Old Dominion (7-3, 3-1) at Rice (9-3, 3-1)
Game Info – Friday, Jan. 15 at 3:00 p.m. EST and Saturday, Jan. 16 at 2:00 p.m. EST
Location – Tudor Fieldhouse (Houston, Texas)
Stream – ESPN+
Radio – Click Here
Live Stats – Click Here
NORFOLK, Va. – The Old Dominion men's basketball team (7-3, 3-1 C-USA) will travel to Houston, Texas for a pair of games at Rice (9-3, 3-1 C-USA) on Friday, Jan. 15 at 3:00 p.m. EST and Saturday, Jan. 16 at 2:00 p.m. EST. Both games will stream on ESPN+. The Monarchs and Owls both enter Friday with a 3-1 league record.
Radio:
Both games will also air across the ODU Sports Radio Network, with Ted Alexander and Dave Twardzik's live pregame show beginning at 2:30 p.m. ET on Friday and 1:30 p.m. on Saturday afternoon.
All-Time Series:
Friday will mark the 12th all-time meeting between these two schools, as ODU leads the series, 10-1. Old Dominion has won the last six games against Rice. The Monarchs are 5-0 when playing the Owls in Houston. These two programs last met last season in Houston, where ODU claimed a 73-70 victory. The first ever meeting between Old Dominion and Rice came during the 1971-72 season, when ODU downed the Owls by a 114-86 score. The Monarchs won the first five meetings against Rice, as the Owls sole win against ODU came during the 2015-16 campaign.
Monarchs:
Old Dominion enters the weekend series winners of its last three contests, as well as five of its last six games. Most recently, ODU defeated Florida Atlantic by 64-55 and 71-67 scores at Chartway Arena.
Malik Curry has led the way so far this season for the Monarchs, averaging 15.9 points per game. A.J. Oliver II (11.1 ppg) and Kalu Ezikpe (10.5 ppg) are also averaging double-figures.
Quick Hitters:
-ODU is 6-1 when leading at the half.
-ODU is 4-1 when out-rebounding its opponents.
-ODU is 6-0 when turning the ball over less than its opponent.
-ODU is 6-1 when shooting 40% or better from the floor.
-ODU is 5-0 when scoring 70 or more points.
-ODU is 6-0 when allowing 69 points or less.
-ODU is 5-0 in games decided by 10 points or less.
Owls:
Rice enters Friday's contest with a 9-3 overall record and 3-1 mark in C-USA play, while claiming victory in four of its last five ballgames. The Owls are most recent coming off a split series at UTEP.
Four Rice players are currently averaging double-figures: Qunicy Olivari (16.2 ppg), Travis Evee (15.8 ppg), Max Fiedler (12.5 ppg) and Chris Mullins (11.3 ppg).
Head coach Scott Pera is currently in the midst of his fourth season at the helm in Houston.
Get in the Game!
Old Dominion athletics is providing Monarch Nation two opportunities to be involved in the 2020-21 basketball season virtually, as the athletic department is creating a virtual ticket, presented by the Virginia Lottery, that will allow fans to win various prizes, as well as the opportunity to purchase fan cutouts to be placed in Chartway Arena throughout the 2020-21 season, brought to you by Chartway Federal Credit Union. Proceeds from the sale of fan cutouts and virtual tickets will assist with paying for student-athlete scholarships.
With the purchase of a $20 virtual ticket, fans will receive one Virginia Lottery digital scratcher with the possibility to win, among other things, two season tickets for all ODU sports in 2021-22, use of a Chartway Arena suite for a basketball game in 2021-22, a $500 Harris Teeter gift card, a $500 Under Armour shopping spree, free Papa John's pizza, or Moe's Bucks to Moe's Southwest Grill.
The "Monarch Cutouts", presented by Chartway, are available for $59 and will be placed in camera-view seats. The cutouts will be in attendance at all ODU men's and women's basketball games during the 2020-21 season. Be on the lookout during games because your Monarch Cutout could be featured on the game broadcast or ODU Basketball social media.
ODU Travels to Rice for Friday (3PM) and Saturday (2PM) Games on ESPN+
