Rice University Athletics
Men’s Basketball Goes 3-0 in Europe
8/8/2025 3:32:00 PM | Men's Basketball
PARIS, France — The Rice men's basketball team went a perfect 3-0 during its trip through Belgium and France. The Owls won 102-42 in Brussels, 82-67 in Lille, and 79-52 in Paris.
The Owls shot 47.5% from the floor and 29.3% from three, while holding their opponents to just 31.3% from the floor and 23.1% from beyond the arc. Rice outrebounded them 47.0-to-34.7, and averaged 20.3 assists and 19.0 steals.
Jalen Smith led the Owls with 15.7 points per game, on 56.3% shooting. He averaged 3.7 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and 2.7 steals. Jimmy Oladokun, Jr. scored 13.7 points and led the team with 6.3 rebounds. He also connected on 76.0% from the floor. Nick Anderson averaged 11.0 points and 4.0 rebounds, and shot 45.0% from three. Bodey Howell scored 6.7 points and pulled down 6.0 rebounds.
In the opening game in Brussels, Rice shot 52.6% from the field, recording 24 assists on 41 made field goals, en route to a 102-42 victory. It also created 43 turnovers, notching 27 steals in the process. Smith scored 17 points, had five rebounds and five steals. Oladokun scored 17 points on seven-of-eight shooting, while adding four rebounds and four assists. Anderson had 11 points, four rebounds, and four steals, and Jordan Williams added 10 points and four steals. Howell led the Owls with seven rebounds, and Andrew Akuchie pulled down six.
In the following game in Lille, Rice shot 44.3% from the floor and 34.6% from three, on its way to an 82-67 win. The Owls had 18 steals while forcing 26 turnovers, and had 17 assists on 31 made field goals. Smith scored a game-high 25 points on 9-of-15 shooting, while connecting on four three-pointers. Nick Anderson scored 10 points, grabbed six rebounds, and had three steals. Howell had eight points and a game-high seven rebounds, and Akuchie notched eight points and six boards.
Rice closed out its trip with a 79-52 victory in Paris, shooting 44.0% from the field while recording 20 assists on 33 made field goals, while forcing the opposition to just 31.6% from the floor and 10.0% from three. I also forced 21 turnovers, notching 12 steals, while outrebounding them, 54-to-37. Oladokun had his best game of the trip, recording a double-double with 18 points and 11 rebounds, while adding three steals and two blocks
The Owls return seven players from last year's squad, including starters Trae Broadnax and Andrew Akuchie, while welcoming 10 newcomers.
In non-conference action, Rice will host Stephen F. Austin, Texas State, and Arkansas State, while traveling to Tennessee and Oregon. The Owls will also head to Florida for three games at the Gulf Coast Showcase.
The American Conference slate will consist of 18 games. Teams will play six of its 12 conference opponents twice and the other six once – three at home and three on the road. Rice will face six teams twice – Charlotte, East Carolina, North Texas, Temple, UTSA, and Tulsa. The Owls will host Florida Atlantic, Memphis, and South Florida while traveling to UAB, Tulane, and Wichita State.
The Owls shot 47.5% from the floor and 29.3% from three, while holding their opponents to just 31.3% from the floor and 23.1% from beyond the arc. Rice outrebounded them 47.0-to-34.7, and averaged 20.3 assists and 19.0 steals.
Jalen Smith led the Owls with 15.7 points per game, on 56.3% shooting. He averaged 3.7 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and 2.7 steals. Jimmy Oladokun, Jr. scored 13.7 points and led the team with 6.3 rebounds. He also connected on 76.0% from the floor. Nick Anderson averaged 11.0 points and 4.0 rebounds, and shot 45.0% from three. Bodey Howell scored 6.7 points and pulled down 6.0 rebounds.
In the opening game in Brussels, Rice shot 52.6% from the field, recording 24 assists on 41 made field goals, en route to a 102-42 victory. It also created 43 turnovers, notching 27 steals in the process. Smith scored 17 points, had five rebounds and five steals. Oladokun scored 17 points on seven-of-eight shooting, while adding four rebounds and four assists. Anderson had 11 points, four rebounds, and four steals, and Jordan Williams added 10 points and four steals. Howell led the Owls with seven rebounds, and Andrew Akuchie pulled down six.
In the following game in Lille, Rice shot 44.3% from the floor and 34.6% from three, on its way to an 82-67 win. The Owls had 18 steals while forcing 26 turnovers, and had 17 assists on 31 made field goals. Smith scored a game-high 25 points on 9-of-15 shooting, while connecting on four three-pointers. Nick Anderson scored 10 points, grabbed six rebounds, and had three steals. Howell had eight points and a game-high seven rebounds, and Akuchie notched eight points and six boards.
Rice closed out its trip with a 79-52 victory in Paris, shooting 44.0% from the field while recording 20 assists on 33 made field goals, while forcing the opposition to just 31.6% from the floor and 10.0% from three. I also forced 21 turnovers, notching 12 steals, while outrebounding them, 54-to-37. Oladokun had his best game of the trip, recording a double-double with 18 points and 11 rebounds, while adding three steals and two blocks
The Owls return seven players from last year's squad, including starters Trae Broadnax and Andrew Akuchie, while welcoming 10 newcomers.
In non-conference action, Rice will host Stephen F. Austin, Texas State, and Arkansas State, while traveling to Tennessee and Oregon. The Owls will also head to Florida for three games at the Gulf Coast Showcase.
The American Conference slate will consist of 18 games. Teams will play six of its 12 conference opponents twice and the other six once – three at home and three on the road. Rice will face six teams twice – Charlotte, East Carolina, North Texas, Temple, UTSA, and Tulsa. The Owls will host Florida Atlantic, Memphis, and South Florida while traveling to UAB, Tulane, and Wichita State.
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