Wednesday, February 7
Houston, TX
7 p.m.
Rice University
9-14,3-7AAC
69
vs
95
SMU
16-7,7-3AAC
1
2
F
SMU
40
55
95
Rice
37
32
69
Photo by: Maria Lysaker - Rice Athletics
Second Half Run Dooms Rice against SMU
2/7/2024 10:12:00 PM | Men's Basketball
HOUSTON — SMU used a 29-4 run over a 7:21 stretch to take control of the game as Rice fell, 95-69, Wednesday night from Tudor Fieldhouse.
The Story
Rice began the game on fire, making six of its first eight shots in the first six minutes to lead 15-11. But, seven straight SMU points gave it an 18-15 advantage. After trading baskets, the Owls went on an 11-2 run behind two Alem Huseinovic threes. SMU cut the deficit to three, but two straight layups by Andrew Akuchie and one from Anthony Selden gave Rice its largest lead of the game, 35-26, with 3:48 to play in the half. However, Rice made just one of its final five shots, as the Mustangs closed the half on a 14-2 run to head into the break with a 40-37 lead.
Keanu Dawes opened the second half with a pair of free throws. But SMU went on a 15-0 run over the next four minutes before Mekhi Mason hit Rice's first field goal of the half. The Mustangs scored five of six points, and Rice answered with a 9-2 run to pull within 62-51. The teams traded baskets, but with SMU leading 65-53, it went on a 16-3 run to take an 81-54 lead with 6:30 to play and put the game away.
The Stats
Rice connected on 46.2% (24-of-52) from the field and 40.0% (10-of-25) from three. SMU hit 56.9% (41-of-72) from the floor and 34.5% (10-of-29) from three. Rice was outrebounded, 39-to-25, and was outscored, 50-to-20 in the paint and 21-of-2 off turnovers.
What Head Coach Scott Pera Had to Say
"Congratulations to SMU on a great game. They're a tremendous team. We knew we had to play really well to beat them. We played the opposite of well. They deserved to win. They outplayed us in every facet of the game."
Notes
• Rice and SMU met for the first time since 2013 and the 198th time overall, the second-most games played in Rice history.
• SMU holds a 121-77 record, including 53-47 in Houston.
• Rice connected on 10 three-pointers, the fourth straight game it made at least 10 threes and the eighth time overall.
• G Alem Huseinovic scored a game and season-high 20 points on a career-best 6-of-7 from three.
• It was his first 20-point game of the year and the second of his career.
• It was also his 10th double-figure scoring game of the year and 12 of his career.
• G Travis Evee scored 14 points and was six-of-seven from the free throw line.
• It was his 19th double-figure scoring game of the year and the 92nd of his career.
• Evee became the seventh player in school history to score 1,700 points.
• G Mekhi Mason scored eight points and led the Owls with five assists.
• F Max Fiedler started his 126th career game, the most in Rice history.
Next Up
Rice closes its homestand this Saturday, Feb. 10, when it hosts league-leader South Florida. Tip-off is scheduled for 2 p.m. CT and the game will be streamed by ESPN+.
The Story
Rice began the game on fire, making six of its first eight shots in the first six minutes to lead 15-11. But, seven straight SMU points gave it an 18-15 advantage. After trading baskets, the Owls went on an 11-2 run behind two Alem Huseinovic threes. SMU cut the deficit to three, but two straight layups by Andrew Akuchie and one from Anthony Selden gave Rice its largest lead of the game, 35-26, with 3:48 to play in the half. However, Rice made just one of its final five shots, as the Mustangs closed the half on a 14-2 run to head into the break with a 40-37 lead.
Keanu Dawes opened the second half with a pair of free throws. But SMU went on a 15-0 run over the next four minutes before Mekhi Mason hit Rice's first field goal of the half. The Mustangs scored five of six points, and Rice answered with a 9-2 run to pull within 62-51. The teams traded baskets, but with SMU leading 65-53, it went on a 16-3 run to take an 81-54 lead with 6:30 to play and put the game away.
The Stats
Rice connected on 46.2% (24-of-52) from the field and 40.0% (10-of-25) from three. SMU hit 56.9% (41-of-72) from the floor and 34.5% (10-of-29) from three. Rice was outrebounded, 39-to-25, and was outscored, 50-to-20 in the paint and 21-of-2 off turnovers.
What Head Coach Scott Pera Had to Say
"Congratulations to SMU on a great game. They're a tremendous team. We knew we had to play really well to beat them. We played the opposite of well. They deserved to win. They outplayed us in every facet of the game."
Notes
• Rice and SMU met for the first time since 2013 and the 198th time overall, the second-most games played in Rice history.
• SMU holds a 121-77 record, including 53-47 in Houston.
• Rice connected on 10 three-pointers, the fourth straight game it made at least 10 threes and the eighth time overall.
• G Alem Huseinovic scored a game and season-high 20 points on a career-best 6-of-7 from three.
• It was his first 20-point game of the year and the second of his career.
• It was also his 10th double-figure scoring game of the year and 12 of his career.
• G Travis Evee scored 14 points and was six-of-seven from the free throw line.
• It was his 19th double-figure scoring game of the year and the 92nd of his career.
• Evee became the seventh player in school history to score 1,700 points.
• G Mekhi Mason scored eight points and led the Owls with five assists.
• F Max Fiedler started his 126th career game, the most in Rice history.
Next Up
Rice closes its homestand this Saturday, Feb. 10, when it hosts league-leader South Florida. Tip-off is scheduled for 2 p.m. CT and the game will be streamed by ESPN+.
Team Stats
SMU
Rice
FG%
.569
.462
3FG%
.345
.400
FT%
.750
.688
RB
39
25
TO
4
12
STL
10
1
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
20
FGM
7
3FGM
6
FTM
0
Pts
14
FGM
4
3FGM
0
FTM
6
Pts
8
FGM
3
3FGM
2
FTM
0
Pts
6
FGM
2
3FGM
0
FTM
2
Players Mentioned
F
/ Men's BasketballF
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's Basketball
F
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's Basketball
G
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