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Rice Basketball Comes Up Short Against Memphis

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Rice Basketball led Memphis at halftime but couldn’t close things out after the break, falling at home to the Tigers.

Memphis scored first, but it was Rice basketball that proved to be the aggressor in the early portions of the Owls’ showdown with the Tigers at Tudor Fieldhouse on Saturday afternoon. Back-to-back three pointers from Nick Anderson and Jalen Smith put Rice in front with a small lead, which would grow to as many as 13 points following a 15-2 run, roughly halfway through the first half.

Down but not out, Memphis would regroup and battle back, tying the game in the final minute before the break. A Trae Broadnax free throw put Rice in front by one, but the battle was officially on.

MORE: Rice Basketball Midseason State of the Program

Another volley of threes, this time from Smith and Cam Carroll, put Rice in front by seven just after halftime before Memphis surged in front. For the remainder of the contest, it was Rice chipping away at a modest Memphis lead, which never exceeded eight points.

The Owls got back within two with 2:04 to play, but couldn’t close the gap any further, missing out on what would have been a massive upset win for the program. Rice Basketball falls to 6-9 with the loss. The Owls are 5-3 at Tudor Fieldhouse this season.

Final Box | Memphis 76, Rice 70

Key takeaway | A Seasons Worth of Almosts

Had a few bounces gone another way, Rice basketball very well could have beaten Memphis on Saturday afternoon. They really were that close. Instead, it’s a close loss to a good team, a familiar refrain for a Rice program that has struggled to get over the hump this season.

Rice was not competitive after halftime against Tennessee or Tulsa. Other than that, they’ve been competitive against the best of the best teams on their schedule. They gave Oregon a scare, dropped a pair of overtime contests at Coconut Hoops to Kennesaw State and FGCU and had chances late in losses to SFA and Tarleton State. The common thread in all those games? Losses.

More often than not, this team plays competitive basketball but they haven’t finished against the better teams on their schedule. That’s a learned skill, but time is ticking on the season and there isn’t much more time to figure things out.

Up Next: at Wichita State (Wed, Jan. 7 at 6:30 pm)

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Rice Baseball 2025: MLB Owls Update – September 23

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The 2025 MLB season is underway and Rice baseball alums are making the most of their time in The Show. Here’s the latest from the MLB Owls.

Tristan Gray – Tampa Bay Rays

Gray has become a regular in the Rays’ lineup over the last few weeks, making six consecutive starts, a streak which ended on Tuesday, although he would play the last three innings of that contest. He picked up four hits with a double during that window.

Through September 23, Gray is hitting .221 with six extra-base hits, six walks and 17 strikeouts. His OPS is .677. He’s collected eight RBI.

Dane Myers – Miami Marlins

Myers spent almost exactly one rather productive week with the big league club, hitting .267 with four RBI before hitting the injured list on Wednesday following a scary collision with the outfield wall. He spoke with the media about it on Wednesday. With days remaining in the season, Myers’ 2025 campaign is likely finished.

Through September 23, Myers is hitting .235 with 16 extra-base hits, 23 walks and 77 strikeouts. His OPS is .617. He’s collected 31 RBI and stolen 18 bases.

Injured List

Anthony Rendon – Los Angeles Angels

Rendon has been out of the news since it was reported he would miss a significant amount of time following hip surgery this spring. There have been no updates from the Angels or his camp since then.

Matt Canterino – Twins AAA

Canterino underwent season-ending surgery this spring and was released by the Twins before subsequently signing back with the club on a minor league contract while he undergoes rehab.

Knocking on the Door

The following Owls either began the season in AAA or have since been promoted to that level:

  • Evan Kravetz – Louisville Bats (Reds)
  • Glenn Otto – Sugar Land Space Cowboys (Astros)
  • Trei Cruz – Toledo Mud Hens (Tigers)
  • Hayden Durke – Reno Aces (Diamondbacks)
Subscribe on Patreon for exclusive Rice football recruiting updates, practice notes and more.

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Rice Baseball 2025: MLB Owls Update – September 16

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The 2025 MLB season is underway and Rice baseball alums are making the most of their time in The Show. Here’s the latest from the MLB Owls.

Tristan Gray – Tampa Bay Rays

Gray has seen his involvement tick upward over the course of the last week, appearing in five games in the past seven days, capped off with an impressive 3-for-4 outing against the Blue Jays on Tuesday, which pushed his average up 40 points from the prior day.

Through September 16, Gray is hitting .264 with five extra-base hits, four walks and 13 strikeouts. His OPS is .782. He’s collected eight RBI.

Dane Myers – Miami Marlins

Myers was reinstated from the injury list this week after being out for the past two weeks. He wasted no time making an impact in his return to the lineup, driving in a pair of runs with an RBI double on Tuesday against the Rockies.

Through September 16, Myers is hitting .233 with 16 extra-base hits, 23 walks and 75 strikeouts. His OPS is .620. He’s collected 29 RBI and stolen 17 bases.

Injured List

Anthony Rendon – Los Angeles Angels

Rendon has been out of the news since it was reported he would miss a significant amount of time following hip surgery this spring. There have been no updates from the Angels or his camp since then.

Matt Canterino – Twins AAA

Canterino underwent season-ending surgery this spring and was released by the Twins before subsequently signing back with the club on a minor league contract while he undergoes rehab.

Knocking on the Door

The following Owls either began the season in AAA or have since been promoted to that level:

  • Evan Kravetz – Louisville Bats (Reds)
  • Glenn Otto – Sugar Land Space Cowboys (Astros)
  • Trei Cruz – Toledo Mud Hens (Tigers)
  • Hayden Durke – Reno Aces (Diamondbacks)
Subscribe on Patreon for exclusive Rice football recruiting updates, practice notes and more.

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Rice Baseball 2025: MLB Owls Update – September 9

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The 2025 MLB season is underway and Rice baseball alums are making the most of their time in The Show. Here’s the latest from the MLB Owls.

Tristan Gray – Tampa Bay Rays

Gray has continued to fill in as a utility player for the Rays, seeing time at shortstop, first base and as a pinch hitter over the past few days. Despite not currently being an everyday player, Gray’s bat has started to heat up. He went 3-for-5 this week with his third home run of the season and a double.

His seventh-inning solo shot on Sunday propelled the Rays to a 5-4 win over the White Sox and was his third home run in his last six games.

Through September 9, Gray is hitting .244 with five extra-base hits, three walks and 12 strikeouts. His OPS is .201. He’s collected seven RBI.

Injured List

Dane Myers – Miami Marlins

Myers last appeared in a major league game on August 30 and was since placed on the 10-day injured list with an oblique strain.

Through September 9, Myers is hitting .233 with 15 extra-base hits, 23 walks and 75 strikeouts. His OPS is .618. He’s collected 27 RBI and stolen 17 bases.

Anthony Rendon – Los Angeles Angels

Rendon has been out of the news since it was reported he would miss a significant amount of time following hip surgery this spring. There have been no updates from the Angels or his camp since then.

Matt Canterino – Twins AAA

Canterino underwent season-ending surgery this spring and was released by the Twins before subsequently signing back with the club on a minor league contract while he undergoes rehab.

Knocking on the Door

The following Owls either began the season in AAA or have since been promoted to that level:

  • Evan Kravetz – Louisville Bats (Reds)
  • Glenn Otto – Sugar Land Space Cowboys (Astros)
  • Trei Cruz – Toledo Mud Hens (Tigers)
  • Hayden Durke – Reno Aces (Diamondbacks)
Subscribe on Patreon for exclusive Rice football recruiting updates, practice notes and more.

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Rice Baseball 2025: MLB Owls Update – September 2

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The 2025 MLB season is underway and Rice baseball alums are making the most of their time in The Show. Here’s the latest from the MLB Owls.

Dane Myers – Miami Marlins

Myers exited Sunday’s game against the Mets and has since been placed on the 10-day injured list with an oblique strain. No timetable for a potential return has been announced. Myers had singled and walked in nine plate appearances this week prior to the injury

Through September 2, Myers is hitting .233 with 15 extra-base hits, 23 walks and 75 strikeouts. His OPS is .618. He’s collected 27 RBI and stolen 17 bases.

Tristan Gray – Tampa Bay Rays

Gray had a productive week at the plate, collecting three hits and scoring three runs in his last three games, including his second home run of the season. Since August 9, a span in which he’s made seven appearances, he’s raised his OPS nearly 500 points.

Through September 2, Gray is hitting .194 with three extra-base hits, two walks and 11 strikeouts. His OPS is .620. He’s collected six RBI.

Injured List

Anthony Rendon – Los Angeles Angels

Rendon has been out of the news since it was reported he would miss a significant amount of time following hip surgery this spring. There have been no updates from the Angels or his camp since then.

Matt Canterino – Twins AAA

Canterino underwent season-ending surgery this spring and was released by the Twins before subsequently signing back with the club on a minor league contract while he undergoes rehab.

Knocking on the Door

The following Owls either began the season in AAA or have since been promoted to that level:

  • Evan Kravetz – Louisville Bats (Reds)
  • Glenn Otto – Sugar Land Space Cowboys (Astros)
  • Trei Cruz – Toledo Mud Hens (Tigers)
  • Hayden Durke – Reno Aces (Diamondbacks)
Subscribe on Patreon for exclusive Rice football recruiting updates, practice notes and more.

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