Rice Falls to North Texas in Hard Fought Battle

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HOUSTON — Rice cut a double-digit deficit to three, but could not get any closer, as it fell to North Texas on Saturday night, 74-64, at Tudor Fieldhouse.
 
The Story
Both teams started fast. With UNT leading 5-2, Travis Evee made a layup, then stepped in front of a pass and went in for another to give Rice the lead. After trading baskets through the next two minutes, the Owls scored seven of the next nine points, including a three by Quincy Olivari. North Texas scored six of the next eight to tie it at 19, but a dunk by Max Fiedler gave Rice the 21-19 lead midway through the first half. However, the Owls made just one of their next five shots while turning the ball over four times as the Mean Green went on a 20-5 run to take its largest lead of the half, 35-23, with 4:51 to play. Mekhi Mason hit a three, but North Texas scored five of the final eight points as Rice went into halftime trailing, 40-29.
 
Rice opened the second half on a 9-3 run. After UNT hit a three, Cameron Sheffield answered with one of his own and Andrew Akuchie followed with a dunk as the Owls cut the deficit to 46-43 with 11 minutes left. North Texas pushed its lead to nine by scoring eight of the next 10 points. But a free throw by Olivari and layups from Evee and Fiedler brought Rice within 54-50 with seven minutes to play. However, the Mean Green scored six straight points, extending its lead to 10. Rice would cut the lead to five two minutes later on five straight points from Mason, but it could get no closer the rest of the way.
 
What Head Coach Scott Pera Had to Say
"Give North Texas all of the credit. The surge they had at the end of the first half ended up being the difference in the game. We couldn't get caught up. We didn't play well enough to win. They played better and they deserved to win."
 
The Stats
Rice connected on 47.1% (24-of-51) from the field and 37.5% (6-of-16). But it was just 10-of-18 (55.6%) from the free throw line. North Texas connected on 52.1% (25-of-48) from the floor and 40.0% (6-of-15) from three. The Owls were also outrebounded, 35-to-24.
 
Notes
• Rice and North Texas met for the second time this year and the 32nd time overall.
• North Texas holds a 23-9 record in the series, but just 9-6 in Houston.
• G Mekhi Mason scored a team-high 17 points and grabbed five rebounds.
• F Max Fiedler scored 13 points and had a team-high eight rebounds, three assists and two blocks.
• With eight rebounds, Fiedler has 773 in his career, passing Temple Tucker (1955-58) for sixth-place on Rice's all-time list.
• G Travis Evee scored 12 points and had a career-high five steals.
• G Quincy Olivari scored 12 points, his 20^th straight double-figure scoring game, and had five rebounds.

Next Up
Rice will head to Florida for a pair of games beginning next Thursday, Feb. 9, when it travels to Boca Raton to face league-leader, No. 19 Florida Atlantic. Tip-off is scheduled for 6 p.m. CT and will be streamed at ESPN+.

LINK for more:  https://riceowls.com/news/2023/2/4/mens-basketball-rice-falls-to-north-texas-in-hard-fought-battle.aspx