Friday, November 14
Houston, TX
7 p.m.
Rice University
2-2,0-0American
71
vs
64
East Texas A&M
1-3,0-0Southland
1
2
F
East Texas A&M
25
39
64
Rice
26
45
71
Photo by: Maria Lysaker | Rice Athletics
Men's Basketball Holds On for 71-64 Victory over East Texas A&M
11/14/2025 10:52:00 PM | Men's Basketball
HOUSTON — The Rice men's basketball team held off a hard-charging East Texas A&M, defeating the Lions, 71-64, Friday night at Tudor Fieldhouse.
The Story
Rice struggled from the floor to start the game, making just three of its first 13 shots through the first 10 minutes, as the Lions jumped out to a 13-7 lead. Two Andrew Akuchie free throws and a jumper from Trae Broadnax pulled the Owls within two. The teams went back and forth over the next six minutes. With ETAM holding a 20-17 lead, Dallas Hobbs made a jumper, then hit one-of-two free throws. Nick Anderson then hit a corner three to give Rice the lead. East Texas A&M answered with a three of their own, but Jalen Smith drilled a triple before an Evan Phelps jumper sent Rice into halftime holding a slim, 26-25 lead.
The Lions opened the second half with two straight baskets. The teams traded leads over the next 2:42 before a jumper by Ronnie Harrison tied it at 37. Broadnax hit a three-pointer, and Smith and Dallas Hobbs each hit a pair of free throws. After two East Texas A&M baskets cut the lead to three. Jimmy Oladokun, Jr. made a jumper. The Owls then finished off a 21-8 run that gave them a 58-45 lead with 5:40 to play. After going back-and-forth over the next three minutes, Hobbs hit a three with 1:21 remaining, giving Rice its largest lead of the game, 68-53.
But the Lions wouldn't go away. A layup by Noah Pagotto sparked them to an 11-1 run that brought them within 69-64 with 15 seconds to play. After Smith made two layups to make it a three-possession game, Oladokun got the rebound off a missed layup, and the Owls ran out the clock.
The Stats
Rice connected on 47.1% (24-of-51) from the field, 52.4% (11-of-21) from three, and 80.0% (12-of-15) from the free throw line. East Texas A&M was 26-of-53 (49.1%) from the floor, but just 4-of-15 (26.7%) from three, and 61.5% (8-of-13) from the charity stripe. Rice also outrebounded the Lions, 34-to-24.
What Head Coach Rob Lanier Had to Say
"Obviously, it's a good win. We needed a win. I think we've got a good group with a lot of upside and potential. They needed to win a game together. I thought that was important. But, at the same time, they left a lot of room for improvement out there. It's good to get a win. I'm happy for these guys. It gives us something to build on."
Notes
• Rice improves to 2-2 on the year.
• Rice is now 2-0 all-time against East Texas A&M.
• This was the first meeting against the Lions since 1968.
• Rice has now defeated at least one Southland Conference opponent in each of the last 11 seasons.
• The Owls connected on 52.4% from three, its highest percentage since hitting 55.0% against UAB on Feb. 19, 2025.
• G Jalen Smith scored a game-high 18 points, grabbed five rebounds and had three steals.
• It is his third game scoring double-figures and the 16th of his career.
• G Trae Broadnax scored 15 points and grabbed a season-high seven rebounds.
• It was his fourth game scoring in double-figures and the 76th of his career.
• He also hit three, three-pointers, his most at Rice.
• G Dallas Hobbs scored 15 points and had a game-high four assists.
• It was his second game scoring in double-figures this year and the 29th of his career.
• G Nick Anderson scored 14 points on four-of-six shooting from three.
• It was his fourth game scoring in double-figures this year and the 50th of his career.
• F Jimmy Oladokun, Jr. grabbed six rebounds.
Next Up
Rice begins a stretch of four out of five games on the road next Monday, Nov. 17, when it travels to Knoxville, Tenn., to face No. 20 Tennessee. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. CT, and the game will be broadcast by the SEC Network.
The Story
Rice struggled from the floor to start the game, making just three of its first 13 shots through the first 10 minutes, as the Lions jumped out to a 13-7 lead. Two Andrew Akuchie free throws and a jumper from Trae Broadnax pulled the Owls within two. The teams went back and forth over the next six minutes. With ETAM holding a 20-17 lead, Dallas Hobbs made a jumper, then hit one-of-two free throws. Nick Anderson then hit a corner three to give Rice the lead. East Texas A&M answered with a three of their own, but Jalen Smith drilled a triple before an Evan Phelps jumper sent Rice into halftime holding a slim, 26-25 lead.
The Lions opened the second half with two straight baskets. The teams traded leads over the next 2:42 before a jumper by Ronnie Harrison tied it at 37. Broadnax hit a three-pointer, and Smith and Dallas Hobbs each hit a pair of free throws. After two East Texas A&M baskets cut the lead to three. Jimmy Oladokun, Jr. made a jumper. The Owls then finished off a 21-8 run that gave them a 58-45 lead with 5:40 to play. After going back-and-forth over the next three minutes, Hobbs hit a three with 1:21 remaining, giving Rice its largest lead of the game, 68-53.
But the Lions wouldn't go away. A layup by Noah Pagotto sparked them to an 11-1 run that brought them within 69-64 with 15 seconds to play. After Smith made two layups to make it a three-possession game, Oladokun got the rebound off a missed layup, and the Owls ran out the clock.
The Stats
Rice connected on 47.1% (24-of-51) from the field, 52.4% (11-of-21) from three, and 80.0% (12-of-15) from the free throw line. East Texas A&M was 26-of-53 (49.1%) from the floor, but just 4-of-15 (26.7%) from three, and 61.5% (8-of-13) from the charity stripe. Rice also outrebounded the Lions, 34-to-24.
What Head Coach Rob Lanier Had to Say
"Obviously, it's a good win. We needed a win. I think we've got a good group with a lot of upside and potential. They needed to win a game together. I thought that was important. But, at the same time, they left a lot of room for improvement out there. It's good to get a win. I'm happy for these guys. It gives us something to build on."
Notes
• Rice improves to 2-2 on the year.
• Rice is now 2-0 all-time against East Texas A&M.
• This was the first meeting against the Lions since 1968.
• Rice has now defeated at least one Southland Conference opponent in each of the last 11 seasons.
• The Owls connected on 52.4% from three, its highest percentage since hitting 55.0% against UAB on Feb. 19, 2025.
• G Jalen Smith scored a game-high 18 points, grabbed five rebounds and had three steals.
• It is his third game scoring double-figures and the 16th of his career.
• G Trae Broadnax scored 15 points and grabbed a season-high seven rebounds.
• It was his fourth game scoring in double-figures and the 76th of his career.
• He also hit three, three-pointers, his most at Rice.
• G Dallas Hobbs scored 15 points and had a game-high four assists.
• It was his second game scoring in double-figures this year and the 29th of his career.
• G Nick Anderson scored 14 points on four-of-six shooting from three.
• It was his fourth game scoring in double-figures this year and the 50th of his career.
• F Jimmy Oladokun, Jr. grabbed six rebounds.
Next Up
Rice begins a stretch of four out of five games on the road next Monday, Nov. 17, when it travels to Knoxville, Tenn., to face No. 20 Tennessee. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. CT, and the game will be broadcast by the SEC Network.
Team Stats
ETAMU
Rice
FG%
.491
.471
3FG%
.267
.524
FT%
.615
.800
RB
24
34
TO
14
18
STL
6
7
Game Leaders
Pts
18
FGM
5
3FGM
2
FTM
6
Pts
15
FGM
5
3FGM
2
FTM
3
Pts
15
FGM
6
3FGM
3
FTM
0
Pts
14
FGM
5
3FGM
4
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
F
/ Men's BasketballG/F
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's Basketball
F
/ Men's BasketballG
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