Rice Fights but Comes Up Short against Temple
1/11/2025 4:59:00 PM | Men's Basketball
HOUSTON – Trae Broadnax scored his 1,000th career point and Andrew Akuchie recorded his first career double-double, but in the end, Rice came up just short, as it fell to Temple 73-70, Saturday afternoon from Tudor Fieldhouse.
The Story
Temple jumped out to an early 8-2 lead. Temple then missed six straight shots as Rice went on an 11-2 run, taking a 13-10 lead. However, Rice went cold, missing 10 of its next 11 shots over the next 7:11, as Temple went on a 17-3 run to take its largest lead of the half at 27-16. But an Akuchie layup sent Rice on an 11-0 run to tie the game at 27 with 2:43 left in the half. The teams then traded baskets before Zion Stanford's three-pointer sent Temple into halftime with a 35-31 lead.
Temple opened the second half with a four-point possession. After a three-point play by Akuchie, Babatunde Durodola scored four straight points to push Temple's lead to nine. But Rice began to chip away at the deficit. Jimmy Oladokun, Jr., made a layup, and Alem Huseinovic hit a three-pointer. After trading baskets, Broadnax drove in for a layup, and Emory Lanier drilled a three to cut the lead to two. Temple extended its lead to 57-50 with 8:10 to play. However, Huseinovic's third three of the game sent Rice on an 11-3 run, taking a 61-60 lead with 3:26 remaining. But Temple scored eight of the next 10 points to go ahead 68-63 with 23 second left. Broadnax made a layup, and Quante Berry made one-of-two free throws. Another Broadnax layup cut it to two, and Berry again made one-of-two free throws. Broadnax then hit a three with 1.5 to make it a one-point game. Rice immediately fouled, and Jamal Mashburn, Jr., made both. But, Broadnax's inbounds pass was intercepted, and Temple held on for the win.
What Head Coach Rob Lanier Had to Say
"We were guarding (Temple) pretty good in the second half, but we missed maybe 10 layups right at the rim, over the course of the game. Meanwhile, we were working our tail off to stop (Jamal) Mashburn and (Quante) Berry from three. So, we've got to make the layups. We had a size advantage for a big portion of the game. We only turned the ball over 10 times. We have 14 offensive rebounds, and in a three-point game, you can't miss that many layups."
The Stats
Rice was held to 40.3% (29-of-72) from the field, and 28.6% (6-of-21) from three. Temple was held to 39.3% (22-of-56) from the floor, but connected on 50.0% (6-of-12) from three, and 71.9% (23-of-32) from the free throw line. Rice was also outrebounded, 47-to-37.
Notes
• Rice and Temple met for the sixth time, with Temple holding a 5-1 record.
• In Houston, Temple leads 3-0.
• Rice set season-highs for field goals made (29), field goals attempted (72), points in the paint (42), and second chance points (22).
• Rice also tied a season-high with 10 steals.
• Andrew Akuchie recorded his first career double-double, tying a career-high with 18 points and grabbing a career-high 11 rebounds.
• Trae Broadnax scored 13 points, his 17th straight double-figure game to open the season, grabbed eight rebounds and had four assists.
• With 13 points, Broadnax recorded his 1,000th career point.
• Alem Huseinovic scored 11 points on three, three-pointers, and had a career-high three steals.
• Caden Powell scored eight points and tied a career-high with four blocks.
Next Up
Rice closes its homestand next Tuesday, Jan. 14, when it hosts UTSA. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. CT and the game will be streamed by ESPN+.
The Story
Temple jumped out to an early 8-2 lead. Temple then missed six straight shots as Rice went on an 11-2 run, taking a 13-10 lead. However, Rice went cold, missing 10 of its next 11 shots over the next 7:11, as Temple went on a 17-3 run to take its largest lead of the half at 27-16. But an Akuchie layup sent Rice on an 11-0 run to tie the game at 27 with 2:43 left in the half. The teams then traded baskets before Zion Stanford's three-pointer sent Temple into halftime with a 35-31 lead.
Temple opened the second half with a four-point possession. After a three-point play by Akuchie, Babatunde Durodola scored four straight points to push Temple's lead to nine. But Rice began to chip away at the deficit. Jimmy Oladokun, Jr., made a layup, and Alem Huseinovic hit a three-pointer. After trading baskets, Broadnax drove in for a layup, and Emory Lanier drilled a three to cut the lead to two. Temple extended its lead to 57-50 with 8:10 to play. However, Huseinovic's third three of the game sent Rice on an 11-3 run, taking a 61-60 lead with 3:26 remaining. But Temple scored eight of the next 10 points to go ahead 68-63 with 23 second left. Broadnax made a layup, and Quante Berry made one-of-two free throws. Another Broadnax layup cut it to two, and Berry again made one-of-two free throws. Broadnax then hit a three with 1.5 to make it a one-point game. Rice immediately fouled, and Jamal Mashburn, Jr., made both. But, Broadnax's inbounds pass was intercepted, and Temple held on for the win.
What Head Coach Rob Lanier Had to Say
"We were guarding (Temple) pretty good in the second half, but we missed maybe 10 layups right at the rim, over the course of the game. Meanwhile, we were working our tail off to stop (Jamal) Mashburn and (Quante) Berry from three. So, we've got to make the layups. We had a size advantage for a big portion of the game. We only turned the ball over 10 times. We have 14 offensive rebounds, and in a three-point game, you can't miss that many layups."
The Stats
Rice was held to 40.3% (29-of-72) from the field, and 28.6% (6-of-21) from three. Temple was held to 39.3% (22-of-56) from the floor, but connected on 50.0% (6-of-12) from three, and 71.9% (23-of-32) from the free throw line. Rice was also outrebounded, 47-to-37.
Notes
• Rice and Temple met for the sixth time, with Temple holding a 5-1 record.
• In Houston, Temple leads 3-0.
• Rice set season-highs for field goals made (29), field goals attempted (72), points in the paint (42), and second chance points (22).
• Rice also tied a season-high with 10 steals.
• Andrew Akuchie recorded his first career double-double, tying a career-high with 18 points and grabbing a career-high 11 rebounds.
• Trae Broadnax scored 13 points, his 17th straight double-figure game to open the season, grabbed eight rebounds and had four assists.
• With 13 points, Broadnax recorded his 1,000th career point.
• Alem Huseinovic scored 11 points on three, three-pointers, and had a career-high three steals.
• Caden Powell scored eight points and tied a career-high with four blocks.
Next Up
Rice closes its homestand next Tuesday, Jan. 14, when it hosts UTSA. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. CT and the game will be streamed by ESPN+.
Team Stats
Temple
Rice
FG%
.393
.403
3FG%
.500
.286
FT%
.719
.500
RB
47
37
TO
14
10
STL
4
10
Game Leaders
Scoring
Players Mentioned
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