- Matchup: Rice Owls vs East Carolina Pirates
- Event Date: Wednesday, January 28, 2026
- Venue: Minges Coliseum, Greenville, NC
- Broadcast: ESPNU
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This Wednesday, the Rice Owls (8-12) will be making their way to Minges Coliseum for a showdown against the East Carolina Pirates (6-14).
The Rice Owls faced off against Tulsa in their most recent game, ultimately suffering a defeat with a score of 87-81. Throughout the match, the Owls committed 22 fouls compared to 15 by Tulsa. Rice managed to convert 11 of their 25 attempts from beyond the arc. On the free throw line, Tulsa hit 22 of their 28 shots, finishing at 78.6%. The Owls struggled defensively, allowing Tulsa to shoot 48.2% (27 of 56). Rice recorded 13 assists and forced 10 turnovers, while claiming 27 rebounds (8 offensive). At the charity stripe, Rice converted 9 of 14, achieving a percentage of 64.3%. Ultimately, they secured a 50.0% field goal percentage, connecting on 30 of 60 attempts and 12 of 26 from three-point range.
One standout player from Rice was Jalen Smith, who shot an impressive 60.0% from the floor, finishing the game with 24 points on 9 of 15 shooting. He contributed 2 assists over 32 minutes of play but did not grab any rebounds.
The Owls have a record of 8-12 this season, averaging 12.3 turnovers and committing 18.6 personal fouls per game. Collectively, they grab 37.4 rebounds and have achieved 244 assists this season, ranking them 319th in college basketball for assists. Rice has a shooting rate of 36.6% from three-point range (178 out of 486) and 69.4% from the free throw line. They score an average of 74.1 points per game, placing them 243rd overall, while shooting 42.4% from the field.
Defensively, the Owls force an average of 12.3 turnovers and draw 17.9 fouls each game. They rank 77th in college basketball for assists allowed, having surrendered 243 this season. Rice’s defensive field goal percentage is 44.0% (510 of 1,160), and they allow an average of 36.4 rebounds per game. They permit 34.8% of shots from distance, ranking 199th nationally in opponent points per game (74.0).
In their last matchup, the East Carolina Pirates secured a win against North Texas, concluding with a score of 63-59. In terms of rebounding, East Carolina allowed North Texas to collect 23 rebounds (8 offensive). The Pirates struggled from three-point range, making only 20.0% of their attempts (4 out of 20), but shot 11 out of 16 at the free throw line (68.8%). Throughout the game, North Texas shot 34.9%, making 22 of 63 attempts. East Carolina shot 42.6% (20 of 47) from the field, nailing 37.5% (6 of 16) of their three-point attempts, and achieved a free throw rate of 73.9% by converting 17 of their attempts. North Texas was tagged with 18 fouls, allowing the Pirates 23 free throw opportunities while they committed 15 turnovers and managed 4 steals. The Pirates collected a total of 39 rebounds, with 28 defensive and 11 offensive.
Jordan Riley was pivotal for the Pirates in this contest, scoring 15 points over 39 minutes and recording 2 assists. He shot 25.0% from the field, hitting 3 of 12, and secured 5 rebounds.
Currently, East Carolina holds a 6-14 record for the season. The Pirates average 16.5 personal fouls per game and convert 68.7% of their free throw attempts. They manage 11.1 assists per game (346th in college) and commit 12.9 turnovers on average. For the year, East Carolina has scored a total of 1,358 points (67.9 points per game) while averaging 36.5 rebounds. Their offensive shooting percentage is 40.3%, ranking them 349th in Division I basketball.
On the defensive end, East Carolina ranks 245th in points allowed per game, allowing 76.2. They force an average of 11.8 turnovers and permit opponents to shoot 44.8% from the field (243rd in college basketball). The Pirates’ defense allows 35.5% from three-point range (167 of 471) and gives up 73.6% at the charity stripe. They average allowing 14.3 assists and 35.8 total rebounds per game, which ranks them 252nd and 259th, respectively, in Division I.
Who will emerge victorious in tonight’s NCAA matchup against the spread?
Prediction: Select East Carolina
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