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Rice Basketball 2020 Game Preview: Men and Women vs UTSA

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Both Rice Basketball squads are in the midst of streaks. The men hope to break off a losing rut against UTSA while the women aim for yet another C-USA win.

Rice Basketball

Time: 7:00 p.m. CT
Venue: Tudor Fieldhouse
Radio: Stretch Internet Portal
TV: ESPN+ (If you don’t have ESPN+ you can access a free trial or subscribe here.)

UTSA 9-11 (3-4), Last 5 (3-2)

  • 89-73 (W) vs LA Tech
  • 80-70 (W) vs Southern Miss
  • 80-70 OT (L) at UTEP
  • 86-70 (W) vs UTEP
  • 98-78 (L) at North Texas

Rice 9-12 (1-7), Last 5 (1-4)

  • 92-78 (W) vs FIU
  • 72-56 (L) at LA Tech
  • 81-68 (L) at Southern Miss
  • 79-59 (L) at North Texas
  • 72-64 (L) vs UTEP

UTSA statistical leaders

  • Scoring | Jhivvan Jackson – 26.4 per game
  • Rebounds | Byron Frohnen – 7.1 per game
  • Assists | Keaton Wallace – 3.3 per game
  • Steals | Keaton Wallace – 1.6 per game
  • Blocks | Jacob Germany – 1.0 per game

Rice keys to victory

The key to victory against UTEP was stopping star big man Bryson Williams. The Owls did that and found themselves in position to close out down the stretch. The formula will be similar on Saturday against C-USA leading scorer Jhivvan Jackson.

He’s a completely different kind of player than Williams, but Rice hadn’t really shut down a physical inside presence until they found a way to contain Williams. They also held UTEP at bay from distance. The bottom line remains clear: if Rice can play that level of defense, they’ll have a shot.

Rice Women's Basketball

Time: 2:00 p.m. CT
Venue: Convocation Center
Radio: Stretch Internet Portal
TV: ESPN+ (If you don’t have ESPN+ you can access a free trial or subscribe here.)

UTSA 6-11 (2-4), Last 5 (2-3)

  • 60-45 (W) vs FIU
  • 82-73 (W) at LA Tech
  • 82-65 (L) at Southern Miss
  • 94-54 (L) at UTEP
  • 79-55 (L) vs North Texas

Rice 11-6 (7-0), Last 5 (5-0)

  • 78-69 (W) at FAU
  • 68-47 (W) at FIU
  • 60-47 (W) vs Louisiana Tech
  • 75-64 (W) vs Southern Miss
  • 69-61 (W) at UTEP

UTSA statistical leaders

  • Scoring | Mikayla Woods – 14.8 per game
  • Rebounds | Timea Tooth – 6.4 per game
  • Assists | Karrington Donald – 2.6 per game
  • Steals | Mikayla Woods – 2.2 per game
  • Blocks | Timea Tooth – 1.1 per game

Rice keys to victory

The Rice women’s basketball defense has continued to be the anchor of their team. Erica Ogwumike’s return to the court on Thursday was a huge boost as well. UTSA ranks 11th in C-USA in scoring offense and would have trouble getting points on the board even without the like of Nancy Mulkey patrolling the paint. If the defense shows up, Rice should roll.

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Rice Basketball 2020 Game Preview: Men and Women vs UTEP

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Rice Basketball is nearly a month into conference play. The women are undefeated and the men have one just once. Both teams take on UTEP next.

Rice Basketball

Time: 7:00 p.m. CT
Venue: Tudor Fieldhouse
Radio: Stretch Internet Portal
TV: ESPN+ (If you don’t have ESPN+ you can access a free trial or subscribe here.)

UTEP 11-8 (2-4), Last 5 (2-3)

  • 59-56 (L) at FAU
  • 76-64 (W) vs Southern Miss
  • 64-61 (L) vs Louisiana Tech
  • 80-77 OT (W) vs UTSA
  • 86-70 (L) at UTSA

Rice 9-11 (1-6), Last 5 (1-4)

  • 81-76 (L) vs FAU
  • 92-78 (W) vs FIU
  • 72-56 (L) at LA Tech
  • 81-68 (L) at Southern Miss
  • 79-59 (L) at North Texas

UTEP statistical leaders

  • Scoring | Bryson Williams – 19.4 per game
  • Rebounds | Bryson Williams – 6.9 per game
  • Assists | Jordan Lathon – 2.5 per game
  • Steals | Nigel Hawkins – 1.2 per game
  • Blocks | Bryson Williams – 0.9 per game

Rice keys to victory

In many ways, UTEP lives and dies at the hand of Bryson Williams. He’s second in the conference in scoring, averaging just below 20 points per game. When his shots are falling, everything seems to work itself out. UTEP is 9-3 when he shoots better than 50 percent from the field and 2-5 when he’s off the mark at least half the time. Rice hasn’t defended well in recent weeks. Focusing in on one player should give them a boost.

Rice Women's Basketball

Time: 8:00 p.m. CT
Venue: Don Haskins Center
Radio: Stretch Internet Portal
TV: CUSA TV

UTEP 11-4 (4-1), Last 5 (4-1)

  • 64-34 (W) vs FIU
  • 96-65 (W) vs FAU
  • 89-72 (W) at Southern Miss
  • 87-80 (L) at Louisiana Tech
  • 94-54 (W) vs UTSA

Rice 11-6 (6-0), Last 5 (5-0)

  • 73-65 (W) vs WKU
  • 78-69 (W) at FAU
  • 68-47 (W) at FIU
  • 60-47 (W) vs Louisiana Tech
  • 75-64 (W) vs Southern Miss

UTEP statistical leaders

  • Scoring | Katrina Zec – 13.3 per game
  • Rebounds | Ariona Gill – 8.2 per game
  • Assists | Katia Gallegos – 5.0 per game
  • Steals | Katia Gallegos – 1.6 per game
  • Blocks | Ariona Gill – 0.5 per game

Rice keys to victory

This will be by far the toughest test for Rice women’s basketball in conference play this season. The biggest question mark prior to this game is the status of Erica Ogwumike, which remains up in the air. She’s missed the past two games with an injury. If she’s back, her presence on the defensive glass and facilitating the offense will be huge. If she’s not, another big game from Nancy Mulkey or Sydne Wiggins would make a big difference on the road.

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Rice Basketball 2020 Game Preview: Men and Women vs Southern Miss

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Rice Basketball is five games into conference play with the men 1-4 and the women 5-0. Both teams take on Southern Miss next. Here’s a preview of those games.

Rice Basketball

Time: 2:00 p.m. CT
Venue: Reed Green Coliseum
Radio: Stretch Internet Portal
TV: ESPN+ (If you don’t have ESPN+ you can access a free trial or subscribe here.)

Southern Miss 4-14 (0-5), Last 5 (0-5)

  • 80-49 (L) vs LA Tech
  • 78-50 (L) at LA Tech
  • 76-64 (L) at UTEP
  • 80-70 (L) at UTSA
  • 72-52 (L) vs North Texas

Rice 9-9 (1-4), Last 5 (1-4)

  • 89-69 (L) at Marshall
  • 66-61 (L) at WKU
  • 81-76 (L) vs FAU
  • 92-78 (W) vs FIU
  • 72-56 (L) at LA Tech

Southern Miss statistical leaders

  • Scoring | Gabe Watson – 13.3 per game
  • Rebounds | Leonard Harper-Baker – 7.3 per game
  • Assists | Jay Malone – 4.0 per game
  • Steals | Leonard Harper-Baker – 1.8 per game
  • Blocks | Leonard Harper-Baker – 0.3 per game

Rice keys to victory

Southern Miss has plagued by poor offensive possessions all season. It’s not just a shooting issue — Southern Miss is middle of the pack there — it’s the turnovers. The Golden Eagles are 13th in C-USA in turnover margin and have just one game of fewer than 30 turnovers in their last eight contests. Rice will get opportunities. They’ll have to take advantage of them.

Rice Women's Basketball

Time: 2:00 p.m. CT
Venue: Tudor Fieldhouse
Radio: Stretch Internet Portal
TV: CUSA TV

Southern Miss 11-4 (3-1), Last 5 (4-1)

  •  71-59 (W) vs Faulkner
  • 66-60 (W) vs LA Tech
  • 89-72 (L) vs UTEP
  • 82-65 (W) vs UTSA
  • 66-57 (W) at North Texas

Rice 10-6 (5-0), Last 5 (5-0)

  • 81-43 (W) vs Marshall
  • 73-65 (W) vs WKU
  • 78-69 (W) at FAU
  • 68-47 (W) at FIU
  • 60-47 (W) vs LA Tech

Southern Miss statistical leaders

  • Scoring | Shonte Hailes – 16.9 per game
  • Rebounds | Respect Leaphart – 5.5 per game
  • Assists | Daishai Almond – 3.7 per game
  • Steals | Alarie Mayze – 2.3 per game
  • Blocks | Amber Landing – 1.8 per game

Rice keys to victory

The defensive end of the court will continue to be the bedrock of this team, especially if Erica Ogwumike sits another game — a distinct possibility. Southern Miss shoots the ball well but hasn’t played a team with the same level of intensity that Rice will bring on defense. North Texas was a good test for them. The Mean Green held the Golden Eagles to 65 points, their lowest total in C-USA play.

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Rice Women’s Basketball: Owls top LA Tech with Ogwumike sidelined

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Rice Women’s Basketball was without their star guard but still managed to blow past Louisiana Tech. The Owls are a perfect 5-0 in Conference USA play.

Rice women’s basketball had won in a variety of ways on their way to a C-USA leading 24-game winning streak. They’d blown out countless teams and played close contests with others. But they’d never won without their best player on the court — they hadn’t had to.

The white and blue-clad Owls showed no timidity when they took the court without Erica Ogwumike on Thursday night against Louisiana Tech. The senior guard had suffered an injury against FIU that kept her sidelined against Louisiana Tech. She did not dress for the game and has no official timetable on her return. However, the expectation remains she’ll be back sooner rather than later.

If that wasn’t enough, the team was hit with sickness during the week. Rice dressed a half dozen players for their first practice of the week and had to send coaches and players home to rest. “We were barely able to practice,” head coach Tina Langely said postgame, not as an excuse, but as a credit to the performance her shorthanded squad had put together against a conference foe.

With Ogwumike out, there were some jitters. Rice had a few shot clock violations and lost possessions early on, clearly impacted by the loss of their primary ballhandler. What never wavered was their defense. Rice has now held 15 of their last 24 (and three of their last five) C-USA opponents to 50 points or fewer. Louisiana Tech shot a season-low 26 percent from the field.

“I love the pride that they take on the defensive end of the floor. I think it speaks to the character of our team.” Langely said. “Defense is about your heart and your effort and you don’t usually get a lot of credit from the defensive end of the floor as individuals. And you see our team really comes together and gives all that they have to defend well.”

That defense turned into just enough offense. Rice scored 13 points on fast breaks, relying on Jasmine Smith and Destiny Jackson to push the team down the court. Once the team stretched the lead to double digits at halftime, Louisiana Tech never got closer than eight for the remainder of the game.

Final Stats

Player of the game – Sydne Wiggins

On a night in which only two Owls reached double-digit points, it was the defensive performers who stood out. Nancy Mulkey registered her 200th career block and a career-best 15 rebounds, but it was the furious play of Sydne Wiggins that stood out the most. She was relentless on that side of the court, registering one steal, two blocks and plenty of headaches for the Owls’ opponent. Langley praised her focus, “She plays with such poise,” Langely said, “[She] has a great IQ. She brings so much to the court for us.” With Ogwumike on the bench, Wiggins was a much-needed energizer.

Up Next

Saturday they host Southern Miss with tip-off scheduled for 2:00 p.m. Then the team gets a few days off before a Thursday/Friday road trip to play UTEP and UTSA.

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Rice Basketball 2020 Game Preview: Men and Women vs LA Tech

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Rice Basketball is four games into conference play with the men 1-3 and the women 4-0. Both teams take on Louisiana Tech next. Here’s a preview of those games.

Rice Basketball

Time: 6:30 p.m. CT
Venue: Thomas Assembly Center
Radio: Stretch Internet Portal
TV: ESPN+ (If you don’t have ESPN+ you can access a free trial or subscribe here.)

LA Tech 12-4 (3-1), Last 5 (4-1)

  • 87-47 (W) vs Southern-New Orleans
  • 80-49 (W) at Southern Miss
  • 78-50 (W) vs Southern Miss
  • 89-73 (L) at UTSA
  • 64-61 (W) at UTEP

Rice 9-8 (1-3), Last 5 (1-4)

  • 75-61 (L) vs Sam Houston St
  • 89-69 (L) at Marshall
  • 66-61 (L) at WKU
  • 81-76 (L) vs FAU
  • 92-78 (W) vs FIU

LA Tech players to watch

The Bulldogs are led by a trio of guards. Daquan Bracey will be the biggest threat the Owls will have to stop first. LA Tech’s leading scorer averaging 12.5 points per game, Bracey has finished with less than 10 points twice in his team’s 16 games. Normally a lights out shooter from deep, he’s been a bit cold from outside, a drought Rice will attempt to extend.

Kalob Ledoux and Amorie Archibald are both strong shooters, too, with an equally impressive 92 percent free throw rate.  Mubarak Muhammed is the man inside. He leads the team with 8.9 blocks per game.

Rice keys to victory

Louisiana Tech doesn’t have the best record in C-USA by accident. They’ve been a complete team averaging in the top four in both scoring offense and scoring defense so far this season. They don’t commit turnovers (12 per game, fewest in C-USA) and play smart. They rank 11th in three-point defense, an advantage Rice needs to exploit. The Owls got their first C-USA win with a big game from three. An encore performance is needed to take down Louisiana Tech.

Rice Women's Basketball

Time: 7:00 p.m. CT
Venue: Tudor Fieldhouse
TV: CUSA TV

LA Tech 9-5 (1-2), Last 5 (3-2)

  • 70-66 (W) vs Grambling
  • 67-54 (W) vs Arkansas St
  • 66-60 (L) at Southern Miss
  • 82-73 (L) vs UTSA
  • 87-80 (W) vs UTEP

Rice 9-6 (4-0), Last 5 (4-1)

  • 54-52 (L) vs Georgia Tech
  • 81-43 (W) vs Marshall
  • 73-65 (W) vs WKU
  • 78-69 (W) at FAU
  • 68-47 (W) at FIU

LA Tech players to watch

Keiunna Walker and Amber Dixon are the primary shooters for Louisiana Tech. Each has had good games, but they’ve struggled to both find simultaneous success. Walker is coming off games of 28 points against UTEP and 21 against UTSA. Prior to those contests, Dixon had tallied double-digits in five straight games. Anna Larr Roberson and MeMe Amand lead the team in rebounds.

Rice keys to victory

The health of Erica Ogwumike is the biggest question entering this game. She went down midway through the second half of the FIU game and has since undergone tests. It was a scary moment, but there’s optimism she will be available again soon, possibly as soon as tonight against Louisiana Tech. Losing her on the court would be a tremendous blow, but freshman Lauren Schwartz has shown flashes and would be tasked with keeping things moving if Ogwumike does miss time.

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