Three-Point Shooting Leads Rice to Win at UTSA

Wednesday, January 14

San Antonio, TX

7 p.m.

Rice University

8-10,2-3American

UTSA

4-13,0-5American

Rice

UTSA

Three-Point Shooting Leads Rice to Win at UTSA

1/14/2026 10:02:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score Final Book (PDF)

By: Tim Andrzejewski (tra3@rice.edu)

SAN ANTONIO, Texas — Rice connected on a season-high 16 three-pointers and hit 55.6% from the field, on its way to an 89-73 victory at UTSA, Wednesday night from the UTSA Convocation Center.

The Story
Rice came out on fire, making four of its first five three-pointers, as it jumped out to an 18-6 lead through the first 6:30. Over the next 7:30 the teams went back-and-forth, trading possessions. With the Owls leading 35-25, Jordan Williams and Trae Broadnax hit back-to-back threes, as they went on an 11-2 run to take its largest lead of the game, 46-27, with 3:41 to play in the half. After trading baskets, UTSA went on an 11-3 run. Broadnax went drove for a layup, but Baboucarr Njie added one to beat the buzzer, sending Rice into halftime with a 51-40 lead.

After UTSA opened the second half with a basket, Nick Anderson and Cam Carroll made consecutive threes. The teams traded baskets over the next two minutes. Andrew Akuchie made one-of-two free throws, and Williams and Akuchie made buckets to extend Rice's lead to 66-49. But the Roadrunners answered with a 10-2 run to bring them within single digits midway through the half. Carroll, though, immediately hit a three, and the lead never got less than nine points the rest of the way.

The Stats
Rice connected on 55.6% (30-of-54) from the field, and 51.6% (16-of-31) from three, but was just 13-of-19 (68.4%) from the free throw line. UTSA was held to just 43.5% (27-of-626) from the floor, and 28.6% (8-of-28) from three, but hit 84.6% (11-of-13) from the free throw line. Rice was outrebounded by the Roadrunners, 32-to-31.

What Head Coach Rob Lanier Had to Say
"It was a good win. I love the way we shared the ball tonight. We had 19 assists in the game. In the first half, we made 10 threes. It's always great to see the ball go through the basket. But II thought that we were scoring so well in the first half, that it affected our defensive intensity. We had an opportunity to get some real significant separation in the first half, but we didn't exhibit enough toughness. The game got down to eight points and we made some big shots. We ratcheted up the defense a little bit. It was a really good road win for our guys."

Notes
• Rice improved to 8-10 on the year, and 2-3 in the American Conference.
• Rice moves to 12-15 all-time against UTSA.
• The Owls moved to 4-8 all-time in San Antonio.
• Rice scored 89 points, the fifth time this year it scored at least 80 points.
• The Owls connected on 55.6% from the field, the fourth time this year it made at least 50% of its shots.
• Rice also connected on 51.6% from three, the third time it made at least 50% from beyond the arc.
• Rice's 16 three-pointers were a season-high and tied the third-most three-pointers made in school history.
• It is the most three-pointers since making 16 versus Jarvis Christian on Dec. 19, 2022.
• It is the eighth time this season it made at least 10 three-pointers in a game.
• The Owls scored 51 first half points, the second time this year it scored at least 50 points in a half.
• G Trae Broadnax led the Owls with 20 points, tied a season-high seven assists, and added three rebounds and two steals.
• It was his third straight 20-point game, his fourth this year, and the 11^th of his career.
• He's the first player with three straight 20-point games since Travis Evee had three from Mar. 6-13, 2024.
• It was also his team-high 16^th double-figure scoring game this year, and the 88^th of his career.
• G Nick Anderson scored 19 points on four three-pointers, and grabbed five rebounds.
• It was his 15^th double-figure scoring game this year, and the 61^st of his career.
• G Jalen Smith scored 18 points and hit a career-high five three-pointers.
•The five three-pointers are the most by an Owls this year.
• It was his 10^th double-figure scoring game this year, and the 23^rd of his career.
• G Cam Carroll scored 11 points, tied a season-high with three, three-pointers, and added six assists.
• It was his ninth double-figure scoring game this year.
• C Stephen Giwa grabbed a team-high seven rebounds and had a game-high four blocks.
• He has recorded at least one block for the fifth straight game, and has 14 in the last five games.

Next Up
Rice returns home for a pair of games next Wednesday, Jan. 21, when it hosts Temple. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. CT, and the game will be streamed by ESPN+.