Men’s Basketball Faces Memphis in Conference Home Opener
Rice University is set to host the Memphis Tigers in their American Conference home opener on Saturday, January 3. The matchup will take place at Tudor Fieldhouse in Houston, Texas, with a scheduled tip-off at 2 p.m. CT. Fans can catch the game live via ESPN+.
Game Details
- Matchup: Rice vs. Memphis
- Date: January 3
- Time: 2 p.m. CT
- Location: Tudor Fieldhouse, Houston, Texas
- Tickets & Streaming: Available at RiceOwls.com and ESPN+
Team Performance
Scouting Rice
The Rice Owls enter this matchup with a record of 6 wins and 8 losses. They are looking to recover from two consecutive defeats, including their recent loss to Tulsa in their conference opener. Senior guard/forward Nick Anderson leads the Owls, averaging 13.9 points and ranking first in free throw percentage at 91.8%.
Graduate guard Trae Broadnax follows closely with 13.5 points per game and the highest rebounds for the team at 5.4. Key players also include:
- Jalen Smith: 11.9 points and 2.9 assists per game.
- Jimmy Oladokun, Jr.: 5.1 rebounds per game.
- Andrew Akuchie: 4.2 rebounds per game.
The Owls average 74.1 points while allowing 74.0 points per game. They have a shooting percentage of 41.5% from the field and 36.0% from three-point range.
Scouting Memphis
The Memphis Tigers come into the game with a 6-7 record. They have recently secured back-to-back victories, including a 57-48 win against North Texas in their conference opener. Senior guard Dug McDaniel is the key player for Memphis, scoring an average of 14.2 points per game and leading in steals.
Other notable players for Memphis include:
- Curtis Givens III: 9.8 points per game.
- Sincere Parker: 9.0 points.
- Julius Thedford: 5.6 rebounds per game.
Memphis scores about 74.0 points per game while giving up 73.5. They boast a shooting percentage of 42.8% overall, with 31.8% from three-point range.
Series History
This marks the 14th meeting between Rice and Memphis, with the Tigers leading the series 11-2. They hold a 6-1 advantage when playing in Houston. Rice’s only victory at home against Memphis occurred in 2011, when they won 67-52. Last season, Rice lost both meetings against Memphis.
Next Game
Following the Memphis game, Rice will travel to Wichita, Kansas, to take on Wichita State on Wednesday, January 7. The game is set for 6:30 p.m. CT and will also be streamed on ESPN+.
