Rice Men’s Basketball Falls to Oregon in Tough Matchup
Eugene, Ore. — The Rice men’s basketball team faced a challenging opponent in their first road game of the season. They played hard but ultimately lost to Oregon at Matthew Knight Arena.
Game Highlights
Rice started strong. They quickly took an 11-4 lead, thanks to two three-pointers from Trae Broadnax and another from Nick Anderson. However, Oregon, a team ranked in the Associated Press and Coaches polls, responded with an 8-0 run. The Owls bounced back with shots from Broadnax and Jalen Smith to regain the lead. Yet, Oregon surged again, establishing a 20-15 lead with just under eight minutes left in the half.
The Owls tightened their defense, causing Oregon to miss several shots. Rice seized the moment, going on a 9-0 run, highlighted by a three-pointer from Dallas Hobbs. The teams stayed neck-and-neck, but Rice ended the half ahead, 32-27, after key shots from Jalen Smith and Andrew Akuchie.
In the second half, Rice extended their lead to 37-29. Unfortunately, they struggled offensively, missing 14 out of 15 attempts. Oregon capitalized on this, launching a 20-3 run and grabbing a 52-43 lead. Rice didn’t give up. Jimmy Oladokun, Jr. hit a three-point play, followed by Smith, who narrowed the gap again. The game turned tense in the closing minutes, but Oregon sealed their victory at the free-throw line.
Stats Breakdown
Rice shot 35.5% overall and 40.7% from three-point range. They made 72.7% of their free throws. In contrast, Oregon’s shooting was less efficient at 32.7% from the field and 25% from three, yet they excelled at the charity stripe, converting 68.4% of their attempts.
Coach’s Insights
Head Coach Rob Lanier commended his team’s effort but acknowledged areas for improvement. “I was proud of the work ethic,” he noted. “But allowing 38 free throws is too much. We defended well, holding them to 32% shooting, but we need to do better on the boards and in the paint.”
Looking Ahead
Rice will return home for two games, starting with a match against Stephen F. Austin next Tuesday at 7 p.m. CT, available for streaming on ESPN+.
Interesting Facts and Trends
- Rice’s record now stands at 1-1.
- The Owls have faced Oregon five times, with this loss dropping them to 1-4 in series history.
- Notably, Rice hit 11 three-pointers, marking their second consecutive game with at least 10 threes.
- Trae Broadnax led Rice with 17 points, while Nick Anderson added 16, and Jalen Smith contributed 14 points along with five assists.
As the season continues, Rice has the opportunity to build on this experience and improve their gameplay. Each game brings lessons that could help them grow as a team.
