Owls stun C-USA leading Blazers
In its previous 19 games against UAB, Rice experienced little basketball success, beating the Blazers only twice.
More than due for a victory in the series matching Conference USA teams, Rice not only got the best of first-place UAB on Saturday afternoon at Tudor Fieldhouse, but the Owls’ 85-80 win is the program’s most significant in five years of leadership under coach Scott Pera.
“It’s at the top, I can promise you,” said Pera, who received strong scoring efforts from guards Carl Pierre and Travis Evee, and rising 6-foot-9 forward Mylyjael Poteat. “It’s a big one. It’s a really big program win without question.
“They never wavered in their belief that they could win. We believed, we prepared well, and the kids executed. These kids earned that one.”
Rice (9-5, 2-1) trailed by five (39-34) at halftime and as many as 10 points (50-40) with a little less than 16 minutes remaining. In the second half the Owls outscored the Blazers 51-41.
“I’m so proud of us,” said Evee, who was 13-of-14 from the foul line. “We came out and played our game for 40 minutes.”
With the outcome on the line, Evee was 6-of-6 from the line over the final halfminute. Evee delivered as did a number of his teammates.
Pierre, who posted 19 points on 8-of-11 shooting and eight rebounds, made clutch baskets down the stretch. Poteat came alive in the second half, finishing with a career-high 18 points in 23 minutes. Evee, who posted 25 points, made six straight free throws in the double bonus to hold off the Blazers, considered the most talented team in the conference.
“UAB is really good,” Pera said. “I also think we’re good. If we give our best every night, we can compete and win our share.”
In the final minute, Evee kept making free throws and the Blazers’ herald point guard Jordan Walker was piling up points. Walker scored 10 of his teambest 18 points over the last 53 seconds of the game, including two 3-pointers.
The top 3-point shooter in the league, Evee upped his free-throw percentage when it counted the most.
“I don’t know what my record is, but it’s confidence, that’s all it is,” Evee said. “I trust the work I put in, and when the lights are on, step up with confidence and knock it down.”
Players from both teams came up big. A 3-pointer from Pierre gave the Owls a 68-66 lead with 4:33 remaining. He followed with a dunk off a missed shot to increase the lead to four points — 70-66 — with 3:59 left. After UAB got to within two points, again Pierre delivered. A Pierre 3-pointer upped the lead to 75-70 with 1:20 to play.
As good as Pierre and Evee were, Poteat positioned the Owls for their fifth win in six games. Poteat made all five of his field-goal attempts.
“In the last two, three weeks, I’ve seen a different approach in terms of how do I get better? What more can I do coach? His attitude was to get better and do more,” Pera said.
Chris Mullins and Max Fiedler made contributions on defense for the Owls, who enjoyed a 38-27 advantage on the boards.
K.J. Buffen scored 16 points and Tavin Lovan 14 for the Blazers.