Rice basketball saw a massive lead evaporate but found a way to out-tough Marshall down the stretch, knocking off the Herd at home, 74-69.
This script is getting all-too familiar. No lead seems safe, no matter how impactful or impressive the Owls look in the middle portion of their games. Marshall’s biggest lead on Saturday was five points at the 12:35 mark of the first half. Rice led by 17 with 15:39 to play in the second half.
This isn’t the first, the second or even the third game which felt in hand before spiraling into a slugfest in the final moments. By the time 30 seconds remained in the contest Rice and Marshall were separated by one point, a far cry from the 17 point advantage the Owls had not that long ago.
What was different on Saturday though, was the amount of gas left in the tank. Rather than survive into two overtimes the Owls’ defense held strong in the final minute. Marshall connected one field goal in the final three minutes. This time the Owls’ were able to weather the storm. Maybe next time it might not feel as perilous.
Box
| Player | PTS | FG | 3FG | FT | OR | DR | REB | A | PF | TO | BL | ST | MIN | +/- |
| PARRISH | 7 | 3-5 | 1-1 | 0-0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 28 | 11 |
| ADAMS | 6 | 1-5 | 1-4 | 3-4 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 13 | 6 |
| MULLINS | 12 | 4-5 | 1-1 | 3-7 | 0 | 8 | 8 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 32 | -10 |
| WILLIAMS | 11 | 5-12 | 0-3 | 1-2 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 27 | 0 |
| MILLORA-BROWN | 10 | 5-10 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 26 | 7 |
| MOORE | 7 | 0-2 | 0-1 | 7-8 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 23 | 1 |
| MURPHY III | 11 | 3-9 | 3-7 | 2-3 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 20 | 9 |
| MARTIN | 10 | 3-11 | 1-5 | 3-7 | 1 | 6 | 7 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 28 | 3 |
| PETERSON | 0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | -2 |
Player of the game – Quentin Millora-Brown
The young forward appears to be getting more and more confident with each passing game. He’s starting to assert himself in the paint and the team is finding him for high percentage shots. Millora-Brown was one of five Owls who scored in double-digits while adding six rebounds and a team-high four assists.
Up Next
Rice closes the predetermined portion of their conference schedule with a road trip to Florida. Their first game of the two-game road trip will be Thursday night at 6:00 p.m. against FIU before playing FAU on Saturday.
