Saturday, January 3
Houston, TX
2 p.m.
Rice University
6-9,0-2American
70
vs
76
Memphis
7-7,2-0American
1
2
F
Memphis
31
45
76
Rice
32
38
70
Rice Drops Hard Fought Battle to Memphis
1/3/2026 6:18:00 PM | Men's Basketball
HOUSTON — Rice placed four players in double-figures, but it was not enough, as the Owls fell to Memphis in their conference home opener, 76-70, Saturday afternoon from Tudor Fieldhouse.
The Story
The teams went back-and-forth through the first six minutes, with Rice taking a three-point lead before Memphis tied the game at 10. Eternity Eguagie drove in for a layup, and Nick Anderson hit a three, as the Owls went on a 15-2 run over the next 6:18, taking their largest lead of the game at 25-12. A 7-0 run brought the Tigers within six. Trae Broadnax hit a jumper, and Cam Carroll made two free throws to extend Rice's lead back to 10. But the Owls missed their final five shots of the half, as Memphis closed on a 12-3 run, sending Rice into the break with a 32-31 lead.
Jalen Smith and Carroll hit back-to-back threes to open the second half. But the Owls missed seven of their next eight shots, as Memphis went on a 20-7 run, taking a 51-45 lead, before Anderson hit a three-pointer to cut the deficit in half with 10:30 to play. The Tigers then scored seven of the next eight points to grab their largest lead of the game, 58-50, just 3:20 later. Rice, though, wouldn't go away. Anderson hit a three-pointer, and Broadnax made a layup. After Julius Thedford made two free throws, Anderson made one-of-two, but Eternity Eguagie got the offensive rebound and laid it in, pulling the Owls within two with 4:36 remaining. But Memphis scored six of the next seven points, and made 10 straight free throws to seal the game.
The Stats
Rice shot 36.5% (19-of-52) from the field, 31.0% (9-of-29) from three, and 76.7% (23-of-30) from the free throw line. Memphis connected on 46.9% (23-of-49) from the floor, 30.8% (4-of-13) from three, and 86.7% (10-of-12) from the free throw line. Rice was also outrebounded, 38-to-31.
What Head Coach Rob Lanier Had to Say
"Obviously, the credit goes to Memphis. It was a hard-fought game both ways. They just made some plays down the stretch. They do a good job of disguising, changing, and mixing up their defense. They force you to make plays. That's essentially what the game comes down to. They had a couple of guys step up. We were right there at the end. We just couldn't make enough plays to get it done."
Notes
• Rice falls to 6-9 on the year, including 0-2 in the American Conference.
• Rice moves to 2-12 all-time against Memphis.
• The Owls are 1-7 in Houston.
• Rice is 56-53 all-time in conference home openers.
• G Nick Anderson scored a team-high 17 points and added five rebounds and three steals.
• It was his 13th double-figure scoring game this year, and the 59th of his career.
• Anderson tied a season-high with four three-pointers made.
• G Trae Broadnax scored 15 points on 9-of-12 from the free throw line.
• It was his 13th double-figure scoring game this year, and the 85th of his career.
• G Cam Carroll scored 13 points, his seventh double-figure scoring game of the year.
• F Eternity Eguagie scored 11 points and grabbed four rebounds
• It was his fifth double-figure scoring game of the year.
• C Stephen Giwa grabbed a game-high nine rebounds and added three blocks.
Next Up
Rice heads back on the road next Wednesday, Jan. 7, when it travels to Wichita, Kan., to face Wichita State. Tip-off is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. CT, and the game will be streamed by ESPN+.
The Story
The teams went back-and-forth through the first six minutes, with Rice taking a three-point lead before Memphis tied the game at 10. Eternity Eguagie drove in for a layup, and Nick Anderson hit a three, as the Owls went on a 15-2 run over the next 6:18, taking their largest lead of the game at 25-12. A 7-0 run brought the Tigers within six. Trae Broadnax hit a jumper, and Cam Carroll made two free throws to extend Rice's lead back to 10. But the Owls missed their final five shots of the half, as Memphis closed on a 12-3 run, sending Rice into the break with a 32-31 lead.
Jalen Smith and Carroll hit back-to-back threes to open the second half. But the Owls missed seven of their next eight shots, as Memphis went on a 20-7 run, taking a 51-45 lead, before Anderson hit a three-pointer to cut the deficit in half with 10:30 to play. The Tigers then scored seven of the next eight points to grab their largest lead of the game, 58-50, just 3:20 later. Rice, though, wouldn't go away. Anderson hit a three-pointer, and Broadnax made a layup. After Julius Thedford made two free throws, Anderson made one-of-two, but Eternity Eguagie got the offensive rebound and laid it in, pulling the Owls within two with 4:36 remaining. But Memphis scored six of the next seven points, and made 10 straight free throws to seal the game.
The Stats
Rice shot 36.5% (19-of-52) from the field, 31.0% (9-of-29) from three, and 76.7% (23-of-30) from the free throw line. Memphis connected on 46.9% (23-of-49) from the floor, 30.8% (4-of-13) from three, and 86.7% (10-of-12) from the free throw line. Rice was also outrebounded, 38-to-31.
What Head Coach Rob Lanier Had to Say
"Obviously, the credit goes to Memphis. It was a hard-fought game both ways. They just made some plays down the stretch. They do a good job of disguising, changing, and mixing up their defense. They force you to make plays. That's essentially what the game comes down to. They had a couple of guys step up. We were right there at the end. We just couldn't make enough plays to get it done."
Notes
• Rice falls to 6-9 on the year, including 0-2 in the American Conference.
• Rice moves to 2-12 all-time against Memphis.
• The Owls are 1-7 in Houston.
• Rice is 56-53 all-time in conference home openers.
• G Nick Anderson scored a team-high 17 points and added five rebounds and three steals.
• It was his 13th double-figure scoring game this year, and the 59th of his career.
• Anderson tied a season-high with four three-pointers made.
• G Trae Broadnax scored 15 points on 9-of-12 from the free throw line.
• It was his 13th double-figure scoring game this year, and the 85th of his career.
• G Cam Carroll scored 13 points, his seventh double-figure scoring game of the year.
• F Eternity Eguagie scored 11 points and grabbed four rebounds
• It was his fifth double-figure scoring game of the year.
• C Stephen Giwa grabbed a game-high nine rebounds and added three blocks.
Next Up
Rice heads back on the road next Wednesday, Jan. 7, when it travels to Wichita, Kan., to face Wichita State. Tip-off is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. CT, and the game will be streamed by ESPN+.
Team Stats
Mem
Rice
FG%
.469
.365
3FG%
.308
.310
FT%
.867
.767
RB
38
31
TO
15
14
STL
11
10
Game Leaders
Pts
17
FGM
5
3FGM
4
FTM
3
Pts
15
FGM
3
3FGM
0
FTM
9
Pts
13
FGM
3
3FGM
3
FTM
4
Pts
11
FGM
3
3FGM
0
FTM
5
Players Mentioned
G/F
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's BasketballF
/ Men's Basketball
C
/ Men's Basketball
G
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