- Matchup: UTSA Roadrunners vs Rice Owls
- Date: Sunday, March 8, 2026
- Venue: Tudor Fieldhouse, Houston, TX
- Broadcast: ESPN+
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Watch as the Rice Owls (12-18) face off against the UTSA Roadrunners (5-24) at Tudor Fieldhouse this Sunday.
In their previous outing, the UTSA Roadrunners clashed with Wichita State, resulting in an 84-67 defeat. UTSA recorded a shooting percentage of 33.3% (21 of 63) and made 5 of 17 attempts from beyond the arc. From the charity stripe, they nailed 20 out of 28 free throw attempts, achieving a percentage of 71.4%. On the rebounding front, they amassed a total of 37 boards, with 13 of them being offensive. The Roadrunners distributed only 3 assists and forced 9 turnovers while achieving 5 steals. Defensively, they allowed Wichita State to shoot 40.5% from the field on 30 of 74 attempts. Wichita State registered 12 assists and 4 steals, securing 54 rebounds (20 offensive, 34 defensive) but did not record any blocks. At the foul line, they shot 88.2%, converting 15 of 17 attempts, and made 9 out of 29 three-point attempts. The game saw UTSA committing 14 fouls compared to Wichita State’s 20.
Baboucarr Njie was a standout for UTSA in the last match, scoring 21 points on 8 of 15 shooting, while contributing 7 rebounds over 28 minutes of play and providing 1 assist.
Entering this match, UTSA holds a win-loss record of 5-24. The team averages 12.2 turnovers per game and commits 17.1 personal fouls. They pull down 35.9 rebounds per game and have a total of 317 assists this season, ranking 358th in Division 1 for assists. The Roadrunners are shooting at a 29.9% clip from three-point range (218 of 729) and 69.4% from the free throw line. They average 69.4 points per game (322nd in Division 1) with a field goal percentage of 40.0%.
On the defensive end, the Roadrunners force 11.1 turnovers per game and commit 15.4 personal fouls. They allow opponents to shoot 34.3% from three-point range and rank 338th in D-1 in terms of points allowed per game (80.8). Their defense permits an opponent shooting percentage of 44.9% (816 of 1,817), and they surrender an average of 41.2 rebounds per game. They rank 296th in D-1 for assists allowed, giving up a total of 458 assists this season.
In their last game, the Rice Owls suffered a narrow 62-58 defeat against North Texas. In that match, Rice secured 22 defensive and 16 offensive rebounds for a total of 38 boards. They turned the ball over 15 times and managed just 2 steals. North Texas committed 17 fouls, allowing the Owls 15 free throw attempts, of which 6 were converted, resulting in a 40.0% success rate. Beyond the arc, Rice made 10 of their 31 attempts (32.3%), while shooting 36.2% overall (21 of 58). On defense, they allowed North Texas to shoot 42.6% (23 of 54) and were 25.0% from three-point range, hitting 4 out of 16 attempts, while finishing 12 of 21 at the free throw line (57.1%). Rice’s rebounding effort allowed North Texas 29 total boards (8 offensive).
Jalen Smith was a key player for the Owls, scoring 18 points on 6 of 15 shooting (40.0%) in 32 minutes, but did not record any rebounds or assists.
Currently, Rice stands at 12-18 on the season. They average 18.7 personal fouls per game and have a free throw percentage of 68.8%. The Owls average 12.2 assists per game (303rd in Division 1) and lose possession via 12.4 turnovers per game. They have scored a total of 2,211 points this season (73.7 per game) and average 37.7 rebounds per game, shooting 42.1% from the field, which places them 326th nationally.
Defensively, Rice ranks 211th in D-1 for points allowed per game (74.7). They force 11.4 turnovers each game and have allowed opponents to shoot 44.1% (177th in college basketball). Their defense concedes 33.5% from three-point range (211 of 630), and opponents hit 73.2% of their free throw attempts. Rice permits 12.1 assists and 36.3 rebounds per game, ranking 77th and 296th in the nation, respectively.
Who will emerge victorious in this NCAA matchup against the spread?
Prediction: Select Rice
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