Saturday, February 10
Houston, TX
2 p.m.
Rice University
9-15,3-8AAC
65
vs
69
South Florida
17-5,10-1AAC
1
2
F
South Fla.
25
44
69
Rice
38
27
65
Photo by: Maria Lysaker | Rice Athletics
Rice Drops Tough Decision to AAC Leader South Florida
2/10/2024 5:10:00 PM | Men's Basketball
HOUSTON — South Florida opened the second half on a 23-5 run, as Rice's 13-point halftime lead turned into a 69-65 defeat, Saturday afternoon from Tudor Fieldhouse.
The Story
Both teams struggled to start the game. But, the Owls got things going, jumping out to an 11-5 lead. After a USF three, Travis Evee scored seven straight points as Rice took an 18-8 advantage midway through the first half. The teams went back-and-forth over the next five minutes. Keanu Dawes then scored five points in a 6-0 Rice run, but the Bulls answered with six straight points. Evee, though, closed the half with back-to-back threes as the Owls went into the break with a 38-25 lead.
But, after Evee hit a jumper to start the second half for Rice, it missed its next five shots. After the Bulls cut the deficit to three points, Keanu Dawes made two free throws. However, South Florida went on a 10-0 run to take a 48-43 lead. After trading baskets, the Owls answered with a 10-3 run, capped by Mekhi Mason's second three that gave Rice a 55-43 lead with 10:34 to play. USF came right back, scoring nine of the next 11 points. After Anthony Selden hit two free throws to pull within three, Jayden Reid's three-pointer with 4:33 remaining gave South Florida its largest lead of the game, 65-59. Once again, Rice answered. Max Fiedler converted a three-point play and Alem Huseinovic's only triple tied the game at 65 with 2:36 to go. However, USF immediately retook the lead on Chris Youngblood's sixth three-pointer of the game. Rice had two chances to tie the game, but couldn't convert. After a foul, Brandon Stroud made one-of-two free throws with 13 seconds to play to make it a two-possession game. Mason then sprinted up the floor, but threw the ball away, sealing the victory for South Florida.
The Stats
Rice was held to just 41.7% (25-of-60) from the field and 31.8% (7-of-22) from three. South Florida hit 43.1% (25-of-58) from the floor and 44.4% (12-of-27) from three. Rice outrebounded the Bulls, 40-to-35.
What Head Coach Scott Pera Had to Say
"Credit to South Florida for the comeback. That's why they are in first place. They are a really good team. You have to play a complete 40 minutes to beat them. That was proven at their place when we outplayed them for 37 (minutes) and lost. We played them toe-to-toe today, but it wasn't good enough."
Notes
• Rice and South Florida met for the second time this year and just the third time overall.
• South Florida has won all three meetings in the series.
• F Andrew Akuchie made his first career start.
• G Travis Evee scored a team-high 20 points and grabbed four rebounds.
• It was his seventh 20-point game of the year and the 34th of his career.
• It was his 20th double-figure scoring game of the year and the 114th of his career.
• Evee now has 1,731 points at Rice, passing Elbert Darden (75-79) for the fifth-most in school history.
• F Max Fiedler recorded his seventh double-double of the year and the 32nd of his career, scoring 13 points and pulling down 13 rebounds.
• He also had a team-high five assists.
• Fiedler now has 1,306 points, becoming the 19th player in school history with 1,300 points.
• F Keanu Dawes scored 13 points and tied a season-high with eight rebounds.
• It is his fourth double-figure scoring game of the season.
Next Up
Rice goes on the road for two games beginning next Saturday, Feb. 17, when it travels to Tulsa. Tip-off is scheduled for 2 p.m. CT and the game will be streamed by ESPN+.
The Story
Both teams struggled to start the game. But, the Owls got things going, jumping out to an 11-5 lead. After a USF three, Travis Evee scored seven straight points as Rice took an 18-8 advantage midway through the first half. The teams went back-and-forth over the next five minutes. Keanu Dawes then scored five points in a 6-0 Rice run, but the Bulls answered with six straight points. Evee, though, closed the half with back-to-back threes as the Owls went into the break with a 38-25 lead.
But, after Evee hit a jumper to start the second half for Rice, it missed its next five shots. After the Bulls cut the deficit to three points, Keanu Dawes made two free throws. However, South Florida went on a 10-0 run to take a 48-43 lead. After trading baskets, the Owls answered with a 10-3 run, capped by Mekhi Mason's second three that gave Rice a 55-43 lead with 10:34 to play. USF came right back, scoring nine of the next 11 points. After Anthony Selden hit two free throws to pull within three, Jayden Reid's three-pointer with 4:33 remaining gave South Florida its largest lead of the game, 65-59. Once again, Rice answered. Max Fiedler converted a three-point play and Alem Huseinovic's only triple tied the game at 65 with 2:36 to go. However, USF immediately retook the lead on Chris Youngblood's sixth three-pointer of the game. Rice had two chances to tie the game, but couldn't convert. After a foul, Brandon Stroud made one-of-two free throws with 13 seconds to play to make it a two-possession game. Mason then sprinted up the floor, but threw the ball away, sealing the victory for South Florida.
The Stats
Rice was held to just 41.7% (25-of-60) from the field and 31.8% (7-of-22) from three. South Florida hit 43.1% (25-of-58) from the floor and 44.4% (12-of-27) from three. Rice outrebounded the Bulls, 40-to-35.
What Head Coach Scott Pera Had to Say
"Credit to South Florida for the comeback. That's why they are in first place. They are a really good team. You have to play a complete 40 minutes to beat them. That was proven at their place when we outplayed them for 37 (minutes) and lost. We played them toe-to-toe today, but it wasn't good enough."
Notes
• Rice and South Florida met for the second time this year and just the third time overall.
• South Florida has won all three meetings in the series.
• F Andrew Akuchie made his first career start.
• G Travis Evee scored a team-high 20 points and grabbed four rebounds.
• It was his seventh 20-point game of the year and the 34th of his career.
• It was his 20th double-figure scoring game of the year and the 114th of his career.
• Evee now has 1,731 points at Rice, passing Elbert Darden (75-79) for the fifth-most in school history.
• F Max Fiedler recorded his seventh double-double of the year and the 32nd of his career, scoring 13 points and pulling down 13 rebounds.
• He also had a team-high five assists.
• Fiedler now has 1,306 points, becoming the 19th player in school history with 1,300 points.
• F Keanu Dawes scored 13 points and tied a season-high with eight rebounds.
• It is his fourth double-figure scoring game of the season.
Next Up
Rice goes on the road for two games beginning next Saturday, Feb. 17, when it travels to Tulsa. Tip-off is scheduled for 2 p.m. CT and the game will be streamed by ESPN+.
Team Stats
USF
Rice
FG%
.431
.417
3FG%
.444
.318
FT%
.583
.615
RB
35
40
TO
9
9
STL
4
4
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
20
FGM
8
3FGM
4
FTM
0
Pts
13
FGM
6
3FGM
0
FTM
1
Pts
13
FGM
5
3FGM
0
FTM
3
Pts
8
FGM
3
3FGM
0
FTM
2
Players Mentioned
F
/ Men's BasketballF
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's BasketballF
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's BasketballG
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