Sunday, January 11
Houston, TX
1 p.m.
Rice University
7-10,1-3American
73
vs
74
Charlotte
9-8,3-1American
1
2
F
Charlotte
33
41
74
Rice
31
42
73
Photo by: Maria Lysaker | Rice Athletics
Furious Rally Falls Short as Rice Drops Heartbreaker to Charlotte
1/11/2026 4:58:00 PM | Men's Basketball
HOUSTON — Rice erased a 15-point, second half deficit, but Nick Anderson's three-pointer at the buzzer was off the mark, and the Owls fell to Charlotte, 74-73, Sunday afternoon from Tudor Fieldhouse.
The Story
Charlotte jumped out to a 12-4 lead through the first six minutes, as Rice missed nine of its first 11 shots. Two Andrew Akuchie free throws sent the Owls on a 10-2 run, tying the game at 14. After Ben Bradford made one-of-two free throws, the teams exchanged three-pointers. Rice took a three-point lead with 6:59 to play in the half on a Jimmy Oladokun, Jr., jumper and two Cam Carroll free throws. But a 12-4 Charlotte run gave it a 30-25 lead. Rice cut the lead to one before heading into halftime trailing 33-31.
The teams traded baskets to start the second half. With the game tied at 35, Charlotte scored seven straight points. They went back-and-forth over the next 4:24. But the 49ers scored 10 consecutive points in a 16-6 run, taking their largest lead at 64-49 with 6:01 to play. But the Owls would not go away. Nick Anderson capped off a 9-0 run to get within six points with three minutes remaining. Charlotte scored four of the next five, pushing its lead to nine. Trae Broadnax scored four straight points. Arden Conyers scored on a dunk, but Broadnax connected on a three. After a Charlotte basket, Broadnax made one-of-two free throws, and Eternity Eguagie drilled three to make it a two-point game with 36 seconds left. Dezayne Mingo made two free throws, but Broadnax converted a three-point play, then forced a turnover with seven seconds left. On Rice's final possession, Cam Carroll drove down the lane and kicked it out to Anderson from the corner. But the attempt went off the rim, and Charlotte corralled the rebound to preserve the win.
The Stats
Rice shot just 35.6% (21-of-59) from the field, and 29.2% (7-of-24) from three, but was 24-of-30 (80.0%) from the free throw line. Charlotte connected on 52.2% (24-of-46) from the floor, and 43.5% (10-of-23) from three, but was 16-of-27 (59.3%) from the free throw line. Rice also outrebounded the 49ers, 40-to-32.
What Head Coach Rob Lanier Had to Say
"Give Charlotte a lot of credit. They did a lot of things we saw on film. We're not as good when teams shoot 52.0% from the field. My message to the team after the game was, "We need to play with greater desperation as a team throughout the game. That desperation showed up in pockets throughout the course of the game, and of course at the end, with our backs against the wall, we gave a valiant effort. It's a disappointing loss on a lot of levels because it was so close. At the same time, we didn't position ourselves better throughout the game. But we'll learn from it and get better. I think we're getting better as a team, and I think this experience tonight will add to that."
Notes
• Rice fell to 7-10 on the year, and 1-3 in the American Conference.
• Rice moves to 11-12 all-time against Charlotte.
• The Owls dropped to 6-6 all-time in Houston.
• Rice's 18 offensive rebounds were a season-high.
• G Nick Anderson scored a season-high 23 points and tied a season-high with six rebounds.
• It was his second 20-point game this year, and the 23rd of his career.
• It was also his 14th double-figure scoring game this year, and the 60th of his career.
• G Trae Broadnax scored 21 points, had a season-high seven assists and four steals, and added four rebounds.
• It was his second straight 20-point game, third this year, and the 10th of his career.
• It was also his team-high 15th double-figure scoring game this year, and the 87th of his career.
• C Stephen Giwa grabbed a game-high seven rebounds and recorded at least one block for the fourth straight game.
Next Up
Rice goes back on the road next Wednesday, Jan. 14, when it travels to San Antonio to face UTSA. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. CT, and the game will be streamed by ESPN+.
The Story
Charlotte jumped out to a 12-4 lead through the first six minutes, as Rice missed nine of its first 11 shots. Two Andrew Akuchie free throws sent the Owls on a 10-2 run, tying the game at 14. After Ben Bradford made one-of-two free throws, the teams exchanged three-pointers. Rice took a three-point lead with 6:59 to play in the half on a Jimmy Oladokun, Jr., jumper and two Cam Carroll free throws. But a 12-4 Charlotte run gave it a 30-25 lead. Rice cut the lead to one before heading into halftime trailing 33-31.
The teams traded baskets to start the second half. With the game tied at 35, Charlotte scored seven straight points. They went back-and-forth over the next 4:24. But the 49ers scored 10 consecutive points in a 16-6 run, taking their largest lead at 64-49 with 6:01 to play. But the Owls would not go away. Nick Anderson capped off a 9-0 run to get within six points with three minutes remaining. Charlotte scored four of the next five, pushing its lead to nine. Trae Broadnax scored four straight points. Arden Conyers scored on a dunk, but Broadnax connected on a three. After a Charlotte basket, Broadnax made one-of-two free throws, and Eternity Eguagie drilled three to make it a two-point game with 36 seconds left. Dezayne Mingo made two free throws, but Broadnax converted a three-point play, then forced a turnover with seven seconds left. On Rice's final possession, Cam Carroll drove down the lane and kicked it out to Anderson from the corner. But the attempt went off the rim, and Charlotte corralled the rebound to preserve the win.
The Stats
Rice shot just 35.6% (21-of-59) from the field, and 29.2% (7-of-24) from three, but was 24-of-30 (80.0%) from the free throw line. Charlotte connected on 52.2% (24-of-46) from the floor, and 43.5% (10-of-23) from three, but was 16-of-27 (59.3%) from the free throw line. Rice also outrebounded the 49ers, 40-to-32.
What Head Coach Rob Lanier Had to Say
"Give Charlotte a lot of credit. They did a lot of things we saw on film. We're not as good when teams shoot 52.0% from the field. My message to the team after the game was, "We need to play with greater desperation as a team throughout the game. That desperation showed up in pockets throughout the course of the game, and of course at the end, with our backs against the wall, we gave a valiant effort. It's a disappointing loss on a lot of levels because it was so close. At the same time, we didn't position ourselves better throughout the game. But we'll learn from it and get better. I think we're getting better as a team, and I think this experience tonight will add to that."
Notes
• Rice fell to 7-10 on the year, and 1-3 in the American Conference.
• Rice moves to 11-12 all-time against Charlotte.
• The Owls dropped to 6-6 all-time in Houston.
• Rice's 18 offensive rebounds were a season-high.
• G Nick Anderson scored a season-high 23 points and tied a season-high with six rebounds.
• It was his second 20-point game this year, and the 23rd of his career.
• It was also his 14th double-figure scoring game this year, and the 60th of his career.
• G Trae Broadnax scored 21 points, had a season-high seven assists and four steals, and added four rebounds.
• It was his second straight 20-point game, third this year, and the 10th of his career.
• It was also his team-high 15th double-figure scoring game this year, and the 87th of his career.
• C Stephen Giwa grabbed a game-high seven rebounds and recorded at least one block for the fourth straight game.
Next Up
Rice goes back on the road next Wednesday, Jan. 14, when it travels to San Antonio to face UTSA. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. CT, and the game will be streamed by ESPN+.
Team Stats
CLT
Rice
FG%
.522
.356
3FG%
.435
.292
FT%
.593
.800
RB
32
40
TO
13
10
STL
6
8
Game Leaders
Pts
23
FGM
8
3FGM
3
FTM
4
Pts
21
FGM
6
3FGM
1
FTM
8
Pts
8
FGM
1
3FGM
1
FTM
5
Pts
7
FGM
1
3FGM
1
FTM
4
Players Mentioned
F
/ Men's BasketballG/F
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's BasketballF
/ Men's Basketball
C
/ Men's Basketball
F
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