Houston, TX (Sports Network) - Max Guercy scored 21 points for the Rice Owls,
who earned their first win in Conference USA play after upsetting the Houston
Cougars, 79-69, in a cross-town rivalry game at Tudor Fieldhouse.
Guercy shot 7-of-9 from the field, including 3-of-5 from beyond the arc for
the Owls (5-15, 1-5), who had lost eight of their previous nine games. Tamir
Jackson was just 4-of-12 from the floor but 9-of-10 from the free-throw line,
scoring 18 points while adding a team-high six rebounds.
Joseph Young was the top scorer for Houston (13-7, 2-5) with 17 points while
shooting 7-of-17 from the floor. TaShawn Thomas had a double-double with 15
points and 10 rebounds while also dishing out a game-high five assists. The
Cougars have lost five of their last six games.
The Owls shot just 31.3 percent from the field, including 2-of-14 from 3-
point range in the first half, as they trailed 33-25 at intermission.
In the second half, Rice caught fire and shot 65.2 percent from the floor
while making good on 6-of-10 from beyond that arc. The Owls closed out the
game on a 17-6 run to pull away.
The difference was made at the free-throw line, where Rice was 21-of-24, while
Houston shot just 10-of-20.
GAME NOTES:
The Sports Network