Rice Basketball struck first and never looked back in a convincing season-opening victory over Dallas Christian at home on Monday night.
The outcome of Monday’s Rice Basketball season opener against NCCAA (National Christian College Athletic Association) Division II Dallas Christian was decided before the second media timeout. The visiting Crusaders had managed just two field goals at that point, whereas the Owls had already emptied their bench and showcased the chasm that existed in athleticism and ability between the two programs.
Yes, this was a tune-up game in every sense of the word and one that head coach Rob Lanier was intent on maximizing, playing 14 players, 11 of whom logged at least 10 minutes of time on the court during the rout.
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True freshman Jaxson Thompson opened the scoring and helped Rice build an eight point advantage before Dallas Christian found the scoreboard. Subsequent runs of 13-0 and 19-0 in favor of the Owls stretched that advantage to 33 points by the halftime buzzer.
The Rice basketball program record for points allowed in a half is eight, set in December 1982 against Tulane. Dallas Christian managed 14 points at the break, cobbling together a late spurt at the foul line and a lone three-pointer to avoid joining that portion of Owls’ history, but the sentiment was the same.
Staked to an expansive lead, Rice basketball seemed to let off the gas just a bit in the second half, maintaining a comfortable advantage for the final 20 minutes. Dallas Christian would never get their deficit closer than 27 points as Rice rotated through its roster on its way to a convincing opening-night victory.
Final Box | Rice 100, Dallas Christian 55
What They’re Saying
Key takeaway | Introductions
In today’s transfer portal era, the value of court time with teammates in a regulation game against a real opponent cannot be overstated, even if that foe hails from outside the NCAA DI ranks. Competitive basketball against someone not wearing your colors is a much more useful litmus test than yet another scrimmage against the same faces you’ve been playing against for months.
On Monday night, six players scored their first point as Owls. And while there is more work to be done as the level of competition increases, it was a largely positive opening stanza for a program entering Year 3 under head coach Rob Lanier.
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“The chemistry is really good on this team,” transfer guard Tristan Vukotic said, noting he felt the challenge posed by Dallas Christian was much more manageable given the Owls’ prior scrimmages against Division 1 teams.
Head coach Rob Lanier seemed largely encouraged by the win, but noted he wanted his team to “play the game, not the scoreboard,” alluding to the Owls’ much more stingy defensive performance in the first half compared to the second. That will be something for the Owls to work on next time they take the court. Lanier knows as well as anyone, there is more work still to be done.
“I think we’re a more talented team, a deeper team,” Lanier said. “But now we have to establish roles.”