Saturday, January 4
Houston, TX
1 p.m.
Rice University
11-4,2-0AAC
68
vs
55
Charlotte
7-8,0-2AAC
1
2
F
Charlotte
25
30
55
Rice
31
37
68
Balance Scoring Sends Rice to 68-55 Victory over Charlotte
1/4/2025 4:25:00 PM | Men's Basketball
HOUSTON – Nine players scored for Rice, and the Owls made 13 straight free throws to close the game, as the Owls improved to 2-0 in AAC play, defeating Charlotte, 68-55, Saturday afternoon from Tudor Fieldhouse.
The Story
After Charlotte opened the game with a three, Rice scored nine of the next 12 points. Over the next 4:24, the teams went back-and-forth. With Rice leading 18-14, the 49ers scored seven of the next 10 points to tie the game at 21. The Owls, though, got hot, going on a 10-0 run, capped by Andrew Akuchie's second three-pointer of the season, as Rice took its largest lead of the half, 31-21, with 3:04 to play. However, Rice missed its final five shots of the half, as Charlotte cut the deficit to 31-25 at the break.
Rice opened the second half with baskets by Caden Powell and Kellen Amos to retake its 10-point lead. Charlotte cut it to five, but the Owls scored seven straight points capped by Alem Huseinovic's three to give Rice a 42-30 lead just five minutes into the half. Rice, however, was held scoreless for almost five minutes, allowing the 49ers to go on an 8-0 run and cut the deficit to 42-38, midway through the half. After Emory Lanier converted a three-point play, Charlotte made five straight baskets. But the Owls answered each time, keeping it a two possession game. With Rice leading 56-51 with 3:56 remaining, Caden Powell and Trae Broadnax made back-to-back baskets, and the Owls made eight straight free throws to push their lead to as many as 15.
What Head Coach Rob Lanier Had to Say
"I'm really proud of the guys. It was a great team win against a really good program and coach. I thought for the most part, we did a good job. In general, I thought we did a pretty good job defensively. But in the second half, we hit a spot where we weren't able to get a stop for five possessions. But we were able to finish it out. It was just a real team win."
The Stats
Rice connected on 45.3% (24-of-53) from the field, 31.6% (6-of-190) from three, and 87.5% (14-of-16) from the free throw line. Charlotte was held to 37.7% (20-of-53) from the floor, and 33.3% (7-of-21) from three. Rice also outrebounded the 49ers, 41-to-25.
Notes
• Rice and Charlotte met for the 20th time overall, with Rice holding an 11-9 record.
• In Houston, Rice leads 6-5.
• Rice moves to 56-52 all-time in conference home openers.
• Rice improves to 2-0 in conference play for the first time since 2020-21.
• Kellen Amos scored a team-high 12 points and grabbed five rebounds.
• Trae Broadnax scored 10 points, his 15th straight double-figure game to open the season, grabbed seven rebounds, and had a game-high four assists.
• Jimmy Oladokun, Jr., scored eight points and pulled down a season-high nine rebounds.
• Andrew Akuchie added eight points and five rebounds.
• Denver Anglin scored eight points.
Next Up
Rice heads to Denton next Wednesday, Jan. 8, for a nationally-televised tilt at North Texas. Tip-off is scheduled for 8 p.m. CT and the game will be televised by ESPNU.
The Story
After Charlotte opened the game with a three, Rice scored nine of the next 12 points. Over the next 4:24, the teams went back-and-forth. With Rice leading 18-14, the 49ers scored seven of the next 10 points to tie the game at 21. The Owls, though, got hot, going on a 10-0 run, capped by Andrew Akuchie's second three-pointer of the season, as Rice took its largest lead of the half, 31-21, with 3:04 to play. However, Rice missed its final five shots of the half, as Charlotte cut the deficit to 31-25 at the break.
Rice opened the second half with baskets by Caden Powell and Kellen Amos to retake its 10-point lead. Charlotte cut it to five, but the Owls scored seven straight points capped by Alem Huseinovic's three to give Rice a 42-30 lead just five minutes into the half. Rice, however, was held scoreless for almost five minutes, allowing the 49ers to go on an 8-0 run and cut the deficit to 42-38, midway through the half. After Emory Lanier converted a three-point play, Charlotte made five straight baskets. But the Owls answered each time, keeping it a two possession game. With Rice leading 56-51 with 3:56 remaining, Caden Powell and Trae Broadnax made back-to-back baskets, and the Owls made eight straight free throws to push their lead to as many as 15.
What Head Coach Rob Lanier Had to Say
"I'm really proud of the guys. It was a great team win against a really good program and coach. I thought for the most part, we did a good job. In general, I thought we did a pretty good job defensively. But in the second half, we hit a spot where we weren't able to get a stop for five possessions. But we were able to finish it out. It was just a real team win."
The Stats
Rice connected on 45.3% (24-of-53) from the field, 31.6% (6-of-190) from three, and 87.5% (14-of-16) from the free throw line. Charlotte was held to 37.7% (20-of-53) from the floor, and 33.3% (7-of-21) from three. Rice also outrebounded the 49ers, 41-to-25.
Notes
• Rice and Charlotte met for the 20th time overall, with Rice holding an 11-9 record.
• In Houston, Rice leads 6-5.
• Rice moves to 56-52 all-time in conference home openers.
• Rice improves to 2-0 in conference play for the first time since 2020-21.
• Kellen Amos scored a team-high 12 points and grabbed five rebounds.
• Trae Broadnax scored 10 points, his 15th straight double-figure game to open the season, grabbed seven rebounds, and had a game-high four assists.
• Jimmy Oladokun, Jr., scored eight points and pulled down a season-high nine rebounds.
• Andrew Akuchie added eight points and five rebounds.
• Denver Anglin scored eight points.
Next Up
Rice heads to Denton next Wednesday, Jan. 8, for a nationally-televised tilt at North Texas. Tip-off is scheduled for 8 p.m. CT and the game will be televised by ESPNU.
Team Stats
CLT
Rice
FG%
.377
.453
3FG%
.333
.316
FT%
.727
.875
RB
25
41
TO
6
10
STL
5
2
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
12
FGM
3
3FGM
0
FTM
6
Pts
10
FGM
3
3FGM
0
FTM
4
Pts
8
FGM
3
3FGM
2
FTM
0
Pts
8
FGM
3
3FGM
1
FTM
1
Players Mentioned
F
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