Finding ways to win

[randy]

Nov 28, 2011: Nebraska (2-3) @ #11 Rice (6-0)


Tip off

We got a lot pts from our bigs on low post plays. C Scott Fountain with 7 pts, 6 rebs. SG David Williams leads all scorers with 11 pts (3 triples). NEB with 9 turn overs


Halftime, Up 43-27


Start of 2nd half

We got into early foul trouble, but NEB missing their FTs. We started getting more steals from our pressure defense, increasing our lead to 21 with 14 mins left. NEB hit 3 straight triples to cut our lead to 12, but we pushed our lead back up to 20 with less than 7 mins remaining, and hang on from there. Our reserves even played better during garbage time. Pleased with the performance of our big men today.


Final Score: Nebraska - 54, Rice - 91


Box Scores
[INDENT]Williams 23, 2, 2, 4 stls, 5 3s (*)
Fountain 13, 13, 0
McFadden 13, 5, 5, 2 stls
Phillips 11, 3, 0
Young 9, 0, 1, 3 3s
Thomas 6, 3, 0
Piatowski 5, 3, 1
Evans 4, 4, 5, 2 stls
Brown 4, 2, 1
Barker 3, 0, 4, 2 stls, 3 tos
Johnson 0, 0, 1
[/INDENT]
Stats Comparison
[INDENT]FG: 52-48%
REB: +14 (+11 off)
TO: -14 (NEB: 22)
Pts in paint: +22
2nd chance: +16 (18-2)
Fast break: +22 (26-4)
[/INDENT]

[randy]

Dec 1, 2011: #11 Rice (7-0) @ #13 Toledo (5-2)


Tip off

Both teams struggling to make shots early the game; already 8 minutes into the game, and the score is just score was 7-2 in our favor. And then SG David Williams waxed hot, scoring 16 of our next 23 pts, and suddenly we're up by 24 with 7 mins left. TOL able to chop some of our lead by scoring from the line late in the 1st half. Another sensational performance so far by SG David Williams, who already has 27 pts (7 triples).


Halftime, Up 43-26


Start of 2nd half

TOL were making a good percentage of their shots in the 2nd half, but they can't make stops on the defensive end. A big road win for us against one of the better teams in the country


Final Score: Rice - 84, Toledo - 60


Box Scores
[INDENT]Williams 44, 6, 2, 5 stls, 12 3s (*)
Fountain 17, 7, 0
McFadden 8, 12, 2, 2 blks
Piatowski 6, 4, 1
Barker 4, 3, 2
Evans 3, 1, 8, fouled out
Phillips 2, 3, 1, 2 stls
Brown 0, 1, 0
Johnson 0, 0, 3. 3 tos
Young 0, 0, 2
Thomas 0, 0, 0
[/INDENT]
Stats Comparison
[INDENT]FG: 47-38%
REB: +6
TO: -8 (TOL: 21)
Pts in paint: +10
2nd chance: +1
Fast break: +2
[/INDENT]

[randy]

Dec 6, 2011: #6 Rice (8-0) @ #22 Wagner (5-1)


Tip off

Another slow start, missing our 1st 7 FG. SG David Williams sparked our offense with 8 straight pts, which continued to a 18-1 run. With the exception of that run, we didn't really shoot the ball that well (41% FG), but our defense more than made up for it. WAG shot 35% FG plus 13 turn overs. SG David Williams with 22 pts (6 triples)


Halftime, Up 43-28


Start of 2nd half

WAG continues to struggle on offense. We built 27 pt lead midway into the 2nd half, and cruise to another win.


Final Score: Rice - 89, Wagner - 58


Box Scores
[INDENT]Williams 39, 5, 3, 6 stls, 11 3s (*)
Phillips 14, 6, 2
Piatowski 11, 9, 0
McFadden 11, 7, 3, 3 blks
Evans 9, 4, 1, 3 tos
Johnson 3, 0, 3
Thomas 2, 3, 0
Fountain 0, 6, 0
Brown 0, 1, 0
Barker 0, 0, 5
Young 0, 0, 1
[/INDENT]
Stats Comparison
[INDENT]FG: 43-37%
REB: +10 (+11 off)
TO: -13
Pts in paint: +16
2nd chance: +13 (15-2)
Fast break: +20 (28-8)
[/INDENT]

[randy]

Dec 12, 2011: Baylor (3-5) @ #8 Rice (9-0)


Tip off

Suffocating defense right from tip off. BAY didn't get their 1st FG until the 8:30 mark. BAY ended up with 32% FG and 15 turn overs. SG David Williams was more than enough to take care of our offense, 28 pts (5 triples). It is good to have SF Tim Mason back from injury, contributing 8 pts on 4-5 FG.


Halftime, Up 44-14


Start of 2nd half

A little better offensive showing by BAY, but that's probably the best they could have hoped for in the 2nd half.


Final Score: Baylor - 40, Rice - 89


Box Scores
[INDENT]Williams 36, 4, 4, 2 stls, 7 3s (*)
Mason 14, 4, 1
McFadden 12, 1, 1, 2 stls
Fountain 8, 11, 0
Young 7, 0, 1
Piatowski 4, 6, 1
Phillips 4, 2, 0
Johnson 4, 0, 2
Brown 0, 4, 0
Evans 0, 3, 7
Barker 0, 1, 3
Richard 0, 1, 0
Thomas 0, 0, 0
[/INDENT]
Stats Comparison
[INDENT]FG: 50-37%
REB: +13 (+10 off)
TO: -22 (BAY: 26)
Pts in paint: +22
2nd chance: +11
Fast break: +14 (14-0)
[/INDENT]

[randy]

Dec 19, 2011: #12 Rice (10-0) @ #8 Kansas St (9-2)


Tip off

We face a quality team on the road, who has the talent to break our winning streak. It took flawless shooting by SG David Williams (25 pts, 5 triples in the 1st half) just to keep us in step with KANST at the beginning of the game. Score was tied at 20, and then we started getting offensive support from other players like SF Andre McFadden (11 pts) and SF Tim Mason (6 pts) to pull away with an 18 pt lead. KANST had a strong finish to keep themselves within striking distance.


Halftime, Up 48-36


Start of 2nd half

We knew that in order to stay on top, we have to constantly apply defensive pressure on KANST. And that's exactly what we did, forcing KANST to commit turn overs. We found ourselves leading by 25 with 15 mins left. KANST tried to comeback by speeding up the game, and forcing us to commit turn overs also. But their outside shots simply are not falling today, 0-15 3PT.


Final Score: Rice - 85, Kansas St - 65


Box Scores
[INDENT]Williams 32, 6, 1, 6 stls, 4 tos, 6 3s (*)
McFadden 19, 2, 1
Mason 10, 6, 3
Phillips 8, 3, 1
Fountain 6, 4, 0
Piatowski 6, 2, 0, 4 tos
Brown 2, 2, 0
Evans 2, 0, 3
Barker 0, 1, 5
Young 0, 1, 0
Thomas 0, 0, 0
[/INDENT]
Stats Comparison
[INDENT]FG: 54-38%
REB: +2
TO: +2
Pts in paint: +14
2nd chance: -2
Fast break: -2
[/INDENT]

[randy]

Dec 26, 2011: Houston (5-4, 0-0) @ #14 Rice (11-0)


Tip off

Off to a good start, 26-6. And an even better finish; the score was 30-16, when we went on another scoring spree for 31-5 run! SG David Williams led a balanced attack with 17 pts (5 triples), and SF Andre McFadden almost can't miss with 16 pts (7-8 FG).


Halftime, Up 61-21


Start of 2nd half

Our bench got plenty of action during the 2nd half. We shot 12-18 3PT (67%) today

PG Brent Evans might miss the next game with a sore hand.


Final Score: Houston - 51, Rice - 97


Box Scores
[INDENT]Williams 28, 1, 2, 3 stls, 8 3s (*)
McFadden 16, 6, 1
Phillips 14, 8, 3, 2 blks
Mason 13, 2, 3
Piatowski 9, 7, 1
Evans 7, 3, 6
Fountain 6, 1, 3, 3 stls
Brown 4, 1, 0
Barker 0, 2, 3
Young 0, 2, 0
johnson 0, 1, 4
Thomas 0, 0, 0
[/INDENT]
Stats Comparison
[INDENT]FG: 61-34%
REB: +9
TO: -11 (HOU: 20)
Pts in paint: +26
2nd chance: +7
Fast break: +17
[/INDENT]


CUSA Standings

1. Memphis, 1-0 (W1)
2. Central Florida, 1-0 (W1)
3. East Carolina, 1-0 (W1)
4. Rice, 1-0 (W1)
5. Tulsa, 1-0 (W1)
6. Tulane, 1-0 (W1)
7. Houston, 0-1 (L1)
8. Southern Miss, 0-1 (L1)
9. Marshall, 0-1 (L1)
10. Alabama-Birmingham, 0-1 (L1)
11. Southern Methodist, 0-1 (L1)
12. Texas-El Paso, 0-1 (L1)

[randy]

Dec 29, 2011: Alabama-Birmingham (4-6, 0-1) @ #14 Rice (12-0, 1-0)


Tip off

In the 1st 7 mins, SG David Williams already has 17 pts, 4 stls. UAB knocked down some shots early, but tapered off towards the end of the 1st half


Halftime, Up 43-24


Start of 2nd half

UAB has a couple of massive centers who were strong enough to get some inside pts, but were too slow when we get on the break. We scored 29 fast break pts today,


Final Score: Alabama-Birmingham - 49, Rice - 92


Box Scores
[INDENT]Williams 40, 3, 3, 6 stls, 8 3s (*)
McFadden 13, 6, 3
Piatowski 11, 4, 1
Phillips 8, 7, 0, 3 blks
Mason 5, 4, 2
Barker 4, 4, 6
Johnson 3, 1, 4
Young 3, 0, 2
Thomas 2, 3, 2
Brown 2, 3, 0
Fountain 1, 3, 0
[/INDENT]
Stats Comparison
[INDENT]FG: 58-32%
REB: +12
TO: -6
Pts in paint: +42
2nd chance: +8
Fast break: +20
[/INDENT]


CUSA Standings

1. Memphis, 2-0 (W2)
2. Central Florida, 2-0 (W2)
3. East Carolina, 2-0 (W2)
4. Rice, 2-0 (W2)
5. Marshall, 1-1 (W1)
6. Tulsa, 1-1 (L1)
7. Southern Methodist, 1-1 (W1)
8. Tulane, 1-1 (L1)
9. Houston, 0-2 (L2)
10. Southern Miss, 0-2 (L2)
11. Alabama-Birmingham, 0-2 (L2)
12. Texas-El Paso, 0-2 (L2)

[randy]

Jan 2, 2012: #12 Rice (13-0, 2-0) @ Texas-El Paso (1-10, 0-2)


Tip off

Nothing much UTEP's defense can do when a volume shooter like SG David Williams shoots 8-8 FG (22 pts). SF Andre McFadden also showed he can do as good as a scorer, with 13 pts. We shot 67% FG in the 1st half


Halftime, Up 44-27


Start of 2nd half

As good as SG David Williams' shooting skills are, his ability to drive past his defender when being shadowed closely have improved dramatically this season. His defenders will have lots of confusion when guarding him.


Final Score: Rice - 85, Texas-El Paso - 60


Box Scores
[INDENT]Williams 37, 5, 3, 3 stls, 5 3s (*)
McFadden 13, 4, 1
Mason 10, 3, 0
Phillips 8, 3, 0
Richard 5, 0, 1
Piatowski 4, 2, 0
Fountain 2, 4, 2
Barker 2, 2, 3
Brown 2, 1, 1
Johnson 2, 1, 1
Young 0, 3, 2
Evans 0, 1, 4, 3 tos
Thomas 0, 0, 0
[/INDENT]
Stats Comparison
[INDENT]FG: 62-43%
REB: +6
TO: -3
Pts in paint: +30
2nd chance: -5
Fast break: +6
[/INDENT]


CUSA Standings

1. Rice, 3-0 (W3)
2. Memphis, 2-1 (L1)
3. Central Florida, 2-1 (L1)
4. East Carolina, 2-1 (L1)
5. Marshall, 2-1 (W2)
6. Tulsa, 2-1 (W1)
7. Tulane, 2-1 (W1)
8. Southern Methodist, 1-2 (L1)
9. Houston, 1-2 (W1)
10. Southern Miss, 1-2 (W1)
11. Alabama-Birmingham, 0-3 (L3)
12. Texas-El Paso, 0-3 (L3)

[randy]

Jan 5, 2012: #12 Rice (14-0, 3-0) @ Tulane (8-4, 2-1)


Tip off

Got down early, 9-16, as TUL was consistent on their outside shots. On the other end, we couldn't produce much offense on our half court sets. I told the the team to step up the gas on our pressure defense so we can score some easy pts. They responded, and we ended up with 13 stls in the 1st half, and 24 fast break pts.


Halftime, Up 44-30


Start of 2nd half

TUL got off to a good start, and were able to trim our lead to just 6. However, fatigue started to set in on TUL's players because of our pressure defense, and they commit more turn overs and miss a lot of shots. We slowly built our lead back up to 19 with less than 5 mins remaining. It wasn't our best offensive showing by any means. We used our superior depth to soften up TUL players, and when they got tired, we capitalized on a lot of their mistakes.


Final Score: Rice - 84, Tulane - 57


Box Scores
[INDENT]Williams 21, 6, 3, 8 stls, 3 3s (*)
Piatowski 14, 3, 0
Fountain 13, 5, 0
Mason 11, 3, 3, 4 stls
McFadden 8, 8, 3
Phillips 6, 4, 2, 2 stls
Evans 5, 1, 3
Brown 4, 4, 2
Barker 2, 1, 2
Johnson 0, 2, 0
Thomas 0, 1, 0
Young 0, 0, 0
[/INDENT]
Stats Comparison
[INDENT]FG: 52-37%
REB: +6
TO: -9 (TUL: 25)
Pts in paint: +32
2nd chance: +4
Fast break: +16
[/INDENT]


CUSA Standings

1. Rice, 4-0 (W4)
2. Central Florida, 3-1 (W1)
3. East Carolina, 3-1 (W1)
4. Marshall, 3-1 (W3)
5. Tulsa, 3-1 (W2)
6. Tulane, 2-2 (L1)
7. Memphis, 2-2 (L2)
8. Southern Methodist, 1-3 (L2)
9. Houston, 1-3 (L1)
10. Texas-El Paso, 1-3 (W1)
11. Southern Miss, 1-3 (L1)
12. Alabama-Birmingham, 0-4 (L4)

[randy]

Jan 9, 2012: Marshall (10-3, 3-1) @ #6 Rice (15-0, 4-0)


Tip off

MARS's slow and methodical approach has been the antithesis of our style of play. That was the case early in this game, score tied at 7 with 11 mins to go. And then we go full blast on pressure defense, resulting in a 15-0 run. SG David Williams took over later on, hitting 3 triples during the last 2 mins of the 1st half.


Halftime, Up 37-18


Start of 2nd half

SG David Williams added 6 more triples in the 2nd half, and MARS never got their deficit below 20.


Final Score: Marshall - 46, Rice - 75


Box Scores
[INDENT]Williams 42, 3, 0, 2 stls, 2 blks, 12 3s (*)
Fountain 6, 7, 2, 4 stls
Phillips 6, 6, 0
McFadden 6, 4, 3, 5 stls, 2 blks
Mason 4, 4, 2
Evans 4, 3, 5, 3 tos
Barker 3, 1, 1
Brown 2, 2, 0
Thomas 2, 0, 0
Piatowski 0, 4, 0
Young 0, 1, 0
Johnson 0, 0, 0
[/INDENT]
Stats Comparison
[INDENT]FG: 44-30%
REB: +7
TO: -6
Pts in paint: +8
2nd chance: +8
Fast break: +19
[/INDENT]


CUSA Standings

1. Rice, 5-0 (W5)
2. Central Florida, 4-1 (W2)
3. East Carolina, 3-2 (L1)
4. Marshall, 3-2 (L1)
5. Tulane, 3-2 (W1)
6. Memphis, 3-2 (W1)
7. Tulsa, 3-2 (L1)
8. Southern Miss, 2-3 (W1)
9. Alabama-Birmingham, 1-4 (W1)
10. Southern Methodist, 1-4 (L3)
11. Houston, 1-4 (L2)
12. Texas-El Paso, 1-4 (L1)