Thursday, March 6
Houston, TX
7 p.m.
Rice University
13-18,4-14AAC
59
vs
63
Wichita State
18-12,8-9AAC
1
2
F
Wichita St.
31
32
63
Rice
28
31
59
Photo by: Maria Lysaker | Rice Athletics
Rice Falls to Wichita State on Senior Day
3/6/2025 10:48:00 PM | Men's Basketball
HOUSTON – Rice made just two of its final 11 shots over the final nine minutes, as it fell to Wichita State on Senior Day, 63-59, Thursday night at Tudor Fieldhouse.
The Story
With the seniors in the starting lineup, Rice came out strong, jumping out to a 10-4 lead in the first four minutes. WSU scored five straight, but Trae Broadnax made a layup and then found Andrew Akuchie underneath for a dunk and a 14-9 Owls advantage. However, they went cold, missing eight straight shots 9:10, as the Shockers used a 17-2 run to take its largest lead of the half, 26-16, with 5:13 to play. Caden Powell made two free throws, and Denver Anglin hit a three-pointer to cut the deficit to five. After a jumper by Bijan Cortes. Jacob Dar made one-of-two free throws and hit a jumper, and Broadnax added one of his own. Cortes then made a three. But Powell rebounded his own miss and laid it in just before the buzzer to send Rice into halftime trailing, 31-28.
WSU opened the second half with three straight baskets. Kellen Amos got Rice on the board with a three, but Xavier Bell hit a jumper. The Owls cut the deficit to four, but three straight buckets gave the Shockers it's largest lead of the half at 45-35 with 13:25 to play. The Owls, though, began to chip away at the lead. After trading free throws, Alem Huseinovic hit back-to-back threes to make it a three-point game. The teams then traded baskets over the next 2:20. Bell made one-of-two free throws, and Harlond Beverly hit a jumper to push Wichita State's lead to six. But Emory Lanier scored four straight points to cut it to two with 6:00 remaining. WSU then missed its next 12 shots. However, Rice couldn't take advantage, missing seven straight while going just 3-of-7 from the free throw line. With the Owls down two, Akuchie made one-of-two free throws. Cortes then hit a jumper. Rice then missed two straight with a chance to make it a one-point game, and was forced to foul. Ronnie DeGray III made one-of-two to push their lead to four with seven seconds left. A layup by Amos made it a one-possession game, but Bell sealed the win with two free throws with 1.7 remaining.
The Stats
Rice was held to just 35.7% (20-of-56) from the field, and 20.0% (4-of-20) from three. The Owls held Wichita State to 38.1% (24-of-63) from the floor, and 14.3% (2-of-14) from three. The Owls were outrebounded, 46-to-36.
Notes
• Rice and Wichita State met for the only time this year and just the fifth time overall.
• The Shockers hold a 4-1 lead in the series.
• This was just the second meeting in Houston, where the series is split, 1-1.
• Caden Powell led the Owls with 10 points and a team-high 12 rebounds.
• It was his fourth double-double of the year.
• It was also his 15th double-figure scoring game of the year.
• Kellen Amos scored a team-high 12 points.
• It was his 15th double-figure scoring game of the year.
• Alem Huseinovic scored 10 points.
• Andrew Akuchie scored seven points and grabbed seven rebounds.
• With a three-pointer in the first half, Denver Anglin has now made at least one three in 23 straight games, the longest streak since Travis Evee made one in 31 straight from Dec. 19, 2020 – Jan. 1, 2022.
Next Up
Rice begins play next week at the American Athletic Conference Tournament in Denton/Fort Worth. The tournament begins next Wednesday, Mar. 12. Rice's game date, time and opponent are to be determined.
The Story
With the seniors in the starting lineup, Rice came out strong, jumping out to a 10-4 lead in the first four minutes. WSU scored five straight, but Trae Broadnax made a layup and then found Andrew Akuchie underneath for a dunk and a 14-9 Owls advantage. However, they went cold, missing eight straight shots 9:10, as the Shockers used a 17-2 run to take its largest lead of the half, 26-16, with 5:13 to play. Caden Powell made two free throws, and Denver Anglin hit a three-pointer to cut the deficit to five. After a jumper by Bijan Cortes. Jacob Dar made one-of-two free throws and hit a jumper, and Broadnax added one of his own. Cortes then made a three. But Powell rebounded his own miss and laid it in just before the buzzer to send Rice into halftime trailing, 31-28.
WSU opened the second half with three straight baskets. Kellen Amos got Rice on the board with a three, but Xavier Bell hit a jumper. The Owls cut the deficit to four, but three straight buckets gave the Shockers it's largest lead of the half at 45-35 with 13:25 to play. The Owls, though, began to chip away at the lead. After trading free throws, Alem Huseinovic hit back-to-back threes to make it a three-point game. The teams then traded baskets over the next 2:20. Bell made one-of-two free throws, and Harlond Beverly hit a jumper to push Wichita State's lead to six. But Emory Lanier scored four straight points to cut it to two with 6:00 remaining. WSU then missed its next 12 shots. However, Rice couldn't take advantage, missing seven straight while going just 3-of-7 from the free throw line. With the Owls down two, Akuchie made one-of-two free throws. Cortes then hit a jumper. Rice then missed two straight with a chance to make it a one-point game, and was forced to foul. Ronnie DeGray III made one-of-two to push their lead to four with seven seconds left. A layup by Amos made it a one-possession game, but Bell sealed the win with two free throws with 1.7 remaining.
The Stats
Rice was held to just 35.7% (20-of-56) from the field, and 20.0% (4-of-20) from three. The Owls held Wichita State to 38.1% (24-of-63) from the floor, and 14.3% (2-of-14) from three. The Owls were outrebounded, 46-to-36.
Notes
• Rice and Wichita State met for the only time this year and just the fifth time overall.
• The Shockers hold a 4-1 lead in the series.
• This was just the second meeting in Houston, where the series is split, 1-1.
• Caden Powell led the Owls with 10 points and a team-high 12 rebounds.
• It was his fourth double-double of the year.
• It was also his 15th double-figure scoring game of the year.
• Kellen Amos scored a team-high 12 points.
• It was his 15th double-figure scoring game of the year.
• Alem Huseinovic scored 10 points.
• Andrew Akuchie scored seven points and grabbed seven rebounds.
• With a three-pointer in the first half, Denver Anglin has now made at least one three in 23 straight games, the longest streak since Travis Evee made one in 31 straight from Dec. 19, 2020 – Jan. 1, 2022.
Next Up
Rice begins play next week at the American Athletic Conference Tournament in Denton/Fort Worth. The tournament begins next Wednesday, Mar. 12. Rice's game date, time and opponent are to be determined.
Team Stats
WSU
Rice
FG%
.381
.357
3FG%
.143
.200
FT%
.591
.714
RB
46
36
TO
8
10
STL
4
6
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
12
FGM
5
3FGM
1
FTM
1
Pts
10
FGM
4
3FGM
2
FTM
0
Pts
10
FGM
3
3FGM
0
FTM
4
Players Mentioned
F
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