Thursday, November 20
Houston, TX
7 p.m.
Rice University
2-4,0-0American
74
vs
90
Tarleton State
4-3,0-0WAC
1
2
F
Tarleton St.
37
53
90
Rice
38
36
74
Anderson’s 1,000th Career Point Not Enough as Rice Falls to Tarleton State
11/20/2025 10:41:00 PM | Men's Basketball
HOUSTON — Nick Anderson scored his 1,000th career point, but it was not enough, as Tarleton State shot 67.6% in the second half to defeat the Owls, 90-74, Thursday night at Tudor Fieldhouse.
The Story
Tarleton State made three of its first five baskets as it jumped out to an early 8-5 lead. Jalen Smith and Cam Carroll made jumpers, but the Texans scored five of the next six points. The Owls, though, went on an 8-0 run behind three-pointers from Anderson and Dallas Hobbs. But TSU answered, scoring eight of the next 11 points to tie the game at 21 with eight minutes to play. Smith hit a three, then found Jimmy Oladokun for a dunk. After Tarleton State cut the deficit to three, Trae Broadnax made one-of-two free throws and Anderson made three to give Rice its largest lead of the half, 35-28, with 4:54 to play. But the Texans scored nine of the final 12 points, as the Owls went into halftime leading 38-37.
Anderson started the second half with a layup, and Andrew Akuchie forced a steal and got a layup. But, Tarleton State went on a 14-2 run. The Owls, though, came right back. After trading baskets, Rice went on a 10-2 run after threes from Broadnax and Smith, taking a 57-55 lead. However, the Texans got hot, making 10 straight shots in a 25-7 run to take an 80-64 lead with five minutes remaining. Tarleton State closed the game making 16 of its final 18 shots.
The Stats
Rice shot 41.3% (26-of-63) from the field and 36.7% (11-of-30) from three, but was just 11-of-24 (45.8%) from the free throw line. Tarleton State connected on 58.6% (34-of-58) from the floor and 76.0% (19-of-25) from the free throw line, but was just thee-of-nine (33.3%) from three. Rice was also outrebounded by the Texans, 40-to-34.
What Head Coach Rob Lanier Had to Say
"I was disappointed in the effort. In the first half, we had a lot of self-inflicted situations. We fouled too much, and we were 3-of-12 from the free throw line. In the second half, it went back-and-forth a bit. But (Tarleton State) just had the wherewithal, and the poise to make enough plays as the game went on. They did a heck of a job. They came on to our home court, outplayed us (and) outworked us. It was just a poor display of effort in the second half. I'm disappointed because I do believe in this group. But in terms of learning how to win, we certainly have a long way to go. But I still have a lot of belief in what this group can become."
Notes
• Rice falls to 2-4 on the year.
• Rice is now 3-1 all-time against Tarleton State.
• This was the first meeting against the Texans since 1985.
• Rice connected on 11 three-pointers
• G/F Nick Anderson scored 18 points on four, three-pointers.
• Anderson recorded his 1,000th career point
• It was his sixth game scoring in double-figures this year and the 52nd of his career.
• Anderson has connected on at least three, three-pointers in five straight games.
• G Trae Broadnax scored 13 points and tied season-highs with seven rebounds and six assists.
• It was his fifth double-figure scoring game this year, and the 77th of his career.
• G Jalen Smith scored 10 points, his fourth double-figure scoring game this year and the 17th of his career.
• F Andrew Akuchie had season-highs of eight points and a game-high nine rebounds.
Next Up
Rice heads to Florida for three games at the GEICO Coconut Hoops. It begins on Monday, Nov. 24, when they face Kennesaw State. Tip-off is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. CT, and the game will be streamed by FloCollege.
The Story
Tarleton State made three of its first five baskets as it jumped out to an early 8-5 lead. Jalen Smith and Cam Carroll made jumpers, but the Texans scored five of the next six points. The Owls, though, went on an 8-0 run behind three-pointers from Anderson and Dallas Hobbs. But TSU answered, scoring eight of the next 11 points to tie the game at 21 with eight minutes to play. Smith hit a three, then found Jimmy Oladokun for a dunk. After Tarleton State cut the deficit to three, Trae Broadnax made one-of-two free throws and Anderson made three to give Rice its largest lead of the half, 35-28, with 4:54 to play. But the Texans scored nine of the final 12 points, as the Owls went into halftime leading 38-37.
Anderson started the second half with a layup, and Andrew Akuchie forced a steal and got a layup. But, Tarleton State went on a 14-2 run. The Owls, though, came right back. After trading baskets, Rice went on a 10-2 run after threes from Broadnax and Smith, taking a 57-55 lead. However, the Texans got hot, making 10 straight shots in a 25-7 run to take an 80-64 lead with five minutes remaining. Tarleton State closed the game making 16 of its final 18 shots.
The Stats
Rice shot 41.3% (26-of-63) from the field and 36.7% (11-of-30) from three, but was just 11-of-24 (45.8%) from the free throw line. Tarleton State connected on 58.6% (34-of-58) from the floor and 76.0% (19-of-25) from the free throw line, but was just thee-of-nine (33.3%) from three. Rice was also outrebounded by the Texans, 40-to-34.
What Head Coach Rob Lanier Had to Say
"I was disappointed in the effort. In the first half, we had a lot of self-inflicted situations. We fouled too much, and we were 3-of-12 from the free throw line. In the second half, it went back-and-forth a bit. But (Tarleton State) just had the wherewithal, and the poise to make enough plays as the game went on. They did a heck of a job. They came on to our home court, outplayed us (and) outworked us. It was just a poor display of effort in the second half. I'm disappointed because I do believe in this group. But in terms of learning how to win, we certainly have a long way to go. But I still have a lot of belief in what this group can become."
Notes
• Rice falls to 2-4 on the year.
• Rice is now 3-1 all-time against Tarleton State.
• This was the first meeting against the Texans since 1985.
• Rice connected on 11 three-pointers
• G/F Nick Anderson scored 18 points on four, three-pointers.
• Anderson recorded his 1,000th career point
• It was his sixth game scoring in double-figures this year and the 52nd of his career.
• Anderson has connected on at least three, three-pointers in five straight games.
• G Trae Broadnax scored 13 points and tied season-highs with seven rebounds and six assists.
• It was his fifth double-figure scoring game this year, and the 77th of his career.
• G Jalen Smith scored 10 points, his fourth double-figure scoring game this year and the 17th of his career.
• F Andrew Akuchie had season-highs of eight points and a game-high nine rebounds.
Next Up
Rice heads to Florida for three games at the GEICO Coconut Hoops. It begins on Monday, Nov. 24, when they face Kennesaw State. Tip-off is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. CT, and the game will be streamed by FloCollege.
Team Stats
TSU
Rice
FG%
.586
.413
3FG%
.333
.367
FT%
.760
.458
RB
40
34
TO
13
14
STL
11
6
Game Leaders
Pts
18
FGM
6
3FGM
4
FTM
2
Pts
13
FGM
4
3FGM
3
FTM
2
Pts
13
FGM
4
3FGM
2
FTM
3
Pts
8
FGM
4
3FGM
0
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
F
/ Men's BasketballG/F
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's BasketballG
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