Saturday, March 9
Houston, TX
7 p.m.
Rice University
11-20,5-13AAC
55
vs
71
North Texas
17-13,10-8AAC
1
2
F
North Texas
31
40
71
Rice
36
19
55
Photo by: Maria Lysaker | Rice Athletics
Second Half Struggles Lead to Senior Day Loss to North Texas
3/9/2024 10:40:00 PM | Men's Basketball
HOUSTON — Rice was held to just 22.2% in the second half as a five-point halftime lead turned into a 71-55 defeat to North Texas on Senior Day, Saturday night at Tudor Fieldhouse.
The Story
The teams opened the game trading buckets through the first five minutes. Rice then missed five straight shots over the next two minutes as North Texas went on an 8-0 run to take its largest lead of the half, 16-7. But the Owls came storming back, going on an 18-4 run to take a 25-20 lead with five minutes to play in the half. Two straight UNT baskets tied the game at 25. Rice retook the lead on a Travis Evee three-pointer. The teams went back-and-forth throughout the rest of the half, but Mekhi Mason's triple sent Rice into halftime with a 36-31 lead.
Mason opened the second half with a jumper. However, the Mean Green went on a 13-4 run. Rice retook the lead on Evee's third three of the game. But the Owls missed eight straight shots as North Texas went on a 12-2 run to take the lead for good, 56-47, midway through the half. After trading baskets, Max Fiedler converted a three-point play to bring Rice within 59-52 with 2:04 to play. But the Owls would not get any closer as UNT closed the game on an 11-3 run.
The Stats
Rice was held to 37.3% (19-of-51) from the field and 28.6% (6-of-21) from three. North Texas connected on 49.1% (26-of-53) from the floor and 45.5% (10-of-22) from three. Rice outrebounded the Mean Green, 34-to-33.
Notes
• Rice is 11-20 on the year and 5-13 in the AAC.
• Rice and North Texas met for the only time this year and the 33rd time overall.
• The Owls are 9-24 all-time against North Texas and 6-10 in Houston.
• G Travis Evee led Rice with a game-high 21 points.
• He added four rebounds and two steals.
• It was his 11th 20-point game of the year and the 38th of his career.
• It was also his 26th double-figure scoring game of the year and the 120th of his career.
• With 21 points, Evee passed Ricky Pierce (1979-82) for third-place on Rice's all-time scoring list with 1,861 points.
• It also gave him 510 points on the year, the 27th 500-point season in Rice history.
• F Max Fiedler scored 11 points and grabbed a game-high 10 rebounds.
• It tied his career-high with his ninth double-double of the year and the 34th of his career.
• It was his 15th double-figure scoring game of the year and the 69th of his career.
• Fiedler also had a game-high four assists to pass Dana Hardy for fifth-place on Rice's single-season list with 156.
• G Mekhi Mason had nine points and six rebounds.
• F Keanu Dawes added six rebounds.
Next Up
Rice begins play next week at the American Athletic Conference Tournament in Fort Worth. The tournament begins next Wednesday, Mar. 13. Rice's game date, time and opponent are to be determined.
The Story
The teams opened the game trading buckets through the first five minutes. Rice then missed five straight shots over the next two minutes as North Texas went on an 8-0 run to take its largest lead of the half, 16-7. But the Owls came storming back, going on an 18-4 run to take a 25-20 lead with five minutes to play in the half. Two straight UNT baskets tied the game at 25. Rice retook the lead on a Travis Evee three-pointer. The teams went back-and-forth throughout the rest of the half, but Mekhi Mason's triple sent Rice into halftime with a 36-31 lead.
Mason opened the second half with a jumper. However, the Mean Green went on a 13-4 run. Rice retook the lead on Evee's third three of the game. But the Owls missed eight straight shots as North Texas went on a 12-2 run to take the lead for good, 56-47, midway through the half. After trading baskets, Max Fiedler converted a three-point play to bring Rice within 59-52 with 2:04 to play. But the Owls would not get any closer as UNT closed the game on an 11-3 run.
The Stats
Rice was held to 37.3% (19-of-51) from the field and 28.6% (6-of-21) from three. North Texas connected on 49.1% (26-of-53) from the floor and 45.5% (10-of-22) from three. Rice outrebounded the Mean Green, 34-to-33.
Notes
• Rice is 11-20 on the year and 5-13 in the AAC.
• Rice and North Texas met for the only time this year and the 33rd time overall.
• The Owls are 9-24 all-time against North Texas and 6-10 in Houston.
• G Travis Evee led Rice with a game-high 21 points.
• He added four rebounds and two steals.
• It was his 11th 20-point game of the year and the 38th of his career.
• It was also his 26th double-figure scoring game of the year and the 120th of his career.
• With 21 points, Evee passed Ricky Pierce (1979-82) for third-place on Rice's all-time scoring list with 1,861 points.
• It also gave him 510 points on the year, the 27th 500-point season in Rice history.
• F Max Fiedler scored 11 points and grabbed a game-high 10 rebounds.
• It tied his career-high with his ninth double-double of the year and the 34th of his career.
• It was his 15th double-figure scoring game of the year and the 69th of his career.
• Fiedler also had a game-high four assists to pass Dana Hardy for fifth-place on Rice's single-season list with 156.
• G Mekhi Mason had nine points and six rebounds.
• F Keanu Dawes added six rebounds.
Next Up
Rice begins play next week at the American Athletic Conference Tournament in Fort Worth. The tournament begins next Wednesday, Mar. 13. Rice's game date, time and opponent are to be determined.
Team Stats
UNT
Rice
FG%
.491
.373
3FG%
.455
.286
FT%
.563
.733
RB
33
34
TO
8
10
STL
8
5
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
21
FGM
6
3FGM
3
FTM
6
Pts
11
FGM
5
3FGM
0
FTM
1
Pts
9
FGM
4
3FGM
1
FTM
0
Pts
6
FGM
2
3FGM
0
FTM
2
Players Mentioned
F
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's BasketballF
/ Men's BasketballG
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