Wednesday, February 19
Houston, TX
7 p.m.
Rice University
12-15,3-11AAC
89
vs
90
UAB
17-9,10-3AAC
1
2
F
UAB
43
47
90
Rice
40
49
89
Photo by: Maria Lysaker | Rice Athletics
Rice Drops Heartbreaker to UAB
2/19/2025 10:57:00 PM | Men's Basketball
HOUSTON – UAB made four-of-five free throws in the final 5.7 seconds, and Rice missed two with less than two seconds to play as it fell in heartbreaking fashion, 90-89, Wednesday night at Tudor Fieldhouse.
The Story
Rice scored the first five points of the game, but UAB answered with the next six. Denver Anglin hit his second three-pointer as Rice scored six of the next eight points, but the Blazers went on an 8-2 run. Jacob Dar tied the game at 16 with a three. UAB made two straight triples around an Alem Huseinovic jumper. The Owls pulled within one on an Emory Lanier three, but a 9-3 UAB run gave it its largest lead of the game, 31-24, with 9:31 to play. Rice, however, scored seven straight points to tie the game. After two UAB free throws, Andrew Akuchie made two free throws and Kellen Amos hit a three. After trading baskets, Rice missed its final five shots as the Blazers closed the half on an 8-2 run to go into halftime leading 43-40.
Dar opened the second half with back-to-back threes, as Rice started on a 10-4 run to take a 50-47 advantage, just three minutes into the half. After UAB scored six of the next seven points, the teams went back-and-forth over the next 2:54. With the Blazers holding a one-point lead, Dar made two free throws and Kellen Amos made two free throws. UAB again scored six of the next seven to regain the lead. Akuchie made two free throws, and Dar got a tip-in dunk. But a 10-2 Blazer run gave them a 75-70 lead with 4:15 to play. Caden Powell, though, converted two straight three-point plays. After trading baskets, Christian Coleman made one-of-two free throws to tie it at 78. Amos then scored five straight points as Rice took an 83-78 lead with 1:48 remaining. Butta Johnson hit a three, but Powell made two free throws. The teams traded baskets, and Coleman made two free throws to cut it to one. Trae Broadnax then made two with 17 seconds to play to make it a three-point game. The Owls tried to play it out, but Dar fouled Tyren Moore on a three-point attempt with 5.7 seconds left. After missing the first free throw, Moore made the next two. However, on the third, Powell was called for an off-ball foul, putting Yaxel Lendeborg on the line. Lendeborg made both free throws to give UAB a 90-89 lead. Amos then drove down the length of the court and was fouled with 1.8 seconds to play. But Amos missed both free throws, and time expired.
The Stats
Rice connected on 47.5% (29-of-61) from the field, 55.0% (11-of-20) from three, and 71.4% (20-of-28) from the free throw line. UAB shot 45.8% (33-of-72) from the floor, 46.7% (7-of-15) from three, and 77.3% (17-of-22) from the free throw line. UAB won the rebounding battle, 42-to-36, including 20 offensive rebounds.
Notes
• Rice and UAB met for the 26th time overall.
• UAB holds a 22-4 advantage.
• In Houston, the Blazers lead 9-2.
• Rice set or tied season-highs for points (89), field goals (29), and three-point field goal percentage (55.0%).
• Rice connected on 11 three-pointers, the ninth time this year it made at least 10.
• Jacob Dar led all scorers with a season-high 24 points while grabbing six rebounds.
• It was his second straight 20-point game and the 11th of his career.
• It was also his fourth straight double-digit game and his ninth of the season.
• Kellen Amos scored a season-high 22 points, pulled down five rebounds, and hit a season-high three, three-pointers.
• It was his 12th double-figure scoring game of the year.
• It was also his first 20-point game of the year and the 12th of his career.
• It is the first time Rice had two 20-point scorers since Travis Evee and Mekhi Mason against Wichita State on Mar. 13, 2024.
• Caden Powell scored points and four rebounds.
• It was his 12th double-figure scoring game of the season.
• Trae Broadnax scored 11 points and had three assists.
• It was his team-leading 23rd double-figure scoring game of the season.
• Andrew Akuchie scored six points and grabbed a team-high 10 rebounds.
• Denver Anglin was 2-of-3 from three. He's now hit at least one three-pointer in 19 straight games.
Next Up
Rice concludes its homestand this Saturday, February 22, when it hosts Tulsa. Tip-off is scheduled for 1 p.m. CT and the game will be streamed by ESPN+.
The Story
Rice scored the first five points of the game, but UAB answered with the next six. Denver Anglin hit his second three-pointer as Rice scored six of the next eight points, but the Blazers went on an 8-2 run. Jacob Dar tied the game at 16 with a three. UAB made two straight triples around an Alem Huseinovic jumper. The Owls pulled within one on an Emory Lanier three, but a 9-3 UAB run gave it its largest lead of the game, 31-24, with 9:31 to play. Rice, however, scored seven straight points to tie the game. After two UAB free throws, Andrew Akuchie made two free throws and Kellen Amos hit a three. After trading baskets, Rice missed its final five shots as the Blazers closed the half on an 8-2 run to go into halftime leading 43-40.
Dar opened the second half with back-to-back threes, as Rice started on a 10-4 run to take a 50-47 advantage, just three minutes into the half. After UAB scored six of the next seven points, the teams went back-and-forth over the next 2:54. With the Blazers holding a one-point lead, Dar made two free throws and Kellen Amos made two free throws. UAB again scored six of the next seven to regain the lead. Akuchie made two free throws, and Dar got a tip-in dunk. But a 10-2 Blazer run gave them a 75-70 lead with 4:15 to play. Caden Powell, though, converted two straight three-point plays. After trading baskets, Christian Coleman made one-of-two free throws to tie it at 78. Amos then scored five straight points as Rice took an 83-78 lead with 1:48 remaining. Butta Johnson hit a three, but Powell made two free throws. The teams traded baskets, and Coleman made two free throws to cut it to one. Trae Broadnax then made two with 17 seconds to play to make it a three-point game. The Owls tried to play it out, but Dar fouled Tyren Moore on a three-point attempt with 5.7 seconds left. After missing the first free throw, Moore made the next two. However, on the third, Powell was called for an off-ball foul, putting Yaxel Lendeborg on the line. Lendeborg made both free throws to give UAB a 90-89 lead. Amos then drove down the length of the court and was fouled with 1.8 seconds to play. But Amos missed both free throws, and time expired.
The Stats
Rice connected on 47.5% (29-of-61) from the field, 55.0% (11-of-20) from three, and 71.4% (20-of-28) from the free throw line. UAB shot 45.8% (33-of-72) from the floor, 46.7% (7-of-15) from three, and 77.3% (17-of-22) from the free throw line. UAB won the rebounding battle, 42-to-36, including 20 offensive rebounds.
Notes
• Rice and UAB met for the 26th time overall.
• UAB holds a 22-4 advantage.
• In Houston, the Blazers lead 9-2.
• Rice set or tied season-highs for points (89), field goals (29), and three-point field goal percentage (55.0%).
• Rice connected on 11 three-pointers, the ninth time this year it made at least 10.
• Jacob Dar led all scorers with a season-high 24 points while grabbing six rebounds.
• It was his second straight 20-point game and the 11th of his career.
• It was also his fourth straight double-digit game and his ninth of the season.
• Kellen Amos scored a season-high 22 points, pulled down five rebounds, and hit a season-high three, three-pointers.
• It was his 12th double-figure scoring game of the year.
• It was also his first 20-point game of the year and the 12th of his career.
• It is the first time Rice had two 20-point scorers since Travis Evee and Mekhi Mason against Wichita State on Mar. 13, 2024.
• Caden Powell scored points and four rebounds.
• It was his 12th double-figure scoring game of the season.
• Trae Broadnax scored 11 points and had three assists.
• It was his team-leading 23rd double-figure scoring game of the season.
• Andrew Akuchie scored six points and grabbed a team-high 10 rebounds.
• Denver Anglin was 2-of-3 from three. He's now hit at least one three-pointer in 19 straight games.
Next Up
Rice concludes its homestand this Saturday, February 22, when it hosts Tulsa. Tip-off is scheduled for 1 p.m. CT and the game will be streamed by ESPN+.
Team Stats
UAB
Rice
FG%
.458
.475
3FG%
.467
.550
FT%
.773
.714
RB
42
36
TO
3
6
STL
3
1
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
22
FGM
9
3FGM
3
FTM
1
Pts
12
FGM
4
3FGM
0
FTM
4
Pts
11
FGM
3
3FGM
1
FTM
4
Players Mentioned
F
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