Rice Basketball Closes Non-Conference Play with Road Matchup Against pepperdine
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The Rice Owls aim to cap off thier non-conference schedule with a winning record as they travel to Malibu, California, to face the Pepperdine Waves this Saturday, December 20th. Tip-off is set for 8 p.m. Central Time and will be streamed live on ESPN+.
Owls Riding Momentum into California
Rice enters the contest with a 7-4 record, fresh off a 77-72 win over Southwestern Christian on Wednesday. The team’s success is fueled by strong individual performances and a commitment to efficient offense.
Senior guard/forward Nick Anderson currently leads the Owls with an impressive 14.5 points per game, complemented by 3.7 rebounds. Anderson isn’t just a scorer; he’s a remarkably accurate shooter,leading the league in free throw percentage at 93.0% and ranking second in three-point field goal percentage at 41.7%.
Graduate guard Trae Broadnax adds a significant scoring punch with 13.5 points and 5.2 rebounds per game, while also leading the team with 3.0 assists. Redshirt senior guard Jalen Smith contributes 12.9 points and is a key playmaker with 2.9 assists, connecting on a team-leading 43.3% of his three-point attempts.
Rounding out Rice’s key contributors are junior forward Jimmy Oladokun, Jr.,who leads the team in rebounding with 5.4 boards, and senior forward Andrew Akuchie, who pulls down 4.4 rebounds per game.
Statistically, the Owls are averaging 77.3 points per game while allowing 71.3. They excel in shooting, connecting on 43.2% of their field goal attempts and ranking second in the American Conference in three-point field goal percentage at 38.0%. Rice also demonstrates a strong presence on the boards, outrebounding opponents by an average of 39.6 to 36.6.
Waves Seek to Snap Losing Streak
Pepperdine (4-8) will look to break a recent slump, having lost six of their last seven games, including an 81-78 defeat at Long Beach State on Thursday.The Waves will need a strong performance to avoid entering the holiday break on a losing note.
Graduate student guard/forward Javon Cooley paces Pepperdine with 13.8 points per game and leads the team in both field goal percentage (47.7%) and three-point field goal percentage (34.7%). He also boasts an impressive 94.0% free throw percentage, ranking third in the West Coast Conference.
Redshirt sophomore guard Aaron Clark is close behind with 14.3 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 3.1 assists, while sophomore guard Styles Phipps contributes 12.8 points and leads the team in both rebounding (6.7 per game) and assists (5.4 per game). Sophomore forward danilo Dozic adds 11.9 points and a solid 77.8% from the free throw line.
Pepperdine averages 73.7 points per game but concedes 74.8. They shoot 44.1% from the field and 29.7% from beyond the arc, while their opponents shoot 44.4% and 33.5%, respectively. The Waves hold a slight rebounding edge, averaging 36.0 rebounds to their opponents’ 32.3.
Series History Favors Pepperdine
The all-time series between Rice and Pepperdine stands at 3-2 in favor of the Waves. Notably, Pepperdine has won both previous matchups played in Malibu. The teams first met in 1945, with Pepperdine securing a 48-35 victory. The series has seen relatively few contests, with the most recent meetings occurring in 2021 and 2022, each team winning on their home court.
Looking Ahead
Following the game against pepperdine, rice will take a break for the Christmas holiday before resuming competition on December 31st, opening American Conference play at Tulsa. That game is scheduled for a 1 p.m. CT tip-off and will be televised on ESPNU.
