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Rice Basketball survives vs Alcorn State

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Rice Basketball had to rally from behind in the final minutes but found a way to overcome a red-shot shooting Alcorn State at home.

It took Rice basketball a while to get going on Monday evening against Alcorn State. The Owls swapped early leads through the first 10 minutes of play before a 10-3 run gave them some breathing room. They used the remainder of the first half to lengthen that lead, leaning on a combination of three balls from Alem Huseinovic, aggressive plays to the rim, and lots of free throws.

Rice led by nine at the break, but any thoughts of a comfortable nonconference win flew out of the window when Alcorn State matched Huseinovic’s sharpshooting with a flurry of threes of their own. They combined to shoot a staggering 47.6 percent from deep, with three different players knocking down multiple deep balls.

More: Rice Basketball 2024-2025 Season Preview

A 12-0 run by the Braves ensured this would be a dogfight to the very end. The Owls led by 11 before their opponents got hot from the field putting the game in danger of a disastrous result — Alcorn State was 0-11 entering this contest — before Trae Broadnax and Kellen Amos came through with huge shots in the final minutes.

Broadnax got the game back within one with a jumper before Amos put Rice in front for good with a layup with 5.1 seconds to play. Alcorn State missed a long three attempt at the buzzer and Rice escaped with the win.

Final Box | Rice 77, Alcorn State 75

Key takeaway | Turn up the three

Rice basketball is still finding its form offensively, something head coach Rob Lanier has mentioned on multiple occasions. The defense continues to be stout, Monday’s issues with the three aside, and has been the backbone of most of their wins thus far. In this game they proved they can shoot their way out of trouble, too.

Huseinovic and Anglin led the team in threes coming into this game and continued to add to their advantage on the stat sheet. Huseinvoic (6-for-8) was lights out from deep, humbly crediting his teammates for the big performance. “They found me in open shots and I just knocked them down,” he said post game.

Anglin (3-for-8) made some pivotal threes, as as did Amos, to keep Rice in front when the Owls defense was in a bind.

The best cast scenario remains an elite defensive game interspersed with this kind of inspired shooting. In the mean time, winning ugly is the best way to win.

Up Next: vs UNT-Dallas (Thr, Dec. 19)

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Rice Football to promote Jon Kay to Defensive Coordinator

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Rice Football has its next defensive coordinator. Sources confirm to The Roost that linebacker coach Jon Kay is expected to be promoted to the position.

It didn’t take Rice football head coach Scott Abell to find a replacement for former defensive coordinator Brian Smith. Sources tell The Roost that Abell zeroed in quickly on current linebackers coach Jon Kay and moved to elevate him to the role quickly following Smith’s departure, moving quickly to name Kay his replacement. The news was first reported by Zach Barnett of Football Scoop.

Kay was initially the first position coach Abell decided to retain when he was hired. Now he’s set to take over a collegiate coordinator role for the first time.

Formerly the head coach at North Shore High School, Kay went 117-18 in nine seasons, winning four state championships. He just completed his second season at Rice where he helped transform the Owls’ linebacking corps into one of the most productive units on the team.

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Rice Football 2024: NFL Owls Week 15 Roundup

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Rice Football is well represented on 2024 NFL rosters. Here’s the latest from the NFL Owls in action in Week 15.

There are former Rice football players scattered across the NFL. Stay tuned each week for their game results and notables from each player.

TeamNFL Owl(s)This WeekResultNext Week
Detroit LionsJack Fox (P)
Myles Adams (DL)		vs BillsL, 48-42at Bears
Indianapolis ColtsKylen Granson (TE)at BroncosL, 31-13vs Titans
Pittsburgh SteelersChris Boswell (PK)
Calvin Anderson (OL)		at EaglesL, 27-13at Ravens
Washington CommandersLuke McCaffrey (WR)at SaintsW, 20-19vs Eagles

Offense

Calvin Anderson – OL, Steelers

Anderson was active but did not see action in the Steelers’ game against the Eagles this week.

Luke McCaffrey – WR, Commanders

McCaffrey was targeted once in the Commanders victory over the Saints but did not register any receptions.

Kylen Granson – TE, Colts

Granson was second on the team in receptions and receiving yards this week against the Broncos, hauling in three passes for 47 yards. His 15.7 yards per reception led the team among all players with multiple targets on Sunday.

Defense

Myles Adams – DL, Lions

Adams was inactive for the Lions in Week 15 after making his debut with three tackles and a quarterback hit a week prior against the Packers.

Special Teams

Jack Fox – P, Lions

Fox punted three times against the Bills, averaging a whopping 55.7 yards per punt with a long of 60 yards. He also put one ball inside the 20.

Chris Boswell – K, Steelers

Boswell went 2-for-2 on field goals against the Eagles on Sunday, including a long of 49 yards. He also connected on his lone extra-point attempt. He’s made 38-of-41 field goals this season

More Owls in the NFL

From practice squads to current free agents, there are other Owls on the cusp of returning to active rosters. Find more details on current contractual agreements and former Rice football players waiting for their next opportunity here.

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Rice Football 2024 Defensive Newcomer: Charlie Looes

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An Ivy League pass rusher headed South for one last ride, defensive end Charlies Looes is our 2024 Rice Football Defensive Newcomer of the Year.

Expectations were high when Ivy League-leading sackman Charlie Looes made the decision to transfer from Dartmouth to South Main for his final season of collegiate eligibility. He made the most of his time in Texas, tying for the lead among all Owls’ defensive linemen in sacks on his way to earning honors as our 2024 Rice Football Defensive Newcomer of the Year.

Looes, like many before him, was limited by Ivy League eligibility restrictions which bar graduates from playing in the league. For graduates who still want to play college ball, they must go elsewhere. That opened a door for him to become the next in a growing pipeline of Rice football players who honed their craft in the Ivies before transferring south for their final season.

More: 2024 Rice Football Season Superlatives

Returns were positive early on as Looes seamlessly fit into the scheme and learned the defense during spring practices. “They’ve been bought in since we recruited them,” defensive line coach Cedric Calhoun said about Looes and fellow transfer Michael Daley from BYU, making it clear he was happy with what he’d seen from the newcomers thus far.

But when Coleman Coco’s waiver for another season was denied during the summer, the pressure on Looes to be productive started to ramp up. Coco, another Ivy League transfer, had led the Owls in sacks the prior season and was expected to compliment Looes on the line in 2024. Now that aspiration was squarely on Looes who did not disappoint.

In his second play in a Rice football uniform, Looes burst through the line and sacked Sam Houston quarterback Hunter Watson, killing the drive which led to a quick three-and-out. Rice wouldn’t win the game, but Looes would rack up another half sack and four total tackles in his debut.

“He didn’t make you wait long to learn his name if you didn’t already know it,” then head coach Mike Bloomgren remarked. “Really proud of Charlie stepping in there and doing that.”

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As injuries and shifting personnel around him ebbed and flowed, Looes kept working and finding ways to contribute. He would go on to lead the team in tackles for a loss (nine) and was the only player to both force a fumble and recover a fumble this season, he had two of the latter. He even had a pass breakup, too.

A finalist of the Bushnell Cup in his final season at Darthmouth, an award given annually to the league’s best defensive player, Looes was a bonafide plug-and-play disruptor in the defensive trenches during his time at Rice.

Often times it’s hard for a team to know exactly what they’re getting when they sign a player out of the Transfer Portal. Getting the kind of season they got from Looes is a deal worth taking every time. If you’re only getting a guy for one year he needs to show up and show out, something Looes did with flare.

Looes would bookend his season on South Main with a sack in his first and last game, playing a meaningful role in a Senior Day win that assuredly meant so much to him and a host of Rice football veterans that played their final game in the season finale against South Florida. Like those seniors, Looes did all he could to send this team out on a high note and his efforts were rewarded.

** Photo Credit: Maria Lysaker **
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The Roost’s 2024 Rice Football Season Superlatives

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The Roost’s 2024 Rice Football Season Superlatives exist to honor exceptional Owls who made a difference on the field this season. Here’s the complete list.

There were many individual performances worth recognizing in the 2024 Rice Football season. In addition to the more traditional awards below, make sure to check out The Roosties, our sixth annual award show from The Roost Podcast, which features a different angle of honors. From our favorite plays to the players that surprised us the most, we cover some of the more creative superlatives on the show. This list comprises the more traditional recognitions.

Offensive Newcomer of the Year — OL Chad Lindberg | Full Story

Excerpt: “Because of other injuries that had accumulated around him, Lindberg was asked to move again, suiting up at left tackle for three games, including the program’s first AAC win of the year. Warner was sacked only twice in Lindberg’s three-game stretch as his blind side protector, always pushing himself and his teammates to do more.”

Defensive Newcomer of the Year — DL Charlie Looes | Full Story

Excerpt: “Often times it’s hard for a team to know exactly what they’re getting when they sign a player out of the Transfer Portal. Getting the kind of season they got from Looes is a deal worth taking every time. If you’re only getting a guy for one year he needs to show up and show out, something Looes did with flare.”

Rising Star — LB Ty Morris | Full Story

Excerpt: “Yes, it probably was Number Three, Ty Morris. The Owls sophomore linebacker plays the game with what, at times, feels like a supernatural awareness of where the football is and the best path to move himself through bodies to meet it. If there was a big play to be made, it’s a good bet that Morris was the one to make it.”

Special Teams Player of the Year — RB Quinton Jackson | Full Story

Excerpt: “Jackson “hit it” that day, but that play was one of 22 kick returns Jackson had during the season. Jackson averaged 26.8 yards per return, eighth nationally among all players. His 589 total return yards ranked fourth and his 49.1 kick return yards per game ranked fifth.”

Offensive Player of the Year — WR Matt Sykes | Full Story

Excerpt: “The SOS was answered emphatically by Sykes who delivered a walk-off touchdown reception against UTSA, one of 52 receptions he registered against AAC opponents, the most by any pass catcher in the conference by seven grabs. He averaged 78.9 yards per game in league play, finally surpassing the century mark in his final game, a 118-yard performance against South Florida on Senior Day.”

Defensive Player of the Year — SAF Gabe Taylor | Full Story

Excerpt: “On a defense flush with impactful veteran talent like defensive tackle Izeya Floyd, linebackers Josh Pearcy and Myron Morrison and the aforementioned corners and fellow members of the safety room, Taylor managed to stand out. That’s a testament to his effort, ability and a never wavering desire to be the best. No matter the box score, Taylor delivered on that goal this season.”

Iron Man — LB Josh Pearcy | Full Story

Excerpt: “Pearcy leaves Rice in the Top 10 all-time in tackles for a loss (8th) and sacks (5th), especially impressive totals when considering he played special teams during his four-game redshirt in 2019 and played in just five games in the Owls’ shortened 2020 season. Pearcy wasn’t just an average player who played in a lot of games and racked up stats. He reached those totals in essentially four years.”

Team MVP — RB Dean Connors | Full Story

Excerpt: “Connors never complained or questioned his usage. He just took the ball whenever it was handed (or thrown) to him and kept on running. For him, the team was always more important than any individual accolades or aspirations. He touched the ball 220 times across 12 games. The next closest player, Matt Sykes, had 67 plays from scrimmage.”

Check out the 2023 Rice Football Season Superlatives here.
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