A massive opening deficit proved too much to overcome as Rice Basketball fell to Tulsa for the second time this season.
The game was nearly over before Rice basketball made their first field goal. The score was 16-0 at that time, in favor of the visiting Tulsa Golden Hurricane who blanked the Owls through the first five minutes of regulation until Cam Carroll knocked down a three, the first signs of life from the Owls.
Tulsa would grow their advantage to 22 points in the first half and went into halftime with a comfortable 20 point lead. Even with a strong rally — and Rice would play much better after the break — that kind of advantage would be hard to overcome.
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Rice slowly trimmed the Tulsa edge from 20 down to five, rattling off an 8-0 stretch to bring the game back within reach. Massive days from Nick Anderson (18 points), Jalen Smith (24) and Trae Broadnax (21) kept the dream alive. The Owls would get within three, but not any closer. Tulsa fought off that final Rice charge, sweeping the season series.
Rice Basketball falls to 8-12 with the loss. The Owls are 5-6 at Tudor Fieldhouse this season.
Final Box | Tulsa 87, Rice 81
Key takeaway | Outclassed
Most metrics and ratings system tab Tulsa as the best team in the American Conference and the second best team Rice basketball has played this year, trailing only Tennessee. That includes perennial NCAA Tournament contender Memphis and a talented Oregon squad. For the most part, Rice held their own against those last two teams. Tulsa, not so much.
Tulsa routed Rice 97-48 in their first meeting on New Year’s Eve and looked to be on their way to a similar result before Jalen Smith got hot from three to keep the game from reaching another obscene margin in favor of the Golden Hurricane.
Both Saturday’s result and the previous meeting make it clear Rice isn’t on that level, even if a burst of second half successes did its best to offer some hope. Basketball has inherit volatility and anyone really can beat anyone when they play their best game. But that’s what it would take for Rice to beat an NCAA Tournament caliber team right now — their absolute best. Anything less will produce just another loss.
Up Next: at East Carolina (Wed, Jan. 28 at 6:00 pm)
