Rice men’s basketball team prepares to host Memphis in their American Conference home opener this Saturday at Tudor Fieldhouse in Houston, Texas. The game is set to tip off at 2 p.m. CT and will be available for streaming on ESPN+.
Rice enters the game with a 6-8 overall record and a recent conference loss to Tulsa. Senior guard/forward Nick Anderson leads the Owls, averaging 13.9 points per game while boasting a 91.8% free throw percentage, ranking first in the conference. Graduate guard Trae Broadnax supports the team with 13.5 points and a team-high 5.4 rebounds per game.
Redshirt senior Jalen Smith adds 11.9 points per game and leads Rice in assists with 2.9 per contest. The Owls shoot 41.5% from the field and 36% from beyond the arc, ranking fourth in the conference for three-pointers per game. Defensively, Rice allows 44.1% shooting from opponents but outrebounds them 38.4 to 37.1 on average.
Memphis arrives with a 6-7 record and momentum from two consecutive wins, including a 57-48 victory over North Texas in their conference opener. Senior guard Dug McDaniel is the Tigers’ top scorer at 14.2 points per game and ranks second in the conference with 2.2 steals per contest. He also places third in assists (5.1) and free throw accuracy (.897) in the league.
Other offensive contributors for Memphis include sophomore guard Curtis Givens III with 9.8 points and junior guard Miles Rigsby, who averages 10 points and ranks fifth in steals (1.8). The Tigers shoot 42.8% from the field but struggle from three-point range at 31.8%. Their defense is stingy, allowing opponents only 41% shooting, the second-lowest in the conference.
Memphis also impresses in forcing turnovers, averaging 13.7 per game, and ranks third in steals at 9.1 per contest. The Tigers have out-rebounded opponents by a slim margin of 37.9 to 36.5. Head coach Penny Hardaway is in his eighth season leading the program, holding a 161-75 record.
The series history favors Memphis significantly. The Tigers have won 11 of 13 all-time meetings against Rice and hold a 6-1 advantage in games played in Houston. Rice’s sole home victory against Memphis occurred in 2011 with a 67-52 score. Most recently, Memphis won both matchups last season, including a close 86-83 game in Houston.
Key Matchup Information:
1. Rice Record: 6-8 (0-1 Conference)
2. Memphis Record: 6-7 (1-0 Conference)
3. Leading Rice Scorer: Nick Anderson – 13.9 PPG
4. Leading Memphis Scorer: Dug McDaniel – 14.2 PPG
5. Series Record: Memphis leads 11-2 overall, 6-1 in Houston
6. Tip-Off: Saturday, 2 p.m. CT at Tudor Fieldhouse
7. Broadcast: ESPN+ streaming
Rice will seek to rebound after consecutive losses, aiming to leverage their strong three-point shooting and rebounding advantage against a defensively tough Memphis squad. Memphis will look to capitalize on their recent momentum and defensive pressure to maintain their series dominance.
Following this game, Rice travels to Wichita for a road contest against Wichita State, with tip-off at 6:30 p.m. CT next Wednesday. That game will also be streamed on ESPN+.
Read more at: riceowls.com-
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