Saturday, November 16
Houston, TX
2 p.m.
Rice University
3-1,0-0AAC
77
vs
75
Northwestern State
1-3,0-0Southland
1
2
OT 1
F
Northwestern St.
25
41
9
75
Rice
27
39
11
77
Rice Holds On for 77-75 Overtime Win against Northwestern State
11/16/2024 6:08:00 PM | Men's Basketball
HOUSTON – Kellen Amos scored all 16 points in the second half and overtime as Rice held on for a 77-75 victory, Saturday afternoon from Tudor Fieldhouse.
The Story
Rice started strong, jumping out to a 7-2 run in the first three minutes. But Northwestern State scored eight of the next 11 points to tie the game at 10. Caden Powell and Alem Huseinovic then made back-to-back layups as the Owls went on an 8-2 run. After two NSU free throws, Denver Anglin's three-pointer gave Rice its largest lead of the half, 21-14, with 8:43 to play in the half. But the Owls went cold, missing seven of its final eight shots of the half as the Demons pulled within 27-25 at the break.
The Owls came out strong in the second half, beginning with a 13-2 run, capped by back-to-back threes from Aaron Powell and Denver Anglin, that gave Rice its largest lead of the game at 40-27. But the Demons answered with a 13-4 run to pull within four. Anglin then scored five straight points to give Rice an eight-point lead. However, NSU kept chipping away. After an Emory Lanier jumper put the Owls ahead, 59-53, with 3:59 remaining, The Demons hit two straight baskets. Amos drove in for a dunk, but Jon Sanders hit a three. Trae Broadnax made one-of-two free throws, but Sanders hit a three with 48 seconds left to give Northwestern State its first lead of the game. Amos then made three-of-four free throws. But JT Warren made his only three-point attempt with six seconds remaining to give the Demons a 66-65 lead. Amos then drove to the basket and got fouled with one second left. After making the first to tie the game, he missed the second, sending it to overtime.
Sanders started overtime with a jumper. But, Amos made two free throws, then hit Caden Powell with a full-court pass that turned into a three-point play. The teams then traded baskets over the next three minutes. With Rice holding a 76-75 lead, Broadnax turned the ball over with 21 seconds left. But, Amos forced a turnover and was fouled with nine seconds left. Once again, he made one-of-two. Northwestern State had one last chance, but Love Bettis' three-point attempt was off the mark, and the Owls secured the victory.
The Stats
Rice connected on 41.2% (21-of-51) from the field, and 33.3% (9-of-27) from three. It was also 26-of-38 (68.4%) from the free throw line. Northwestern State shot 42.9% (27-of-63) from the floor and 42.3% (11-of-26) from three. The teams each pulled down 38 rebounds.
What Head Coach Rob Lanier Had to Say
"We're obviously on a journey trying to become a good team. We're not there yet, but the mark of a good team is that when you are in close, hard-fought games, that you can find a way to win. Whenever you do that, it becomes a frame of reference. To have a game like that early in the year, where a lot of things went against us late in the game, missed free throws, turnovers, and some good one-and-one play by (Northwestern State), when things looked bleak we still found a way to fight our way back. It's a credit to our guys that we have this frame of reference."
Notes
• This was 12th meeting between Rice and Northwestern State, with Rice holding a 12-0 lead in the series.
• The 12-0 mark is Rice's longest active unbeaten streak against a Division I opponent.
• In games played in Houston, the Owls are 9-0.
• Rice has started 3-1 for the first time since 2021-22.
• The Owls have also started 3-0 at home for the second time in the last three years.
• Rob Lanier became the ninth head coach in school history to start 3-1 or better, and the first since Tommy Suitts in 1981-82.
• Rice won in overtime for the first time since Jan. 16, 2023 at UTSA, snapping a three-game losing streak.
• Kellen Amos set season-highs with 16 points and eight rebounds, and tied a career-high with seven assists.
• Denver Anglin scored a career-high 11 points on three, three-pointers.
• Alem Huseinovic scored 11 points on three, three-pointers.
• Trae Broadnax scored 11 points, his fourth straight double-figure scoring game, and grabbed five rebounds.
• Emory Lanier scored a season-high eight points.
Next Up
Rice begins a six-game road trip next Tuesday, Nov. 19, when it travels to Lafayette, La., to face Louisiana. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. CT, and the game will be streamed at ESPN+.
The Story
Rice started strong, jumping out to a 7-2 run in the first three minutes. But Northwestern State scored eight of the next 11 points to tie the game at 10. Caden Powell and Alem Huseinovic then made back-to-back layups as the Owls went on an 8-2 run. After two NSU free throws, Denver Anglin's three-pointer gave Rice its largest lead of the half, 21-14, with 8:43 to play in the half. But the Owls went cold, missing seven of its final eight shots of the half as the Demons pulled within 27-25 at the break.
The Owls came out strong in the second half, beginning with a 13-2 run, capped by back-to-back threes from Aaron Powell and Denver Anglin, that gave Rice its largest lead of the game at 40-27. But the Demons answered with a 13-4 run to pull within four. Anglin then scored five straight points to give Rice an eight-point lead. However, NSU kept chipping away. After an Emory Lanier jumper put the Owls ahead, 59-53, with 3:59 remaining, The Demons hit two straight baskets. Amos drove in for a dunk, but Jon Sanders hit a three. Trae Broadnax made one-of-two free throws, but Sanders hit a three with 48 seconds left to give Northwestern State its first lead of the game. Amos then made three-of-four free throws. But JT Warren made his only three-point attempt with six seconds remaining to give the Demons a 66-65 lead. Amos then drove to the basket and got fouled with one second left. After making the first to tie the game, he missed the second, sending it to overtime.
Sanders started overtime with a jumper. But, Amos made two free throws, then hit Caden Powell with a full-court pass that turned into a three-point play. The teams then traded baskets over the next three minutes. With Rice holding a 76-75 lead, Broadnax turned the ball over with 21 seconds left. But, Amos forced a turnover and was fouled with nine seconds left. Once again, he made one-of-two. Northwestern State had one last chance, but Love Bettis' three-point attempt was off the mark, and the Owls secured the victory.
The Stats
Rice connected on 41.2% (21-of-51) from the field, and 33.3% (9-of-27) from three. It was also 26-of-38 (68.4%) from the free throw line. Northwestern State shot 42.9% (27-of-63) from the floor and 42.3% (11-of-26) from three. The teams each pulled down 38 rebounds.
What Head Coach Rob Lanier Had to Say
"We're obviously on a journey trying to become a good team. We're not there yet, but the mark of a good team is that when you are in close, hard-fought games, that you can find a way to win. Whenever you do that, it becomes a frame of reference. To have a game like that early in the year, where a lot of things went against us late in the game, missed free throws, turnovers, and some good one-and-one play by (Northwestern State), when things looked bleak we still found a way to fight our way back. It's a credit to our guys that we have this frame of reference."
Notes
• This was 12th meeting between Rice and Northwestern State, with Rice holding a 12-0 lead in the series.
• The 12-0 mark is Rice's longest active unbeaten streak against a Division I opponent.
• In games played in Houston, the Owls are 9-0.
• Rice has started 3-1 for the first time since 2021-22.
• The Owls have also started 3-0 at home for the second time in the last three years.
• Rob Lanier became the ninth head coach in school history to start 3-1 or better, and the first since Tommy Suitts in 1981-82.
• Rice won in overtime for the first time since Jan. 16, 2023 at UTSA, snapping a three-game losing streak.
• Kellen Amos set season-highs with 16 points and eight rebounds, and tied a career-high with seven assists.
• Denver Anglin scored a career-high 11 points on three, three-pointers.
• Alem Huseinovic scored 11 points on three, three-pointers.
• Trae Broadnax scored 11 points, his fourth straight double-figure scoring game, and grabbed five rebounds.
• Emory Lanier scored a season-high eight points.
Next Up
Rice begins a six-game road trip next Tuesday, Nov. 19, when it travels to Lafayette, La., to face Louisiana. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. CT, and the game will be streamed at ESPN+.
Team Stats
NW
Rice
FG%
.429
.412
3FG%
.423
.333
FT%
.526
.684
RB
38
38
TO
11
12
STL
11
5
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
16
FGM
3
3FGM
0
FTM
10
Pts
11
FGM
3
3FGM
3
FTM
2
Pts
11
FGM
3
3FGM
1
FTM
4
Pts
11
FGM
4
3FGM
3
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
G/F
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