Rice Earns Senior Day Victory Over UTSA

Sunday, March 8

Houston, TX

2 p.m.

Rice University

13-18,7-11American

UTSA

5-25,1-17American

UTSA

Rice

Photo by: Maria Lysaker | Rice Athletics

3/8/2026 6:00:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score Final Book (PDF)

By: Tim Andrzejewski (tra3@rice.edu)

HOUSTON — Jalen Smith scored a career-high 25 points, and Nick Anderson added 20, as Rice defeated UTSA on Senior Day, 80-71, Sunday afternoon from Tudor Fieldhouse.

The Story
The teams exchanged baskets through the first two minutes. A three-pointer by Jalen Smith sent the Owls on a 7-0 run. After trading baskets, threes from Smith and Nick Anderson bookended an 11-0, giving Rice its largest lead of the half at 25-7, 7:24 into the game. They went back-and-forth before a 10-3 UTSA run cut the deficit to nine. A jumper by Andrew Akuchie followed by an Anderson three extended Rice's lead back to 14. The Roadrunners then scored seven of the next 10 points to pull within 10. But the Owls scored six of the next seven points before a basket by UTSA closed the half, as Rice went into the break with a 45-32 lead.

The second half began as a back-and-forth affair. After UTSA scored to open the half, Smith drilled a three and Anderson turned a steal into a dunk. They then traded baskets over the next 5:24. With Rice holding a 12-point lead, it scored seven straight points to grab its largest lead of the day, 69-50, with 8:40 to play. The Roadrunners scored eight of the next 10 points, cutting the deficit to 13. But the Owls answered, scoring seven of the next nine points, extending their lead to 78-60 with 4:54 remaining to seal the game.

What Head Coach Rob Lanier Had to Say
"I'm just proud of the guys. You never how young people are going to approach not playing in the conference tournament. But the last couple of days leading up to today was phenomenal. I think it speaks to the group of seniors that we have that the rest of the guys wanted to win today for them. We weren't very efficient as a team. I think we got a little caught up in the score. But in general, their hearts were in the right place. What I wanted to see was that we wanted to play, and we did. I thought that was the difference."

The Stats
Rice was held to 38.5% (30-of-78) from the field, 26.1% (12-of-46) from three, and 57.1% (8-of-14) from the free throw line. UTSA was held to 35.7% (25-of-70) from the floor, 25.0% (7-of-28) from three, and 60.9% (14-of-23) from the free throw line. Rice won the rebounding battle, 50-to-47.

Notes
• Rice finished the season with a 13-18 record, including 7-11 in the American Conference.
• Rice moves to 13-15 all-time against UTSA.
• The Owls are now 8-7 in games played in Houston.
• Rice connected on 12 three-pointers, the 15^th time this year it made at least 10 threes.
• Rice grabbed 50 rebounds, the fourth time this year it finished with at least 50.
• Rice's 46 three-point attempts are the most in school history.
• The 78 field goal attempts are the most since recording 82 against Southern Utah on Mar. 20, 2023.
• G Jalen Smith scored a career-high 25 points, tying a career-high with five three-pointers, while grabbing six rebounds.
• It was his third 20-point game of the year.
• It was also 20^th double-figure scoring game this year, and the 33^rd of his career.
• Smith's 17 three-point attempts tied the most in a game in school history.
• He finished the year with 80 three-pointers, the 12^th player in school history to reach at least 80.
• G Nick Anderson scored 20 points on a season-high six three-pointers.
• The six three-pointers were the most by an Owl this year.
• It was his seventh 20-point game this year and the 28^th of his career.
• It was also his 26^th double-figure scoring game this year, and the 72^nd of his career.
• He finished the year with 84 three-pointers, the 13^th player in school history to reach at least 80.
• His 84 threes are the eighth-most in a season in school history.
• Smith and Anderson became the third duo in school history to each reach at least 80 three-pointers.
• G Trae Broadnax scored 12 points and had five rebounds and five assists.
• It was also his 28^th double-figure scoring game this year, and the 100^th of his career.
• With five assists, he finished the year with 101, becoming the ninth player in school history with at least 100 assists in back-to-back seasons.
• F Andrew Akuchie scored six points and added eight rebounds.
• C Stephen Giwa scored six points and grabbed a team-high 10 rebounds.
• It was his second double-digit rebound game this year and the seventh of his career.