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Travis Evee makes history as Rice Basketball blasts UT Martin

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Rice basketball rebounded from a tough road trip with a lopsided home victory over UT Martin, capped off by a record-setting shot from Travis Evee.

Returning home from a disappointing road trip, Rice basketball reentered Tudor Field house in need of a jolt. It had been a minute since the Owls started a game with superb play on both sides of the court. They did just that in their homecoming after their recent road trip, roaring out to a 34-13 first half lead against UT Martin in just over 11 minutes of action.

Rice shot the ball incredibly well and defended with gusto. UT Martin converted just five of their first 17 shots from the field. Rice went 14-for-22. Everything was coming up Owls in a game that had all the makings of a romp.

The blowout was averted late in the first half when UT Martin was gifted too many open looks from three and converted four long range shots in the final nine minutes, slashing the sizable Rice advantage to 10 points at the break.

The lead shrunk to nine points in the opening moments of the second half before the Owls exploded with a 14-0 run to blow the game wide open. And if the 23-point advantage wasn’t enough, Travie Evee delivered the exclamation point with his 253th career three, a program record.

“It’s a heck of an accomplishment. Not only is he breaking it now, he’s about to put a lot of separation between him and whoever is going to try and beat him next,” head coach Scott Pera said. “It’s really cool.”

The bounce-back win won’t fix all woes, but it did provide this team with momentum and belief they desperately needed to be restored. Perhaps what happened in Vegas will stay in Vegas after all. This rejuvenated version of Rice basketball was decidedly more effective.

“Tonight was the first time Rice basketball played like we think we’re capable of,” Pera said with a sigh of relief. “I’m proud of the guys.”

Final Box | Rice 98 – UT Martin 78

What They’re Saying

“I thought for first time all year we executed the game plan defensive to the best of our ability and it made a huge difference… we played team defense. We rebounded. We held them to 40 percent shooting. They’re a very good team. They’re going to win 20 games. They’re going to compete for their league title. I’m just really proud of our guys” – Head coach Scott Pera

Key takeaway | Keep tinkering

Through seven games, Rice basketball has yet to settle into a consistent starting five. Considering how head coach Scott Pera has operated in the past, that’s somewhat unexpected. Part of the reason for the lack of consistency in the lineups has been a lack of production in the games. If the same five had been played at a high level, there would be no need for the changeups, instead the Owls press on.

Thursday’s newest wrinkle was the insertion of Alem Husenivoc into the starting lineup for his first start this season. He delivered with a season-high 11 points on a season-high 26 minutes played.

“Alem has done a terrific job of growing into a leader, being all about the right things. This was an easy decision actually, for me, because he is deserving of starting,” Pera said.

Whether Husenovic sticks in the starting five remains to be seen. Pera noted he challenges all of his guys to earn that spot and play well enough to keep it. No matter the rotation, though, Rice found something tonight that worked. With no set return date for forward Cam Sheffield, they’ll need to continue to find a way to gel with the pieces they do have on the court. Thursday was evidence the ceiling can be pretty high.

Up Next: vs Houston Christian – Dec. 2 (Sat.)


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Mike Bloomgren, Rice Football take another step forward

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Rice Football is going bowling for the second season in a row as head coach Mike Bloomgren continues to elevate the program one step at a time.

When you look at the Rice football win totals in the five non-COVID seasons under head coach Mike Bloomgren (Two. Three. Four. Five. Six.) you see a pattern: ascent. Bloomgren never went backward. The gripe with his tenure as the Owls’ headman never had anything to do with direction, it was all about the speed of those steps.

It was that most recent step that meant the most, to qualify for a bowl game “the old fashioned way” as some would say, with six regular-season wins. It was the first time the program had done so since 2014 and officially made Blomgren only the third coach in program history to reach back-to-back bowl games — Rice has fielded a team since 1914, 110 seasons ago.

To get this far, flooded Bloomgren with memories of all sorts. “When I took this job, we had played Rice the year before in Sydney, Australia. I don’t want to take anything away from that team, but there were a lot of people in the national media and coaches that told me not to take this job because they could never go to a bowl again,” Bloomgren recalled.

He cited his own stubbornness, the patience of former AD Joe Karlgaard who allowed him to remain in his position despite no winning seasons in his first five years at South Main and his staff and players for fighting through what he referred to as “headwinds” of all different kinds.

“But this is so cool to be here at this moment with the administration we have in place, the alignment we have in place and the excitement. And when you have a board of trustees and a president and AD that are going to do everything they can to help a football program, let’s go.”

The Owls will find out exactly where they will be going a few days from now on the Sunday following conference championship weekend. Rice won’t be playing in that game, perhaps a goal for next year and beyond, but the Owls did play both teams (Tulane and SMU) within a score, the latter with a backup quarterback for the second half.

To the Rice football players and staff, the bowl game destination is less relevant. Getting to this mountain top was a significant step, the next one would be winning, regardless of locale or opponent.

“I think the sky’s the limit,” senior running back Juma Otoviano said after the win. “We started from the ground up, but [we’re] looking at back-to-back bowl games and expecting to win this one.”

So in an era of rapid reaction and fast-moving chairs, under the leadership of a new athletic director who did not hire him, Bloomgren and his staff have taken yet another step on their climb in a conference incredibly more challenging than the one they played in over the previous five seasons. And there’s still a chance to win one more game and make this season even more special than it has already become.

“It makes me really proud of these kids and these coaches because nobody’s ever blinked. Anybody who’s still in this building has just kept fighting for what they believe in for these kids. That’s what’s all about,” Bloomgren said. “This team is always been worth fighting for for me, so it’s really cool.”

And the job isn’t done just yet. Bloomgren and Rice can turn that six into a seven with a bowl victory, a feat that hasn’t happened by the team on South Main since 2014.


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Rice Football 2023: FAU Game Week Practice Report

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Rice football is one win away from clinching bowl eligibility as a six-win team. Here’s what we learned from the Owls at practice this week.

There was a palpable energy at Rice football practice this week. Everyone was as locked in as they’ve been all season and seemingly doing all they could to help this team achieve its first six-win season since 2014. This team has found a rhythm, and that was fun to watch as they prepare for FAU.

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This week’s roundup focuses on the latest on JT Daniels, AJ Padgett and the Rice quarterback situation, some notes on the play of the Owls’ corners of late as well as a few (largely positive) injury updates.

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The latest on JT Daniels

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Rice Football 2023 Game Preview: FAU

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Rice football hosts FAU this week with bowl eligibility on the line. How to watch, key stats, x-factor picks and more.

In a battle of Owls, Rice football enters the fray flying higher. The Owls won at Charlotte last weekend, preservering their bid at bowl eligibility. The visiting FAU Owls fell to Tulane, their seventh loss of the year. Here’s everything you need to know about the matchup between Rice and FAU.

Kickoff time | 12:00 PM CT
Venue | Historic Rice Stadium – Houston, TX
TV | ESPN+ (Viewing Guide)
Radio | Varsity Radio App (Online)

Audio / Visual Preview

We’ll preview Rice football vs FAU on this week’s episode of the Blue and Gray Preview Show, streaming live on Wednesday at Noon on the Rice Athletics YouTube channel. Look for a recap of the game on the site afterward as well as on The Roost Podcast, which should be released early next week.

Sizing up the contenders

Rice football could technically have an outside shot at bowl eligibility as a five-win team, but they’d rather avoid stressing about that situation for a second year in a row. A win on Saturday would also ensure another year of improvement in the win column for head coach Mike Bloomgren, with the possibility of a seventh win in the bowl game. Rice hasn’t won seven games since 2014.

On the other sideline, FAU isn’t playing for anything, which makes them dangerous. Every win counts for a coach in his first year at a new school and rest assured Tom Herman won’t go easy on Rice when he makes his return to campus.

Series History

All Time | Rice leads, 2-1
Last Five | Rice leads, 2-1
Last Meeting | Away 2022, FAU won 17-14

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Rice Football Stat Notables

Passing | Daniels – 121/287 (63.1 percent), 2443 yards, 21 TD, 7 INT
Rushing | Connors – 92 carries, 662 yards (6.9 yards per carry), 5 TD / Otoviano – 70 carries, 241 yards (3.4 yards per carry), 4 TD
Receiving | McCaffrey – 56 receptions, 822 yards (14.7 yds/rec), 11 TDs / Connors – 38 receptions, 384 yards (10.1 yds/rec), 3 TD
Tackles | Wyatt – 70 / Morrison – 66 / Conti, Taylor – 53
Pass Breakups | Devones – 10 / Fresch – 7 / Wyatt, Taylor – 6
Interceptions | Taylor, Devones – 2 / Conti – 1

FAU Stat Notables

Passing | Richardson – 200/309 (64.7 percent), 1908 yards, 12 TD, 10 INT
Rushing | McCammon – 146 carries, 675 yards (4.6 yards per carry), 5 TD / Lewis – 77 carries, 324 yards (4.2 ypc), 2 TD
Receiving | Wester – 104 receptions, 1125 yards (10.9 yards per reception), 8 TD / Johnson – 35 receptions, 362 yards (10.3 yds/rec), 3 TD 
Tackles | Morris – 75 / Ambush – 73 / Tisdol – 67
Pass Breakups | Morris – 5 / McClendon, Mungin, Antoine – 3 
Interceptions | Morris – 3 / Six others tied with one each

FAU X-Factor | Make every trip count

In league play, Rice football leads the AAC in red zone defense. They’ve allowed 13 touchdowns on 27 trips. Forcing opponents to settle for three rather than getting six has helped keep them in games and nearly scored them upsets against Tulane and SMU.

Meanwhile, the FAU offense has stalled out entirely. The Owls have scored 15 points in their last eight quarters. Relying on home run plays by LaJohntay Wester isn’t a sustainable scoring solution so when FAU does get the ball within striking distance, they absolutely must capitalize.

The Rice defense has played better as of late and is coming off one of their best performances of the season. FAU has converted 60 percent of their field goal tries on the season and has made 3-of-7 from 30+ yards out. They simply have to put the ball in the box when they get their opportunities. 

Rice X-Factor | Run the dang ball

It’s hard to believe it’s possible, but Rice football might not have run the ball enough last time out against Charlotte, despite Dean Connors having a career day. The running game also helped cover some offensive miscues and mishaps that took place with a backup quarterback at the helm.

No matter who takes the snaps for Rice this week, a potent running game makes this offense even more potent.

FAU won’t make it easy. No team in the AAC has allowed fewer touchdowns in league play than the Owls. Yet, Charlotte’s run defense looked solid enough on paper before Connors showed up and gashed them. If Connors can do it again, it’s hard to see the Rice offense stalling out that often, which would force FAU into catch-up mode. That’s not something the’ve proven they can do.

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One Final Thing

“We understand what’s at play this week and how big of a deal this game’s going to be. It’s huge,” Bloomgren said on Saturday afternoon, noting the significance of the upcoming game against FAU because Rice found a way to take care of business against Charlotte. And quite frankly, huge might be an understatement. This game is massive. 

A win against FAU would ensure Rice a .500 record in league play. Here are the AAC programs currently guaranteed to be at least .500 in league play this season: Tulane, SMU, UTSA, Memphis and Navy. That’s good company to keep.

For further comfort, three of the Owls’ four AAC losses came to that collection of teams with the lone exception belonging to USF which could clinch a bowl berth this weekend. Tack on a win over Houston — still the only Power 5 win by the conference this year — and you get a sturdy season against a tough schedule with a marquee rivalry win under your belt.

Even though much of that would be true with a loss, a sub-.500 season doesn’t carry with it the same power. No, this game matters because of it can solidify this 2023 Rice Football team as one that hung with the big boys in the league, had one hiccup against UConn, and otherwise represented the university well.

Plus, this team wants to go bowling again. This time the “right” way, if that even is an appropriate designation. 


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Rice Football 2023: Charlotte Game Week Practice Report

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Rice football is in “playoff mode” as they visit Charlotte, two wins away from six with two games to go. Here’s what we learned from the Owls at practice this week.

There was definitely an extra dose of intensity at Rice football practices this week. The Owls said all the right things and seemingly did all the right things in preparation for Charlotte, even as they waded through continued uncertainty at quarterback and a few other key positions.

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This week’s roundup focuses on what the Owls plan to do if Daniels misses another week, a potential adjustment in the backfield and the stated importance of this matchup by several Rice players.

For those checking in for the first time, or those returning, a quick programming note. Special features like this are reserved for our subscribers. Have questions? You can get those answered in our monthly Q&As and get access to all practice notes, recruiting updates and features like this one when you subscribe on Patreon today.

The Plan at Quarterback, again

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