Wednesday, February 5
Greenville, NC
6 p.m.
Rice University
12-11,3-7AAC
73
at
60
East Carolina
12-11,4-6AAC
1
2
F
Rice
33
40
73
East Carolina
25
35
60
Powell’s Double-Double Leads Rice to 73-60 Victory at East Carolina
2/5/2025 9:57:00 PM | Men's Basketball
GREENVILLE, N.C. – Caden Powell scored a career-high 18 points and recorded his third double-double of the year as Rice defeated East Carolina, 73-60, Wednesday night from Minges Coliseum.
The Story
Rice scored the first seven points of the game. However, East Carolina scored six of the next eight points. Emory Lanier hit a jumper, but the Owls then went over four minutes without scoring. However, ECU was only able to tie the game at 11 midway through the half. The teams then traded baskets before the Pirates took its first lead of the game, 17-15, on a C.J. Walker layup. The play went back-and-forth before Trae Broadnax hit a three to give Rice the lead, and then he found Jacob Dar for a layup. ECU cut the deficit to one, but Alem Huseinovic knocked down a three. Walker scored with 1:58 to play. But, Jimmy Oladokun, Jr. made a layup, and Broadnax beat the buzzer to send Rice into halftime with a 33-25 lead.
The teams traded baskets to open the second half. With Rice holding a Kellen Amos made one-of-two free throws and Dar made a pair from the line as the Owls scored nine straight. Cam Hayes made a three, but Powell made a layup and Alem Huseinovic and Lanier followed with threes, forcing an ECU timeout. Walker made two free throws, but Rice scored six straight to close out a 25-3 run and take its largest lead of the game at 58-35 with 10:11 to play. East Carolina, however, didn't go away. It scored six straight before Dar made two free throws. Trevion LaBeaux made a basket, but Denver Anglin answered with a three to push the lead back to 20. However, the Pirates scored nine of the next 10 points to cut the deficit to 64-52 with 4:00 remaining. But that's as close as they would get.
What Head Coach Rob Lanier Had to Say
"I'm obviously proud of the guys. We've had so many close and disappointing games this late in the year in conference play. It's the kind of thing that can break your spirit. But I haven't felt that from this group. I still feel like I'm coaching a team that wants to get better and wants to win, and I think that's what you saw tonight. We did a good job of keeping (East Carolina) off the glass, for the most part. We defended well, particularly down the stretch. We fouled and turned it over a bit too much down the stretch. We showed some signs of panic. I think that was a byproduct of us going so long without winning that we got a little tight."
The Stats
Rice connected on 43.1% (25-of-58) from the field, 38.9% (7-of-18) from three, and 72.7% (16-of-22) from the free throw line. East Carolina was held to 37.9% (22-of-58) from the floor, and 11.1% (2-of-18) from three. Rice also outrebounded the Pirates, 43-to-32.
Notes
• Rice and East Carolina met for the 17th time, with the Owls holding a 10-7 record.
• Rice has won three straight.
• In Greenville, Rice leads 5-2.
• Caden Powell recorded his third double-double of the season, scoring a career-high 18 points while grabbing a game-high 10 rebounds.
• Alem Huseinovic scored 11 points on three, three-pointers.
• Trae Broadnax scored nine points, tied a career-high with eight assists, and pulled down six rebounds.
• Kellen Amos scored nine points, and had seven rebounds, three assists and two steals.
• Emory Lanier scored nine points and had two steals.
• Jacob Dar scored nine points and had two blocks.
Next Up
Rice closes its North Carolina swing this Saturday, February 8, when it travels to Charlotte. Tip-off is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. CT and the game will be streamed by ESPN+.
The Story
Rice scored the first seven points of the game. However, East Carolina scored six of the next eight points. Emory Lanier hit a jumper, but the Owls then went over four minutes without scoring. However, ECU was only able to tie the game at 11 midway through the half. The teams then traded baskets before the Pirates took its first lead of the game, 17-15, on a C.J. Walker layup. The play went back-and-forth before Trae Broadnax hit a three to give Rice the lead, and then he found Jacob Dar for a layup. ECU cut the deficit to one, but Alem Huseinovic knocked down a three. Walker scored with 1:58 to play. But, Jimmy Oladokun, Jr. made a layup, and Broadnax beat the buzzer to send Rice into halftime with a 33-25 lead.
The teams traded baskets to open the second half. With Rice holding a Kellen Amos made one-of-two free throws and Dar made a pair from the line as the Owls scored nine straight. Cam Hayes made a three, but Powell made a layup and Alem Huseinovic and Lanier followed with threes, forcing an ECU timeout. Walker made two free throws, but Rice scored six straight to close out a 25-3 run and take its largest lead of the game at 58-35 with 10:11 to play. East Carolina, however, didn't go away. It scored six straight before Dar made two free throws. Trevion LaBeaux made a basket, but Denver Anglin answered with a three to push the lead back to 20. However, the Pirates scored nine of the next 10 points to cut the deficit to 64-52 with 4:00 remaining. But that's as close as they would get.
What Head Coach Rob Lanier Had to Say
"I'm obviously proud of the guys. We've had so many close and disappointing games this late in the year in conference play. It's the kind of thing that can break your spirit. But I haven't felt that from this group. I still feel like I'm coaching a team that wants to get better and wants to win, and I think that's what you saw tonight. We did a good job of keeping (East Carolina) off the glass, for the most part. We defended well, particularly down the stretch. We fouled and turned it over a bit too much down the stretch. We showed some signs of panic. I think that was a byproduct of us going so long without winning that we got a little tight."
The Stats
Rice connected on 43.1% (25-of-58) from the field, 38.9% (7-of-18) from three, and 72.7% (16-of-22) from the free throw line. East Carolina was held to 37.9% (22-of-58) from the floor, and 11.1% (2-of-18) from three. Rice also outrebounded the Pirates, 43-to-32.
Notes
• Rice and East Carolina met for the 17th time, with the Owls holding a 10-7 record.
• Rice has won three straight.
• In Greenville, Rice leads 5-2.
• Caden Powell recorded his third double-double of the season, scoring a career-high 18 points while grabbing a game-high 10 rebounds.
• Alem Huseinovic scored 11 points on three, three-pointers.
• Trae Broadnax scored nine points, tied a career-high with eight assists, and pulled down six rebounds.
• Kellen Amos scored nine points, and had seven rebounds, three assists and two steals.
• Emory Lanier scored nine points and had two steals.
• Jacob Dar scored nine points and had two blocks.
Next Up
Rice closes its North Carolina swing this Saturday, February 8, when it travels to Charlotte. Tip-off is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. CT and the game will be streamed by ESPN+.
Team Stats
Rice
ECU
FG%
.431
.379
3FG%
.389
.111
FT%
.727
.737
RB
43
32
TO
12
11
STL
8
6
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
18
FGM
6
3FGM
0
FTM
6
Pts
11
FGM
4
3FGM
3
FTM
0
Pts
9
FGM
2
3FGM
0
FTM
5
Pts
9
FGM
4
3FGM
1
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
G/F
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's Basketball
F
/ Men's BasketballF
/ Men's BasketballWBB: Rice vs. Marshall Postgame Presser
Wednesday, March 09
VB: Rice-Texas Postgame Presser
Saturday, December 04
VB: Rice-San Diego Postgame Presser
Thursday, December 02