Tuesday, February 11
Houston, TX
8 p.m.
Rice University
12-13,3-9AAC
61
vs
67
North Texas
18-6,9-3AAC
1
2
F
North Texas
31
36
67
Rice
28
33
61
Photo by: Rhonda Taormina | Rice Athletics
Rice Rally Not Enough as it Falls to North Texas
2/11/2025 11:51:00 PM | Men's Basketball
HOUSTON – Rice pulled even with 1:15 to play after trailing by 11 in the second half, but North Texas scored the final six points as the Owls fell, 67-61, Tuesday night at Tudor Fieldhouse.
The Story
Both teams struggled to start the game. Denver Anglin hit his second three to tie the game at seven, but North Texas answered with threes from Brenen Lorient and Grant Newell. Caden Powell then put back two misses. After trading baskets, Atin Wright was fouled on a three-point attempt, and made all three free throws. Rice scored five of the next seven points to cut the deficit to two, but UNT went on a 9-4 run, taking its largest lead of the half at 29-22 with 2:46 to play. However, Jacob Dar and Kellen Amos made consecutive layups. After Moulaye Sissoko's jumper, Trae Broadnax found Jacob Dar underneath for a dunk, sending Rice into halftime trailing 31-28.
North Texas opened the second half making five of its first seven shots to take its largest lead of the game, 44-33, just 3:28 into the half. But the Owls started their charge. Dar bookended a pair of dunks around a Powell free throw. Latrell Jossell hit a three to push UNT's lead back to seven. But an 8-0 Rice run, capped by an Anglin three, pulled it within 47-46 with 8:54 remaining. Two straight baskets extended North Texas' lead to five. Powell made one-of-two free throws and Dar made a layup. However, the Mean Green hit two straight threes around a Powell layup, taking a six-point lead. After the teams traded free throws, Rice scored eight of the next 10 points, tying the game on a Broadnax layup with 1:15 to play. But UNT came right back, taking the lead on a Moulaye Sissoko dunk. Broadnax's jumper was short and grabbed by Sissoko, forcing Rice to foul. Jonathan Massie made both to make it a two-possession game. Kellen Amos' jumper was off, and grabbed by Wright, who was fouled and made both free throws with 10 seconds to play, sealing the game.
What Head Coach Rob Lanier Had to Say
"This was a game that, without question, the engagement and competitive spirit was there throughout the game. If we continue to play the way we're playing, it's just about learning how to finish. There is a trajectory there that is pleasing. Now, from there, how do we get better? You can't take anything for granted, but sometimes, when you're not getting the outcome, you can still get better, and I do feel that way about this group. I've said to these guys that if we were going to break, we would have been broken by now. So, that is off the table. Now, it's just a matter of finding that breakthrough."
The Stats
Rice connected on 44.0% (22-of-50) from the field, and 31.3% (5-of-16) from three, but was just 12-of-23 (52.2%) from the free throw line. North Texas shot 43.6% (24-of-55) from the floor, 33.3% (9-of-27) from three, and 71.4% (10-of-14) from the free throw line. Rice won the rebounding battle, 37-to-30.
Notes
• Rice and North Texas met for the second time this year and the 35th time overall.
• North Texas holds a 26-9 advantage in the series.
• In Houston, the Mean Green leads 11-6.
• Jacob Dar led the Owls with 16 points and tied a season-high with eight rebounds.
• It was his second straight double-figure scoring game and his seventh of the season.
• Caden Powell scored 10 points and grabbed five rebounds.
• It was his 10th double-figure scoring game of the season.
• Denver Anglin scored nine points and had four rebounds.
• Trae Broadnax scored five points, had a team-high eight rebounds and a game-high five assists.
Next Up
Rice goes back on the road this Saturday, February 15, when it travels to New Orleans, La., to face Tulane. Tip-off is scheduled for 11 a.m. CT and the game will be streamed by ESPN+.
The Story
Both teams struggled to start the game. Denver Anglin hit his second three to tie the game at seven, but North Texas answered with threes from Brenen Lorient and Grant Newell. Caden Powell then put back two misses. After trading baskets, Atin Wright was fouled on a three-point attempt, and made all three free throws. Rice scored five of the next seven points to cut the deficit to two, but UNT went on a 9-4 run, taking its largest lead of the half at 29-22 with 2:46 to play. However, Jacob Dar and Kellen Amos made consecutive layups. After Moulaye Sissoko's jumper, Trae Broadnax found Jacob Dar underneath for a dunk, sending Rice into halftime trailing 31-28.
North Texas opened the second half making five of its first seven shots to take its largest lead of the game, 44-33, just 3:28 into the half. But the Owls started their charge. Dar bookended a pair of dunks around a Powell free throw. Latrell Jossell hit a three to push UNT's lead back to seven. But an 8-0 Rice run, capped by an Anglin three, pulled it within 47-46 with 8:54 remaining. Two straight baskets extended North Texas' lead to five. Powell made one-of-two free throws and Dar made a layup. However, the Mean Green hit two straight threes around a Powell layup, taking a six-point lead. After the teams traded free throws, Rice scored eight of the next 10 points, tying the game on a Broadnax layup with 1:15 to play. But UNT came right back, taking the lead on a Moulaye Sissoko dunk. Broadnax's jumper was short and grabbed by Sissoko, forcing Rice to foul. Jonathan Massie made both to make it a two-possession game. Kellen Amos' jumper was off, and grabbed by Wright, who was fouled and made both free throws with 10 seconds to play, sealing the game.
What Head Coach Rob Lanier Had to Say
"This was a game that, without question, the engagement and competitive spirit was there throughout the game. If we continue to play the way we're playing, it's just about learning how to finish. There is a trajectory there that is pleasing. Now, from there, how do we get better? You can't take anything for granted, but sometimes, when you're not getting the outcome, you can still get better, and I do feel that way about this group. I've said to these guys that if we were going to break, we would have been broken by now. So, that is off the table. Now, it's just a matter of finding that breakthrough."
The Stats
Rice connected on 44.0% (22-of-50) from the field, and 31.3% (5-of-16) from three, but was just 12-of-23 (52.2%) from the free throw line. North Texas shot 43.6% (24-of-55) from the floor, 33.3% (9-of-27) from three, and 71.4% (10-of-14) from the free throw line. Rice won the rebounding battle, 37-to-30.
Notes
• Rice and North Texas met for the second time this year and the 35th time overall.
• North Texas holds a 26-9 advantage in the series.
• In Houston, the Mean Green leads 11-6.
• Jacob Dar led the Owls with 16 points and tied a season-high with eight rebounds.
• It was his second straight double-figure scoring game and his seventh of the season.
• Caden Powell scored 10 points and grabbed five rebounds.
• It was his 10th double-figure scoring game of the season.
• Denver Anglin scored nine points and had four rebounds.
• Trae Broadnax scored five points, had a team-high eight rebounds and a game-high five assists.
Next Up
Rice goes back on the road this Saturday, February 15, when it travels to New Orleans, La., to face Tulane. Tip-off is scheduled for 11 a.m. CT and the game will be streamed by ESPN+.
Team Stats
UNT
Rice
FG%
.436
.440
3FG%
.333
.313
FT%
.714
.522
RB
30
37
TO
5
9
STL
8
2
Game Leaders
Pts
10
FGM
3
3FGM
0
FTM
4
Pts
9
FGM
3
3FGM
3
FTM
0
Pts
9
FGM
3
3FGM
0
FTM
3
Players Mentioned
G/F
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's BasketballF
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