Memphis defeats Rice 70-76
Memphis Edges Rice in Conference Thriller, 76-70
The Tudor Fieldhouse was electric as the home team Rice hosted conference rival Memphis on Sunday night, with the Tigers emerging victorious, 76-70.
Rice (HOME) came out strong in the first half, establishing a 32-31 lead at halftime. However, Memphis's Dug McDaniel had other plans. In the second half, McDaniel led his team to a remarkable comeback, scoring 18 points in the final 20 minutes to propel Memphis to their 6-point victory.
McDaniel's performance was nothing short of spectacular. The sophomore sensation shot an impressive 50.0% from the field and notched 4 assists, while also grabbing 6 rebounds. His dominance on both ends of the court made him nearly unstoppable in the second half.
Despite McDaniel's heroics, Rice put up a valiant effort. Nick Anderson led the Owls with 17 points, including 4 three-pointers, and Stephen Giwa contributed 9 rebounds and 4 points off the bench. However, Memphis's balanced attack ultimately proved too much for Rice to handle.
The game was characterized by several large leads throughout the contest. The largest lead belonged to Rice, who took a 13-point advantage early in the first half. Conversely, Memphis responded with an 8-point swing of their own as McDaniel led his team back into contention.
From there, the Tigers held a slight edge and capitalized on it in the second half. Their superior shooting percentages, particularly from beyond the arc (4-13), provided the necessary boost to seal the win.
The advanced statistics paint a similar picture. Memphis's eFG% of 51.0% is a testament to their ability to score efficiently. Conversely, Rice struggled with free throw shooting, hitting only 77% compared to the Tigers' 87%.
This conference matchup marked an important test for both teams, and Memphis rose to the occasion, showcasing their depth and resilience in the face of adversity.
With this thrilling win, Memphis takes a significant step forward in their quest for success in the conference.