Wednesday, January 7
Wichita, KS
6:30 p.m.
Rice University
7-9,1-2American
66
at
64
Wichita State
9-7,1-2American
1
2
F
Rice
28
38
66
Wichita St.
25
39
64
Broadnax Leads Rice to Win at Wichita State
1/7/2026 10:46:00 PM | Men's Basketball
WICHITA, Kan. — Trae Broadnax scored 18 of his season-high 22 points in the second half, and Rice defeated Wichita State, 66-64, Wednesday night from Charles Koch Arena.
The Story
Rice struggled out of the game, making just four of its first 12 shots, as Wichita State jumped out to a 15-8 lead, 6:18 into the game. A jumper by Jalen Smith sent the Owls on a 6-0 run. After the teams traded baskets, Smith drilled a three-pointer, as Rice scored seven straight points, taking a 23-19 lead with 2:38 to play. Two straight Shocker buckets tied the game, but Nick Anderson converted a three-point play, and Jimmy Oladokun, Jr. made a jumper, as Rice went into halftime with a 28-25 lead.
The teams began the second half going back-and-forth through the first minute and a half. A jumper from Stephen Giwa sent the Owls on an 11-3 run over the next 3:30. After WSU scored five straight points, Rice answered with six straight of their own to take their largest lead of the game, 49-36, with 11:26 to play. A three from Michael Gray, Jr., was answered by a jumper from Cam Carroll. They then traded baskets. But with Rice leading by 10, the Shockers went on a 13-3 run, going 9-of-10 from the free throw line in the process, tying the game at 56 with 4:31 remaining. The Owls came right back, going on a 7-0 run behind baskets from Oladokun and Broadnax, and a three from Carroll. Both teams went one-for-two from the line and followed with a basket. With the Owls holding a 66-59 lead with 41 seconds left, Dre Kindell made a layup, and Gray made two free throws. After a Smith turner, Gray made the first free throw, missing the second on purpose, with Jordan Williams getting the rebound with two seconds left. Williams was fouled but missed the front end of a one-and-one, and Gray's full-court shot was off the mark, as Rice held on for the victory.
The Stats
Rice shot connected on 44.8% (26-of-58) from the field, but just 20.0% (4-of-20) from three, and 62.5% (10-of-16) from the free throw line. Wichita State was held to just 29.8% (17-of-57) from the floor, and 27.3% (6-of-22) from three, but was 24-of-31 (77.4%) from the free throw line. Rice was also outrebounded, 42-to-41.
What Head Coach Rob Lanier Had to Say
"Obviously, I'm proud of the guys. It was a hard fought win, start to finish, against a good, well-coached team. We had a lot of contributions that didn't show up in the stat sheet. Defense was the key. (Wichita State) shot 29% from the field. We're not a team where teams can shoot in the high 40's or 50's, and us expect to win. It doesn't mean we're going to hold everybody to under 30%. But, certainly, our bread needs to be buttered there. But, I'm really proud of the team that we were able to get this done tonight."
Notes
• Rice improved to 7-9 on the year, and 1-2 in the American Conference.
• Rice moves to 2-4 all-time against Wichita State.
• The Owls earned their first-ever win at Wichita, moving to 1-2 all-time.
• Rice held Wichita State to just 29.8% shooting, the third time this year it held the opposition under 30%.
• G Trae Broadnax scored a season-high 22 points on 10-of-19 shooting.
• It was his team-high 14th double-figure scoring game this year, and the 86th of his career.
• G Cam Carroll scored 14 points, his eighth double-figure scoring game of the year.
• G Jordan Williams grabbed a career-high seven rebounds.
• C Stephen Giwa recorded at least one block for the third straight game.
Next Up
Rice begins a stretch of three out of four games at home this Sunday, Jan. 11, when it hosts Charlotte. Tip-off is scheduled for 1 p.m. CT, and the game will be streamed by ESPN+.
The Story
Rice struggled out of the game, making just four of its first 12 shots, as Wichita State jumped out to a 15-8 lead, 6:18 into the game. A jumper by Jalen Smith sent the Owls on a 6-0 run. After the teams traded baskets, Smith drilled a three-pointer, as Rice scored seven straight points, taking a 23-19 lead with 2:38 to play. Two straight Shocker buckets tied the game, but Nick Anderson converted a three-point play, and Jimmy Oladokun, Jr. made a jumper, as Rice went into halftime with a 28-25 lead.
The teams began the second half going back-and-forth through the first minute and a half. A jumper from Stephen Giwa sent the Owls on an 11-3 run over the next 3:30. After WSU scored five straight points, Rice answered with six straight of their own to take their largest lead of the game, 49-36, with 11:26 to play. A three from Michael Gray, Jr., was answered by a jumper from Cam Carroll. They then traded baskets. But with Rice leading by 10, the Shockers went on a 13-3 run, going 9-of-10 from the free throw line in the process, tying the game at 56 with 4:31 remaining. The Owls came right back, going on a 7-0 run behind baskets from Oladokun and Broadnax, and a three from Carroll. Both teams went one-for-two from the line and followed with a basket. With the Owls holding a 66-59 lead with 41 seconds left, Dre Kindell made a layup, and Gray made two free throws. After a Smith turner, Gray made the first free throw, missing the second on purpose, with Jordan Williams getting the rebound with two seconds left. Williams was fouled but missed the front end of a one-and-one, and Gray's full-court shot was off the mark, as Rice held on for the victory.
The Stats
Rice shot connected on 44.8% (26-of-58) from the field, but just 20.0% (4-of-20) from three, and 62.5% (10-of-16) from the free throw line. Wichita State was held to just 29.8% (17-of-57) from the floor, and 27.3% (6-of-22) from three, but was 24-of-31 (77.4%) from the free throw line. Rice was also outrebounded, 42-to-41.
What Head Coach Rob Lanier Had to Say
"Obviously, I'm proud of the guys. It was a hard fought win, start to finish, against a good, well-coached team. We had a lot of contributions that didn't show up in the stat sheet. Defense was the key. (Wichita State) shot 29% from the field. We're not a team where teams can shoot in the high 40's or 50's, and us expect to win. It doesn't mean we're going to hold everybody to under 30%. But, certainly, our bread needs to be buttered there. But, I'm really proud of the team that we were able to get this done tonight."
Notes
• Rice improved to 7-9 on the year, and 1-2 in the American Conference.
• Rice moves to 2-4 all-time against Wichita State.
• The Owls earned their first-ever win at Wichita, moving to 1-2 all-time.
• Rice held Wichita State to just 29.8% shooting, the third time this year it held the opposition under 30%.
• G Trae Broadnax scored a season-high 22 points on 10-of-19 shooting.
• It was his team-high 14th double-figure scoring game this year, and the 86th of his career.
• G Cam Carroll scored 14 points, his eighth double-figure scoring game of the year.
• G Jordan Williams grabbed a career-high seven rebounds.
• C Stephen Giwa recorded at least one block for the third straight game.
Next Up
Rice begins a stretch of three out of four games at home this Sunday, Jan. 11, when it hosts Charlotte. Tip-off is scheduled for 1 p.m. CT, and the game will be streamed by ESPN+.
Team Stats
Rice
WSU
FG%
.448
.298
3FG%
.200
.273
FT%
.625
.774
RB
41
42
TO
10
7
STL
4
5
Game Leaders
Pts
22
FGM
10
3FGM
1
FTM
1
Pts
14
FGM
4
3FGM
2
FTM
4
Pts
9
FGM
4
3FGM
1
FTM
0
Pts
7
FGM
3
3FGM
0
FTM
1
Players Mentioned
G/F
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's Basketball
C
/ Men's Basketball
F
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's Basketball
G
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