Saturday, December 13
Houston, TX
2 p.m.
Rice University
5-6,0-0American
77
vs
76
Arkansas State
7-4,0-0Sun Belt
1
2
F
Arkansas St.
35
41
76
Rice
33
44
77
Photo by: Maria Lysaker | Rice Athletics
Furious Rally Leads Rice to 77-76 Victory over Arkansas State
12/13/2025 6:11:00 PM | Men's Basketball
HOUSTON — Nick Anderson scored all 14 of his points in the last five minutes, including a three-pointer with 29 seconds left to get Rice its first lead of the game, as the Owls came back from a 16-point, second half deficit to defeat Arkansas State, 77-76, Saturday afternoon at Tudor Fieldhouse.
The Story
Rice started slow, turning the ball over twice in its first three possessions, as Arkansas State scored the first six points. The Owls scored six of the next eight points, but ASU answered with a 7-2 run. A 10-5 run cut the deficit to two, but the Red Wolves scored six straight points, taking its largest lead of the half at 26-18 with 8:53 to play. Jimmy Oladokun, Jr., hit a hook shot, and Jalen Smith made a three to make it a three-point game. However, the teams combined to miss 18 straight shots over the next 5:37, though Arkansas State extended its lead to six behind three free throws. After trading baskets, Eternity Eguagie hit a three, then found Bodey Howell with an outlet pass for a layup that brought the Owls within one. ASU pushed its lead to five, but Smith hit a three at the buzzer that sent Rice into the break trailing 35-33.
Trae Broadnax opened the second half with a layup that tied the game. However, the Owls missed seven straight shots, as Arkansas State went on a 16-0 run over the next 4:43. Broadnax stopped the run with a floater, as Rice answered with 14-6 run. But, the Red Wolves answered with seven straight points to push the lead back to 16. Stephen Giwa hit a layup, and the Owls scored seven of the next nine points. But two free throws from TJ Caldwell extended ASU's lead to 69-56 with 5:17 to play. That's when the Owls began their comeback.
Anderson, who up to that point had been held scoreless, hit a three-pointer to start an 8-0 Rice run. The teams then traded baskets over the next three minutes. Smith drilled a three, and Chandler Jackson made one of two free throws to give Arkansas State a 74-69 lead with 50 seconds to play. Anderson made a three, and after Jackson missed the front end of a one-and-one, Anderson knocked down his third triple to give Rice its first lead of the game, 75-74, with 29 second left. Cam Carroll then got a steal, was fouled, and hit both free throws. Jackson made a layup to make it a one-point game. ASU forced a turnover on a held ball, and Andrew Akuchie was called for a foul with six seconds left. But Jaxon Ellingsworth missed the front end, and Broadnax got the rebound and dribbled out the rest of the clock to complete the rally.
What Head Coach Rob Lanier Had to Say
"I'm really proud of the guys. It was a game where things weren't going our way in the second half. We finished the first half strong. We started the second half tying the game and had a chance to take the lead, but we just couldn't get stops. It didn't look good. I told the guys before the year that I wanted us to go undefeated, in the sense that we don't have a defeatist attitude. That when things aren't going our way, we stay in the fight. Tonight, we learned that lesson, and I think it's the best way to learn that lesson. Even though I wouldn't have drawn it up like this. We've had our fair share of wins like this, and those are the most gratifying."
The Stats
Rice connected on 40.6% (26-of-64) from the field, 41.7% (10-of-24) from three, and 65.2% (26-of-64) from the free throw line. Arkansas State hit 49.2% (30-of-61) from the floor, but just 22.2% (4-of-18) from three, and 63.2% (12-of-19) from the free throw line. Rice was also outrebounded by the Red Wolves, 43-to-37.
Notes
• Rice improves to 5-6 on the year.
• Rice and Arkansas State met for the second straight season.
• The Owls tied the series at two.
• This was the first meeting in Houston.
• Rice connected on 10 three-pointers, the sixth time this year it made at least 10.
• The 16-point comeback was its largest since an 18-point comeback at UTSA on Jan. 16, 2023.
• It was also the largest second half comeback since a 22-point comeback at UC Santa Barbara on Nov. 16, 2019.
• G/F Nick Anderson scored a team-high 14 points and had three rebounds.
• It was his team-leading 11th game scoring in double-figures this year and the 57th of his career.
• G Jalen Smith scored 13 points and had a game-high six assists.
• It was his ninth game scoring in double-figures this year and the 22nd of his career.
• G Trae Broadnax scored 11 points, had a game-high six rebounds, and had four assists.
• It was his 10th double-figure scoring game this year, and the 82nd of his career.
• G Bodey Howell scored a season-high 11 points, his second double-figure scoring game this year.
• F Eternity Eguagie scored 10 points, his third double-figure scoring game this year.
• C Stephen Giwa scored five points and grabbed a game-high six assists.
Next Up
Rice closes its homestand next Wednesday, Dec. 17, when it hosts Southwestern Christian in its annual School House Mania game. Tip-off is scheduled for 11:15 a.m. CT, and the game will be streamed by ESPN+.
The Story
Rice started slow, turning the ball over twice in its first three possessions, as Arkansas State scored the first six points. The Owls scored six of the next eight points, but ASU answered with a 7-2 run. A 10-5 run cut the deficit to two, but the Red Wolves scored six straight points, taking its largest lead of the half at 26-18 with 8:53 to play. Jimmy Oladokun, Jr., hit a hook shot, and Jalen Smith made a three to make it a three-point game. However, the teams combined to miss 18 straight shots over the next 5:37, though Arkansas State extended its lead to six behind three free throws. After trading baskets, Eternity Eguagie hit a three, then found Bodey Howell with an outlet pass for a layup that brought the Owls within one. ASU pushed its lead to five, but Smith hit a three at the buzzer that sent Rice into the break trailing 35-33.
Trae Broadnax opened the second half with a layup that tied the game. However, the Owls missed seven straight shots, as Arkansas State went on a 16-0 run over the next 4:43. Broadnax stopped the run with a floater, as Rice answered with 14-6 run. But, the Red Wolves answered with seven straight points to push the lead back to 16. Stephen Giwa hit a layup, and the Owls scored seven of the next nine points. But two free throws from TJ Caldwell extended ASU's lead to 69-56 with 5:17 to play. That's when the Owls began their comeback.
Anderson, who up to that point had been held scoreless, hit a three-pointer to start an 8-0 Rice run. The teams then traded baskets over the next three minutes. Smith drilled a three, and Chandler Jackson made one of two free throws to give Arkansas State a 74-69 lead with 50 seconds to play. Anderson made a three, and after Jackson missed the front end of a one-and-one, Anderson knocked down his third triple to give Rice its first lead of the game, 75-74, with 29 second left. Cam Carroll then got a steal, was fouled, and hit both free throws. Jackson made a layup to make it a one-point game. ASU forced a turnover on a held ball, and Andrew Akuchie was called for a foul with six seconds left. But Jaxon Ellingsworth missed the front end, and Broadnax got the rebound and dribbled out the rest of the clock to complete the rally.
What Head Coach Rob Lanier Had to Say
"I'm really proud of the guys. It was a game where things weren't going our way in the second half. We finished the first half strong. We started the second half tying the game and had a chance to take the lead, but we just couldn't get stops. It didn't look good. I told the guys before the year that I wanted us to go undefeated, in the sense that we don't have a defeatist attitude. That when things aren't going our way, we stay in the fight. Tonight, we learned that lesson, and I think it's the best way to learn that lesson. Even though I wouldn't have drawn it up like this. We've had our fair share of wins like this, and those are the most gratifying."
The Stats
Rice connected on 40.6% (26-of-64) from the field, 41.7% (10-of-24) from three, and 65.2% (26-of-64) from the free throw line. Arkansas State hit 49.2% (30-of-61) from the floor, but just 22.2% (4-of-18) from three, and 63.2% (12-of-19) from the free throw line. Rice was also outrebounded by the Red Wolves, 43-to-37.
Notes
• Rice improves to 5-6 on the year.
• Rice and Arkansas State met for the second straight season.
• The Owls tied the series at two.
• This was the first meeting in Houston.
• Rice connected on 10 three-pointers, the sixth time this year it made at least 10.
• The 16-point comeback was its largest since an 18-point comeback at UTSA on Jan. 16, 2023.
• It was also the largest second half comeback since a 22-point comeback at UC Santa Barbara on Nov. 16, 2019.
• G/F Nick Anderson scored a team-high 14 points and had three rebounds.
• It was his team-leading 11th game scoring in double-figures this year and the 57th of his career.
• G Jalen Smith scored 13 points and had a game-high six assists.
• It was his ninth game scoring in double-figures this year and the 22nd of his career.
• G Trae Broadnax scored 11 points, had a game-high six rebounds, and had four assists.
• It was his 10th double-figure scoring game this year, and the 82nd of his career.
• G Bodey Howell scored a season-high 11 points, his second double-figure scoring game this year.
• F Eternity Eguagie scored 10 points, his third double-figure scoring game this year.
• C Stephen Giwa scored five points and grabbed a game-high six assists.
Next Up
Rice closes its homestand next Wednesday, Dec. 17, when it hosts Southwestern Christian in its annual School House Mania game. Tip-off is scheduled for 11:15 a.m. CT, and the game will be streamed by ESPN+.
Team Stats
ASU
Rice
FG%
.492
.406
3FG%
.222
.417
FT%
.632
.652
RB
43
37
TO
11
7
STL
6
8
Game Leaders
Pts
14
FGM
4
3FGM
3
FTM
3
Pts
13
FGM
5
3FGM
3
FTM
0
Pts
11
FGM
5
3FGM
1
FTM
0
Pts
11
FGM
3
3FGM
1
FTM
4
Players Mentioned
F
/ Men's BasketballG/F
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's Basketball
F
/ Men's Basketball
C
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's Basketball
F
/ Men's BasketballG
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