Monday, November 17
Knoxville, TN
7:30 p.m.
Rice University
2-3,0-0American
66
at
91
Tennessee
4-0,0-0SEC
1
2
F
Rice
26
40
66
Tennessee
39
52
91
Men’s Basketball Battles But Falls to No. 20 Tennessee
11/17/2025 11:13:00 PM | Men's Basketball
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — For 30 minutes, the Rice men's basketball team hung with No. 20 Tennessee. But the Volunteers size turned out to be too much, as Rice fell, 91-66, Monday night at the Food City Center.
The Story
Rice struggled shooting to start the game, making just one-of-its first nine shots before Cam Carroll hit a jumper to pull the Owls within 10-7 with 13:27 to play. But Tennessee went on an 11-2 run over the next 3:16, taking as 21-9 lead. The Owls, though, responded, as threes from Jalen Smith and Nick Anderson bookended a 9-2 run to get within 23-18. Rice, however, missed nine of its last 10 shots, as the Volunteers closed the half on a 16-8 run to take a 39-26 lead into halftime.
Smith opened the second half with a three before Tennessee scored six straight. Rice scored seven of the next 10, before trading baskets. Carroll then scored Rice's next eight points, but Tennessee answered each one. With the Vols holding a 61-49 lead, they went on a 14-4 run, as the Owls missed nine of their next 10 shots. Rice never got closer than 20 points the rest of the way.
The Stats
Rice was held to 33.3% (20-of-60) from the field and 28.6% (8-of-28) from three, while connecting on 72.0% (18-of-25) from the free throw line. Tennessee was 34-of-65 (52.3%) from the floor, but just 6-of-19 (31.6%) from three, 77.3% (17-of-22) from the charity stripe. Rice was also outrebounded by the Volunteers, 47-to-31.
What Head Coach Rob Lanier Had to Say
"I told the guys before the game that whatever it is that we aspire to do, whatever we think we can become, we're going to have to show some signs. I think that that we competed relatively hard, but we had a small margin of error, and we had too much error. (Tennessee)'s sign, skill and execution that they exhibited tonight; they're a really, really good team. I do like my team. I think that we competed hard. What I was hoping to do was apply some pressure to a team that maybe hasn't experienced much of that, but we weren't able to get that done."
Notes
• Rice falls to 2-3 on the year.
• Rice is now 3-2 all-time against Tennessee.
• This was the first meeting against the Volunteers since 1963.
• G/F Nick Anderson scored 19 points on three, three-pointers, and had three steals.
• It was his fifth game scoring in double-figures this year and the 51st of his career.
• Anderson has connected on at least three, three-pointers in four straight games.
• G Cam Carroll scored a season-high 14 points and had a team-high three assists.
• It was his second double-figure scoring game this year.
• G Jalen Smith scored 10 points, his fourth double-figure scoring game this year and the 17th of his career.
• C Stephen Giwa scored six points and led the Owls with four rebounds.
Next Up
Rice returns home this Thursday, Nov. 20, when it hosts Tarleton State. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. CT, and the game will be broadcast by ESPN+.
The Story
Rice struggled shooting to start the game, making just one-of-its first nine shots before Cam Carroll hit a jumper to pull the Owls within 10-7 with 13:27 to play. But Tennessee went on an 11-2 run over the next 3:16, taking as 21-9 lead. The Owls, though, responded, as threes from Jalen Smith and Nick Anderson bookended a 9-2 run to get within 23-18. Rice, however, missed nine of its last 10 shots, as the Volunteers closed the half on a 16-8 run to take a 39-26 lead into halftime.
Smith opened the second half with a three before Tennessee scored six straight. Rice scored seven of the next 10, before trading baskets. Carroll then scored Rice's next eight points, but Tennessee answered each one. With the Vols holding a 61-49 lead, they went on a 14-4 run, as the Owls missed nine of their next 10 shots. Rice never got closer than 20 points the rest of the way.
The Stats
Rice was held to 33.3% (20-of-60) from the field and 28.6% (8-of-28) from three, while connecting on 72.0% (18-of-25) from the free throw line. Tennessee was 34-of-65 (52.3%) from the floor, but just 6-of-19 (31.6%) from three, 77.3% (17-of-22) from the charity stripe. Rice was also outrebounded by the Volunteers, 47-to-31.
What Head Coach Rob Lanier Had to Say
"I told the guys before the game that whatever it is that we aspire to do, whatever we think we can become, we're going to have to show some signs. I think that that we competed relatively hard, but we had a small margin of error, and we had too much error. (Tennessee)'s sign, skill and execution that they exhibited tonight; they're a really, really good team. I do like my team. I think that we competed hard. What I was hoping to do was apply some pressure to a team that maybe hasn't experienced much of that, but we weren't able to get that done."
Notes
• Rice falls to 2-3 on the year.
• Rice is now 3-2 all-time against Tennessee.
• This was the first meeting against the Volunteers since 1963.
• G/F Nick Anderson scored 19 points on three, three-pointers, and had three steals.
• It was his fifth game scoring in double-figures this year and the 51st of his career.
• Anderson has connected on at least three, three-pointers in four straight games.
• G Cam Carroll scored a season-high 14 points and had a team-high three assists.
• It was his second double-figure scoring game this year.
• G Jalen Smith scored 10 points, his fourth double-figure scoring game this year and the 17th of his career.
• C Stephen Giwa scored six points and led the Owls with four rebounds.
Next Up
Rice returns home this Thursday, Nov. 20, when it hosts Tarleton State. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. CT, and the game will be broadcast by ESPN+.
Team Stats
Rice
UT
FG%
.333
.523
3FG%
.286
.316
FT%
.720
.773
RB
31
47
TO
11
11
STL
7
7
Game Leaders
Pts
19
FGM
6
3FGM
3
FTM
4
Pts
14
FGM
5
3FGM
2
FTM
2
Pts
10
FGM
3
3FGM
2
FTM
2
Pts
6
FGM
3
3FGM
0
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
G/F
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's BasketballC
/ Men's BasketballG
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