Saturday, February 17
Tulsa, OK
2 p.m.
Rice University
9-16,3-9AAC
82
at
93
Tulsa
13-12,4-9AAC
1
2
OT 1
F
Rice
43
36
3
82
Tulsa
43
36
14
93
Photo by: Maria Lysaker | Rice Athletics
Rice Falls in Overtime to Tulsa
2/17/2024 5:08:00 PM | Men's Basketball
TULSA, Okla. — In a game that saw 12 ties and 26 lead changes, Rice was outscored 14-3 in overtime, falling to Tulsa, 93-82, Saturday afternoon from the Donald W. Reynolds Center.
The Story
The first half was a back-and-forth affair. Rice led 11-6, but an 8-2 Tulsa run gave it a 14-13 lead. After trading a pair of free throws, Alem Huseinovic converted a three-point play and Noah Shelby made a layup. The Golden Hurricane went on a 9-4 run to take the lead, but Andrew Akuchie closed out a 7-0 Rice run with a dunk as it took its largest advantage of the half, 31-25, with 7:30 to play. Tulsa answered with a 7-0 run of its own. The teams traded leads the rest of the half before going into the break tied at 43.
Huseinovic opened the second half with a three and Travis Evee made one-of-two free throws. But Tulsa went on a 10-0 run as Rice missed five of its first six shots. A Mekhi Mason layup sent the Owls on a 9-2 run. After Tulsa took a 59-56 lead, Evee scored 10 straight Rice points, including two straight threes that gave it a 66-64 lead. Jared Garcia converted a three-point play, but baskets by Anthony Selden and Andrew Akuchie gave the Owls a 70-67 lead. Tulsa scored six straight points before Rice scored seven of the next 10, grabbing a 77-76 lead. The Golden Hurricane tied it with a free throw, and Keanu Dawes hit two. Tulsa again tied the game at 79 with 59 seconds left. Both teams had an opportunity to win it, but neither could get the shot to fall, sending the game to overtime.
Rice struggled in the overtime period. After Tulsa opened with a three, Evee missed one of his own. Cobe Williams hit two free throws after Mason missed a layup, he committed his fifth foul, and PJ Haggerty made both free throws before making a layup as the Golden Hurricane scored the first nine points of overtime. Rice finally got on the board when Huseinovic made one-of-two free throws with 1:43 to play. However, Williams drilled a three just as the shot clock expired with just over a minute to play. Rice was held to a Max Fiedler layup the rest of the game.
The Stats
Rice connected on 45.5% (30-of-66) from the field but just 30.0% (6-of-20) from three. Tulsa hit 46.2% (30-of-65) from the floor and 45.8% (11-of-47) from three. Rice outrebounded the Golden Hurricane, 41-to-36.
What Head Coach Scott Pera Had to Say
"To (Tulsa's) credit, they made shots (in overtime). They made the plays. All of the credit goes to Tulsa. They deserved to win. We got the shot we wanted (at the end of regulation), and it didn't go in. We made a great defensive play to send it to overtime. But, they played better in overtime. We missed shots, they made shots. We had an opportunity to make some free throws that maybe would have kept it from going to overtime, and didn't do it. We just couldn't get it done."
Notes
• Rice is 9-16 on the year and 3-9 in the AAC.
• Rice falls to 0-3 this year in overtime.
• Rice and Tulsa met for the second time this year and the 36th time overall.
• Tulsa leads 30-6 in the series.
• Rice scored at least 80 points for the ninth time.
• G Travis Evee scored a team-high 21 points and had four rebounds.
• It was his eighth 20-point game of the year and the 35th of his career.
• It was his 21st double-figure scoring game of the year and the 115th of his career.
• F Max Fiedler scored a season-high 20 points and grabbed a team-high nine rebounds.
• It was his first 20-point game of the year and the eighth of his career.
• It was also his 11th double-figure scoring game of the year and the 64th of his career.
• G Alem Huseinovic scored 14 points, his 11th double-figure scoring game of the year and 13th of his career.
• G Mekhi Mason scored 12 points, had seven rebounds and a team-high five assists.
• It was his 18th double-figure scoring game of the year and the 33rd of his career.
• F Andrew Akuchie tied his career-high with six rebounds.
• F Keanu Dawes added six rebounds.
Next Up
Rice wraps up its road trip next Wednesday, Feb. 21, when it travels to Birmingham, Ala., to face UAB. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. CT and the game will be streamed by ESPN+.
The Story
The first half was a back-and-forth affair. Rice led 11-6, but an 8-2 Tulsa run gave it a 14-13 lead. After trading a pair of free throws, Alem Huseinovic converted a three-point play and Noah Shelby made a layup. The Golden Hurricane went on a 9-4 run to take the lead, but Andrew Akuchie closed out a 7-0 Rice run with a dunk as it took its largest advantage of the half, 31-25, with 7:30 to play. Tulsa answered with a 7-0 run of its own. The teams traded leads the rest of the half before going into the break tied at 43.
Huseinovic opened the second half with a three and Travis Evee made one-of-two free throws. But Tulsa went on a 10-0 run as Rice missed five of its first six shots. A Mekhi Mason layup sent the Owls on a 9-2 run. After Tulsa took a 59-56 lead, Evee scored 10 straight Rice points, including two straight threes that gave it a 66-64 lead. Jared Garcia converted a three-point play, but baskets by Anthony Selden and Andrew Akuchie gave the Owls a 70-67 lead. Tulsa scored six straight points before Rice scored seven of the next 10, grabbing a 77-76 lead. The Golden Hurricane tied it with a free throw, and Keanu Dawes hit two. Tulsa again tied the game at 79 with 59 seconds left. Both teams had an opportunity to win it, but neither could get the shot to fall, sending the game to overtime.
Rice struggled in the overtime period. After Tulsa opened with a three, Evee missed one of his own. Cobe Williams hit two free throws after Mason missed a layup, he committed his fifth foul, and PJ Haggerty made both free throws before making a layup as the Golden Hurricane scored the first nine points of overtime. Rice finally got on the board when Huseinovic made one-of-two free throws with 1:43 to play. However, Williams drilled a three just as the shot clock expired with just over a minute to play. Rice was held to a Max Fiedler layup the rest of the game.
The Stats
Rice connected on 45.5% (30-of-66) from the field but just 30.0% (6-of-20) from three. Tulsa hit 46.2% (30-of-65) from the floor and 45.8% (11-of-47) from three. Rice outrebounded the Golden Hurricane, 41-to-36.
What Head Coach Scott Pera Had to Say
"To (Tulsa's) credit, they made shots (in overtime). They made the plays. All of the credit goes to Tulsa. They deserved to win. We got the shot we wanted (at the end of regulation), and it didn't go in. We made a great defensive play to send it to overtime. But, they played better in overtime. We missed shots, they made shots. We had an opportunity to make some free throws that maybe would have kept it from going to overtime, and didn't do it. We just couldn't get it done."
Notes
• Rice is 9-16 on the year and 3-9 in the AAC.
• Rice falls to 0-3 this year in overtime.
• Rice and Tulsa met for the second time this year and the 36th time overall.
• Tulsa leads 30-6 in the series.
• Rice scored at least 80 points for the ninth time.
• G Travis Evee scored a team-high 21 points and had four rebounds.
• It was his eighth 20-point game of the year and the 35th of his career.
• It was his 21st double-figure scoring game of the year and the 115th of his career.
• F Max Fiedler scored a season-high 20 points and grabbed a team-high nine rebounds.
• It was his first 20-point game of the year and the eighth of his career.
• It was also his 11th double-figure scoring game of the year and the 64th of his career.
• G Alem Huseinovic scored 14 points, his 11th double-figure scoring game of the year and 13th of his career.
• G Mekhi Mason scored 12 points, had seven rebounds and a team-high five assists.
• It was his 18th double-figure scoring game of the year and the 33rd of his career.
• F Andrew Akuchie tied his career-high with six rebounds.
• F Keanu Dawes added six rebounds.
Next Up
Rice wraps up its road trip next Wednesday, Feb. 21, when it travels to Birmingham, Ala., to face UAB. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. CT and the game will be streamed by ESPN+.
Team Stats
Rice
Tulsa
FG%
.455
.462
3FG%
.300
.458
FT%
.696
.846
RB
41
36
TO
9
5
STL
4
8
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
21
FGM
8
3FGM
3
FTM
2
Pts
20
FGM
9
3FGM
0
FTM
2
Pts
14
FGM
4
3FGM
2
FTM
4
Pts
12
FGM
4
3FGM
1
FTM
3
Players Mentioned
F
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