Rice traveled to the UTSA Convocation Center and delivered a resounding 89-73 victory over Texas at San Antonio. The Owls' high-powered offense was on full display, with four players scoring in double figures. Trae Broadnax led the charge, posting an impressive 20 points and 7 assists to pace Rice. The Owls' strong performance was evident from the opening tip, as they built a commanding 51-40 halftime lead.
Baboucarr Njie was the lone bright spot for UTSA, scoring 23 points and grabbing 9 rebounds in a valiant effort. However, his teammates were unable to match his intensity, and the Roadrunners struggled to keep pace with Rice's relentless attack. Dorian Hayes and Austin Nunez chipped in with 18 and 16 points, respectively, but it was not enough to overcome the Owls' balanced scoring.
Rice's offense was clicking on all cylinders, with Nick Anderson and Jalen Smith joining Broadnax in double figures. Anderson scored 19 points and added 5 rebounds, while Smith contributed 18 points and 6 rebounds. The Owls' ability to spread the scoring wealth made it difficult for UTSA to key on any one player, and they were unable to mount a significant comeback.
As the second half got underway, Rice continued to push the pace, maintaining a double-digit lead throughout. The Owls' advantage never dipped below 10 points, and they eventually stretched their lead to as many as 19 points. UTSA was unable to muster a late surge, and Rice cruised to the 16-point victory.
With this win, Rice improves to 8-12 on the season, while UTSA falls to 4-16. The outcome of this game will have little impact on the tournament chances of either team, as both are likely to be relegated to the lower tiers of their respective conference tournaments. However, the victory is still a valuable one for Rice, as it allows them to build momentum and confidence heading into the second half of their schedule.
In terms of resume implications, this win falls into Quadrant 4 for Rice, as UTSA is currently ranked 350th in the net rankings. While the victory is not particularly noteworthy, it does help the Owls to avoid a bad loss and keeps them on track to potentially finish near the .500 mark. For UTSA, the loss is simply another in a long line of setbacks, and it does little to enhance their already slim tournament hopes. As a Quadrant 4 loss, it will not significantly harm their resume, but it does reinforce their position near the bottom of the conference standings.