Wednesday, March 6
Charlotte, NC
6 p.m.
Rice University
11-19,5-12AAC
64
at
69
Charlotte
18-11,12-5AAC
1
2
F
Rice
32
32
64
Charlotte
39
30
69
Comeback Falls Short as Rice Drops Road Finale to Charlotte
3/6/2024 8:27:00 PM | Men's Basketball
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Rice cut a 12-point second half deficit to two points, but the Owls could not get any closer as they fell to Charlotte, 69-64, Wednesday night at Halton Arena.
The Story
The game started off as a back-and-forth affair as Charlotte jumped out to a 10-6 lead. An Alem Huseinovic three-pointer sent Rice on a 13-2 run to give Rice its largest lead of the game, 19-12, with 12:08 to play in the half. However, the Owls missed eight of their next 10 shots as Charlotte used an 22-4 run over the next seven minutes to grab a 34-23 lead. The teams then traded baskets, but Travis Evee made a layup, then hit Andrew Akuchie who beat the buzzer just before the half to send Rice into the break trailing, 39-32.
The teams opened the second half trading field goals. A 7-2 Charlotte run was followed by an Akuchie layup. But three straight free throws gave the 49ers their largest lead of the game, 53-41, with 11:32 to play. However, the Owls used a 11-2 run to pull within 55-52 with 6:16 remaining. Charlotte pushed its lead back to seven. After both teams made field goals, Mekhi Mason and Evee made layups. Charlotte then converted a three-point play. Mason made two free throws and Anthony Selden made a layup to make it s 64-62 game with 26 seconds left. But Igor Milicic, Jr., made five of six free throws to clinch the victory for Charlotte.
The Stats
Rice connected on 50.0% (25-of-50) from the field but was just 4-of-14% (28.6%) from three and 10-of-17 (58.8%) from the foul line. Charlotte was held to 36.1% (22-of-61) from the floor and 22.2% (6-of-27) from three. However, the 49ers connected on 82.6% (19-of23) from the charity stripe and outscored Rice, 30-2, in points off turnovers and second chance points. Rice was also outrebounded, 41-to-31.
Notes
• Rice is 11-19 on the year and 5-12 in the AAC.
• Rice and Charlotte met for the second time this year and the 19th time overall.
• The Owls hold a 10-9 advantage in the series and 4-3 in Charlotte.
• The Owls tied a season-high with six blocks.
• G Travis Evee led Rice with 20 points and had four rebounds and four assists.
• It was his 10th 20-point game of the year and the 37th of his career.
• It was his 25th double-figure scoring game of the year and the 119th of his career.
• With 20 points, Evee passed Morris Almond (2003-07) for fourth-place on Rice's all-time scoring list with 1,840 points.
• G Mekhi Mason had 15 points and six rebounds.
• It was his 22nd double-figure scoring game of the year and the 37th of his career
• F Max Fiedler scored 10 points and grabbed a game-high 10 rebounds.
• It was his eighth double-double of the year and the 33rd of his career.
• It was his 14th double-figure scoring game of the year and the 68th of his career.
• Fiedler also had four assists to tie Dana Hardy for fifth-place on Rice's single-season list with 152.
• He also became the first player in school history with at least 150 assists in season twice in their career.
Next Up
Rice concludes its regular season this Saturday, March 9, when it hosts North Texas on Senior Day. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. CT and the game will be streamed by ESPN+.
The Story
The game started off as a back-and-forth affair as Charlotte jumped out to a 10-6 lead. An Alem Huseinovic three-pointer sent Rice on a 13-2 run to give Rice its largest lead of the game, 19-12, with 12:08 to play in the half. However, the Owls missed eight of their next 10 shots as Charlotte used an 22-4 run over the next seven minutes to grab a 34-23 lead. The teams then traded baskets, but Travis Evee made a layup, then hit Andrew Akuchie who beat the buzzer just before the half to send Rice into the break trailing, 39-32.
The teams opened the second half trading field goals. A 7-2 Charlotte run was followed by an Akuchie layup. But three straight free throws gave the 49ers their largest lead of the game, 53-41, with 11:32 to play. However, the Owls used a 11-2 run to pull within 55-52 with 6:16 remaining. Charlotte pushed its lead back to seven. After both teams made field goals, Mekhi Mason and Evee made layups. Charlotte then converted a three-point play. Mason made two free throws and Anthony Selden made a layup to make it s 64-62 game with 26 seconds left. But Igor Milicic, Jr., made five of six free throws to clinch the victory for Charlotte.
The Stats
Rice connected on 50.0% (25-of-50) from the field but was just 4-of-14% (28.6%) from three and 10-of-17 (58.8%) from the foul line. Charlotte was held to 36.1% (22-of-61) from the floor and 22.2% (6-of-27) from three. However, the 49ers connected on 82.6% (19-of23) from the charity stripe and outscored Rice, 30-2, in points off turnovers and second chance points. Rice was also outrebounded, 41-to-31.
Notes
• Rice is 11-19 on the year and 5-12 in the AAC.
• Rice and Charlotte met for the second time this year and the 19th time overall.
• The Owls hold a 10-9 advantage in the series and 4-3 in Charlotte.
• The Owls tied a season-high with six blocks.
• G Travis Evee led Rice with 20 points and had four rebounds and four assists.
• It was his 10th 20-point game of the year and the 37th of his career.
• It was his 25th double-figure scoring game of the year and the 119th of his career.
• With 20 points, Evee passed Morris Almond (2003-07) for fourth-place on Rice's all-time scoring list with 1,840 points.
• G Mekhi Mason had 15 points and six rebounds.
• It was his 22nd double-figure scoring game of the year and the 37th of his career
• F Max Fiedler scored 10 points and grabbed a game-high 10 rebounds.
• It was his eighth double-double of the year and the 33rd of his career.
• It was his 14th double-figure scoring game of the year and the 68th of his career.
• Fiedler also had four assists to tie Dana Hardy for fifth-place on Rice's single-season list with 152.
• He also became the first player in school history with at least 150 assists in season twice in their career.
Next Up
Rice concludes its regular season this Saturday, March 9, when it hosts North Texas on Senior Day. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. CT and the game will be streamed by ESPN+.
Team Stats
Rice
CLT
FG%
.500
.361
3FG%
.286
.222
FT%
.588
.826
RB
31
41
TO
9
8
STL
4
3
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
20
FGM
8
3FGM
2
FTM
2
Pts
15
FGM
4
3FGM
1
FTM
6
Pts
10
FGM
4
3FGM
0
FTM
2
Pts
9
FGM
4
3FGM
1
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
F
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