a 13-10 lead in the series.
• In games played in Houston, Rice leads, 7-6.
• This was the first home game away from Tudor Fieldhouse since the entire 2007-08 season.
• The Owls scored at least 80 points for the sixth time this season.
• Rice played an overtime game for the first time this season.
• G Travis Evee led all players with 25 points and added five rebounds.
• It was his 13th double-figure scoring game of the year and the 86th of his career.
• It was also his fifth 25-point game of the year.
• Evee became the fifth active player to score 2,000 career points.
• He also became the seventh player in school history with 1,600 points.
• F Keanu Dawes scored 12 points, his third double-figure scoring game of the year, and had three rebounds.
• G Mekhi Mason set or tied season-highs with 22 points and three steals and added five rebounds.
• It is his 10th double-figure scoring game this year and the 25th of his career.
• It is also his second 20-point game of the year and the fourth of his career.
• It is the first time Rice had two 20-point scorers since Evee and F Max Fiedler against Southern Utah on Mar. 20, 2023, in the first round of the College Basketball Invitational.
• G Noah Shelby scored 12 points, his second double-figure scoring game this year and the fourth of his career.
• Fiedler scored six points and recorded game-highs of 12 rebounds and eight assists.
• It was his seventh game of the year with at least 10 rebounds and the 44th of his career.
Next Up
Rice goes on the road next Friday, Jan. 12, when it travels to Tampa, Fla., to face South Florida. Tip-off is scheduled for 6 p.m. CT and the game will be televised by ESPNU.
The game was played at the Jerabeck Activity Center on the campus of the University of St. Thomas due to water damage at Tudor Fieldhouse.
The Story
After Rice jumped out to an early 5-3 lead, it missed seven of its next nine shots as UTSA went on a 20-7 run to take its largest lead of the game, 23-12 with 8:57 to play in the half. But the Owls began to chip away at the deficit, making five of their next seven to pull within 28-24. The teams traded baskets over the next three minutes. But with the Roadrunners holding a 35-30 advantage, Rice went on a 7-0 run, capped off by a three-pointer by Noah Shelby that gave Rice a 37-35 lead. Trey Edmonds made one-of-two free throws, and the teams exchanged baskets. But Shelby hit a floater with three seconds left to send Rice into halftime with a 41-38 lead.
Evee opened the second half with two free throws, and following a Roadrunner basket, made a layup. UTSA cut the deficit to three. But Evee capped a 7-0 Rice run with a three, giving the Owls their largest lead of the game, 52-42, forcing a UTSA timeout. However, Rice missed six straight shots as the Roadrunners used a 13-1 run to take a 55-53 lead. Mekhi Mason made two jumpers and Shelby added a basket to retake the lead. But the teams traded leads over the next five minutes. With two minutes to play, the Owls held a 73-70 lead. But following a Shelby turnover, Christian Tucker hit a three to tie the game. The teams traded baskets before Evee gave Rice the lead with a jumper with 10 seconds left. But Jordan Ivy-Curry drew a foul with three second remaining, and hit both free throws to send the game to overtime.
UTSA opened the extra session with a layup, but Keanu Dawes tied the game with a pair of free throws. The Roadrunners took a four-point lead, but Max Fiedler found Mason underneath for a dunk. Again, UTSA made a layup, but Dawes split a pair of free throws to pull within 85-82, with 1:13 to play. However, the Owls were held scoreless the rest of the game.
The Stats
Rice connected on 44.1% (30-of-68) from the field but just 26.7% (8-of-30) from three. UTSA connected on 47.6% (30-of-63) from the floor and 45.2% (14-of-31) from three. The Owls were also outrebounded by the Roadrunners, 39-to-33.
What Head Coach Scott Pera Had to Say
"We didn't handle the end of the game the way we needed to. We tried to play fast in a situation that we didn't need to, and (UTSA) made us pay. Those are hard lessons to learn. This is a really hard thing to do, win college basketball games at this level. To their credit, they made big shots. They made 14 threes and shot 45% from three and we shot 26%. We missed some open shots. We missed some plays that we could have made. It's a very unfortunate loss. Give credit to UTSA. They deserved to win."
Notes
• This was 23rd meeting between Rice and UTSA, with the Roadrunners holding a 13-10 lead in the series.
• In games played in Houston, Rice leads, 7-6.
• This was the first home game away from Tudor Fieldhouse since the entire 2007-08 season.
• The Owls scored at least 80 points for the sixth time this season.
• Rice played an overtime game for the first time this season.
• G Travis Evee led all players with 25 points and added five rebounds.
• It was his 13th double-figure scoring game of the year and the 86th of his career.
• It was also his fifth 25-point game of the year.
• Evee became the fifth active player to score 2,000 career points.
• He also became the seventh player in school history with 1,600 points.
• F Keanu Dawes scored 12 points, his third double-figure scoring game of the year, and had three rebounds.
• G Mekhi Mason set or tied season-highs with 22 points and three steals and added five rebounds.
• It is his 10th double-figure scoring game this year and the 25th of his career.
• It is also his second 20-point game of the year and the fourth of his career.
• It is the first time Rice had two 20-point scorers since Evee and F Max Fiedler against Southern Utah on Mar. 20, 2023, in the first round of the College Basketball Invitational.
• G Noah Shelby scored 12 points, his second double-figure scoring game this year and the fourth of his career.
• Fiedler scored six points and recorded game-highs of 12 rebounds and eight assists.
• It was his seventh game of the year with at least 10 rebounds and the 44th of his career.
Next Up
Rice goes on the road next Friday, Jan. 12, when it travels to Tampa, Fla., to face South Florida. Tip-off is scheduled for 6 p.m. CT and the game will be televised by ESPNU.
Players Mentioned
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/ Men's Basketball
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