Wednesday, February 21
Birmingham, AL
7 p.m.
Rice University
94
at
71
UAB
Offensive Output Leads Rice to Dominant Win at UAB
2/21/2024 10:47:00 PM | Men's Basketball
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Rice connected on a season-best 60.3%, dominating UAB for the majority of the game in a 94-71 victory, Wednesday night at Bartow Arena.
The Story
Rice missed its first four shots as UAB jumped out to a 10-3 lead. Keanu Dawes hit a three and UAB made two free throws. Andrew Akuchie made a layup and hit two free throws. However, after a layup, by Yaxel Lendeborg, the Owls stepped up their play on both ends of the floor. Rice held the Blazers without a field goal for almost nine minutes, going 0-for-12, as Rice made 11 of its next 14, going on a 23-1 run to take a 33-15 lead. UAB scored seven of the next nine points to pull within 35-22. But a layup by Max Fiedler sent Rice on a 14-2 run over the final 3:27 of the half, capped off by Travis Evee's three-pointer just before the buzzer to send the Owls into the break with a 49-24 lead.
Evee opened the second half with a jumper. However, Rice missed four of its last five shots as UAB went on a 14-5 run. After Sam Alajiki scored five straight points, the Blazers scored eight of nine to pull within 62-46 with 12:15 to play. But the Owls didn't flinch. Akuchie made a layup and Anthony Selden converted a three-point play to send them on a 10-3 run, pushing their lead back to 72-49. Rice's lead never got less than 21 points the rest of the game.
The Stats
Rice connected on 60.3% (35-of-58) from the field, 57.9% (11-of-19) from three, and 81.3% (13-of-16) from the free throw line. UAB was held to 34.4% (22-of-64) from the floor and hit 39.1% (9-of-23) from three. Rice was outrebounded, 36-to-33, but outscored the Blazers, 42-to-26, in the paint.
What Head Coach Scott Pera Had to Say
"I've said all year that I know what this team was capable of. We hadn't had that complete game yet. We've played really well in stretches against some really good teams. Tonight, we put it all together. It was a lot of fun to watch, and I'm really proud of a lot of guys. What a win. What a win for our guys and our program. I say it all of the time and I'm going to keep saying it. With all that we have been through when you have the culture that we have (and) the kids that we have. They stick together and they keep fighting.
Notes
• Rice is 10-16 on the year and 4-9 in the AAC.
• Rice and UAB met for the 25th time overall.
• Rice won its fourth game against the Blazers and second in Birmingham.
• Rice scored at least 80 points for the 10th time and 90 for the third.
• The Owls set season-highs for field goal percentage (60.3%), field goal percentage in a half (64.3%), points at the half (49), and three-point field goal percentage (57.9%).
• Rice connected on 11 three-pointers, the ninth time this year making at least 10 three-pointers.
• G Mekhi Mason had game-highs of 19 points and six assists and added six rebounds.
• It was his 19th double-figure scoring game of the year and the 34th of his career.
• He was also a perfect 4-of-4 from three.
• F Andrew Akuchie scored a career-high 18 points on 7-of-8 shooting and grabbed five rebounds.
• It was his first double-figure scoring game of the year and the second of his career.
• F Keanu Dawes scored 13 points and grabbed six rebounds.
• It was his fifth double-figure scoring game of the season.
• G Travis Evee scored 11 points and had four assists.
• It was his 22nd double-figure scoring game of the year and the 116th of his career.
• Evee became the 13th player in school history with 300 assists.
• G Sam Alajiki scored 10 points and grabbed four rebounds.
Next Up
Rice begins a two-game homestand this Saturday, Feb. 24, when it hosts East Carolina. Tip-off is scheduled for 1 p.m. CT and the game will be nationally-televised by ESPNU.
The Story
Rice missed its first four shots as UAB jumped out to a 10-3 lead. Keanu Dawes hit a three and UAB made two free throws. Andrew Akuchie made a layup and hit two free throws. However, after a layup, by Yaxel Lendeborg, the Owls stepped up their play on both ends of the floor. Rice held the Blazers without a field goal for almost nine minutes, going 0-for-12, as Rice made 11 of its next 14, going on a 23-1 run to take a 33-15 lead. UAB scored seven of the next nine points to pull within 35-22. But a layup by Max Fiedler sent Rice on a 14-2 run over the final 3:27 of the half, capped off by Travis Evee's three-pointer just before the buzzer to send the Owls into the break with a 49-24 lead.
Evee opened the second half with a jumper. However, Rice missed four of its last five shots as UAB went on a 14-5 run. After Sam Alajiki scored five straight points, the Blazers scored eight of nine to pull within 62-46 with 12:15 to play. But the Owls didn't flinch. Akuchie made a layup and Anthony Selden converted a three-point play to send them on a 10-3 run, pushing their lead back to 72-49. Rice's lead never got less than 21 points the rest of the game.
The Stats
Rice connected on 60.3% (35-of-58) from the field, 57.9% (11-of-19) from three, and 81.3% (13-of-16) from the free throw line. UAB was held to 34.4% (22-of-64) from the floor and hit 39.1% (9-of-23) from three. Rice was outrebounded, 36-to-33, but outscored the Blazers, 42-to-26, in the paint.
What Head Coach Scott Pera Had to Say
"I've said all year that I know what this team was capable of. We hadn't had that complete game yet. We've played really well in stretches against some really good teams. Tonight, we put it all together. It was a lot of fun to watch, and I'm really proud of a lot of guys. What a win. What a win for our guys and our program. I say it all of the time and I'm going to keep saying it. With all that we have been through when you have the culture that we have (and) the kids that we have. They stick together and they keep fighting.
Notes
• Rice is 10-16 on the year and 4-9 in the AAC.
• Rice and UAB met for the 25th time overall.
• Rice won its fourth game against the Blazers and second in Birmingham.
• Rice scored at least 80 points for the 10th time and 90 for the third.
• The Owls set season-highs for field goal percentage (60.3%), field goal percentage in a half (64.3%), points at the half (49), and three-point field goal percentage (57.9%).
• Rice connected on 11 three-pointers, the ninth time this year making at least 10 three-pointers.
• G Mekhi Mason had game-highs of 19 points and six assists and added six rebounds.
• It was his 19th double-figure scoring game of the year and the 34th of his career.
• He was also a perfect 4-of-4 from three.
• F Andrew Akuchie scored a career-high 18 points on 7-of-8 shooting and grabbed five rebounds.
• It was his first double-figure scoring game of the year and the second of his career.
• F Keanu Dawes scored 13 points and grabbed six rebounds.
• It was his fifth double-figure scoring game of the season.
• G Travis Evee scored 11 points and had four assists.
• It was his 22nd double-figure scoring game of the year and the 116th of his career.
• Evee became the 13th player in school history with 300 assists.
• G Sam Alajiki scored 10 points and grabbed four rebounds.
Next Up
Rice begins a two-game homestand this Saturday, Feb. 24, when it hosts East Carolina. Tip-off is scheduled for 1 p.m. CT and the game will be nationally-televised by ESPNU.
Players Mentioned
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