Rice loses 67-61 to North Texas

Support The HRR | HRR business directory

POSTED: February 12, 2025 -- 7:34 a.m. CST

HOUSTON, TX (Tudor Fieldhouse) -- The Rice Owls battled and had chances to win Tuesday evening; however, the Owls lost to the North Texas Mean Green 67-61 inside Tudor Fieldhouse.

Rice (11-12 overall, 3-9 in the American Athletic Conference) tied North Texas at 61 with 75 seconds remaining in the game. However, the Mean Green (18-6, 9-3) scored the final six points to win the game.

"This was a game that, without question, the engagement and competitive spirit was there throughout the game," Rob Lanier, Rice Owls Head Coach said of the game. "If we continue to play the way we're playing, it's just about learning how to finish."

Rice trailed North Texas 31-28 at halftime. North Texas made 3 three-pointers (out of 11 attempts) in the first half; but, the Mean Green wasted little time making 3 three-pointers in the second half. North Texas drained 3 threes in the first 4 minutes of the second half. Rice trailed 44-35 with 15:27 on the clock when the Owls began a comeback.

The Owls made 5 of 6 shot attempts while the Mean Green's offense went cold and missed 11 of 12 attempts. The Owls went on a 13-3 run to trim their deficit to 47-46 with 8:52 to go in the game. Rice guard Denver Anglin swished a 3 which led to a North Texas timeout.

After the timeout, North Texas responded with 4 quick points and led 51-46; then, once again, North Texas' experienced a scoring drought and Rice capitalized and pulled with 59-57 with just 2:45 left in the ball game.

Andrew Akuchie split 2 of 4 free throws for the Owls and Rice trailed 61-59 with 1:57 on the clock. Rice's defense forced a North Texas shot clock violation; and Rice graduate guard Trae Broadnax tied the game at 61 with a left-handed layup off the glass.

North Texas called a 30-second timeout. After the timeout, North Texas guard Jonathan Massie (from Houston, TX) made a great bounce pass to teammate Moulaye Sissoko in the paint and Sissoko hammered home a two-hand slam dunk.

Broadnax missed a jumper in the paint. Massie was fouled and made both free throw attempts. Rice did not score in the final 75 seconds of the game.

The Owls shot 10 for 19 at the foul line in the second half and 12 for 23 for the ball game.

Jacob Dar led the Owls with 16 points (7 for 9 field goals) and 8 rebounds. Caden Powell added 10 points and 5 boards.

"You can't take anything for granted, but sometimes, when you're not getting the outcome, you can still get better," Coach Lanier said. "And, I do feel that way about this group. I've said to these guys that if we were going to break, we would have been broken by now. So, that is off the table. Now, it's just a matter of finding that breakthrough."

NEXT:

Rice's next game is Saturday, February 15, at Tulane. Tip is set for 11 a.m. CT on ESPN+.

Support The HRR

CLICK HERE for The HRR's Rice Owls men's hoops write-ups.