Sunday, December 1
Nassau, Bahamas
1 p.m.
Rice University
7-2,0-0AAC
70
vs
66
Iona
2-7,0-0MAAC
1
2
F
Rice
35
35
70
Iona
35
31
66
Photo by: Maria Lysaker | Rice Athletics
Rice Closes Nassau Championship with 70-66 Win over Iona
12/1/2024 5:30:00 PM | Men's Basketball
NASSAU, Bahamas – The Rice men's basketball team scored six straight points in the final 1:54 to turn a one-point lead into a 70-66 victory over Iona, Sunday afternoon, and finish with a 2-1 record at the Nassau Championship.
The Story
Iona opened the game on a 10-4 run, but five straight points cut Rice's deficit to one. The Gaels scored nine of the next 13 points to take its largest lead of the game at 19-13 midway through the first half. But four straight free throws followed by a steal and layup by Alem Huseinovic tied the game at 19. Iona scored six of the next eight before Rice tied it again at 25. A 6-2 run gave Iona a five-point lead, but the Owls scored nine straight to take their first lead, 35-31, with 1:40 to play. But Iona scored the final four points to send the game into halftime tied at 35.
The teams traded baskets to start the second half, before a 12-2 run gave Rice a 51-44 lead. Over the next five minutes, the play went back-and-forth, as Iona pulled to within 59-57. Kellen Amos converted a three-point play, and Caden Powell tipped in Trey Patterson's miss to extend the lead to seven. But six straight Iona points made it a 64-63 lead with 2:23 remaining. Trae Broadnax worked his way down low for a layup, and after the Owls forced a turnover, he made four straight free throws to seal the win.
What Head Coach Rob Lanier Had to Say
"By the stats, (Iona) outplayed us. They had 62 shots to our 46. We turned it over 19 times and they got 17 offensive rebounds. That's not a formula for a win. We wouldn't want to make a practice of winning games like this, but the fact that we were able to overcome those particular statistics. Part of it was we got to the line and made our share of them. But we just played with some resolve and found a way to win a game. We played with a level of desperation, and I'm proud of the guys that we were able to overcome that."
The Stats
Rice connected on 45.7% (21-of-46) from the field, just 15.8% (3-of-19) from three, and 86.2% (25-of-29) from the free throw line. Iona was held to 35.5% (22-of-62) from the floor and 36.4% (8-of-22) from three. Rice outrebounded the Gaels, 36-to-32.
Notes
• This was just the second meeting between Rice and Iona, and the first since the 1967 Queens City Tournament.
• Rice moves to 2-0 against the Gaels.
• Rice connected on a season-high 86.2% from the free throw line.
• Trae Broadnax led the Owls with 16 points and seven rebounds.
• Caden Powell scored 14 points and pulled down a team-high seven rebounds.
• Alem Huseinovic added 10 points.
• With two three-pointers, Huseinovic became the 31st player in school history with 100 threes.
Next Up
The Owls close its six-game road trip on Sunday, Dec. 8, when it travels to San Marcos to face Texas State. Tip-off is scheduled for 2 p.m. CT and the game will be streamed by ESPN+.
The Story
Iona opened the game on a 10-4 run, but five straight points cut Rice's deficit to one. The Gaels scored nine of the next 13 points to take its largest lead of the game at 19-13 midway through the first half. But four straight free throws followed by a steal and layup by Alem Huseinovic tied the game at 19. Iona scored six of the next eight before Rice tied it again at 25. A 6-2 run gave Iona a five-point lead, but the Owls scored nine straight to take their first lead, 35-31, with 1:40 to play. But Iona scored the final four points to send the game into halftime tied at 35.
The teams traded baskets to start the second half, before a 12-2 run gave Rice a 51-44 lead. Over the next five minutes, the play went back-and-forth, as Iona pulled to within 59-57. Kellen Amos converted a three-point play, and Caden Powell tipped in Trey Patterson's miss to extend the lead to seven. But six straight Iona points made it a 64-63 lead with 2:23 remaining. Trae Broadnax worked his way down low for a layup, and after the Owls forced a turnover, he made four straight free throws to seal the win.
What Head Coach Rob Lanier Had to Say
"By the stats, (Iona) outplayed us. They had 62 shots to our 46. We turned it over 19 times and they got 17 offensive rebounds. That's not a formula for a win. We wouldn't want to make a practice of winning games like this, but the fact that we were able to overcome those particular statistics. Part of it was we got to the line and made our share of them. But we just played with some resolve and found a way to win a game. We played with a level of desperation, and I'm proud of the guys that we were able to overcome that."
The Stats
Rice connected on 45.7% (21-of-46) from the field, just 15.8% (3-of-19) from three, and 86.2% (25-of-29) from the free throw line. Iona was held to 35.5% (22-of-62) from the floor and 36.4% (8-of-22) from three. Rice outrebounded the Gaels, 36-to-32.
Notes
• This was just the second meeting between Rice and Iona, and the first since the 1967 Queens City Tournament.
• Rice moves to 2-0 against the Gaels.
• Rice connected on a season-high 86.2% from the free throw line.
• Trae Broadnax led the Owls with 16 points and seven rebounds.
• Caden Powell scored 14 points and pulled down a team-high seven rebounds.
• Alem Huseinovic added 10 points.
• With two three-pointers, Huseinovic became the 31st player in school history with 100 threes.
Next Up
The Owls close its six-game road trip on Sunday, Dec. 8, when it travels to San Marcos to face Texas State. Tip-off is scheduled for 2 p.m. CT and the game will be streamed by ESPN+.
Team Stats
Rice
Iona
FG%
.457
.355
3FG%
.158
.364
FT%
.862
.700
RB
36
32
TO
19
15
STL
5
12
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
16
FGM
3
3FGM
0
FTM
10
Pts
14
FGM
6
3FGM
0
FTM
2
Pts
10
FGM
4
3FGM
2
FTM
0
Pts
9
FGM
4
3FGM
0
FTM
1
Players Mentioned
G/F
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's Basketball
F
/ Men's BasketballF
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