Men's Basketball: Owls Drop First On European Tour

5/14/2000 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball

LONDON, England -- Mike Wilks scored 21 points, but Rice absorbed its first loss on the Owls' European tour with an 84-74 setback against the Islington White Heat basketball club Sunday afternoon.

Wilks and and Omar Seli-Mance hit early three-pointers to give the Owls an early lead, but foul trouble helped put the Owls down 41-36 at the half. They never got closer in the final 20 minutes.

"I think fatigue set in a bit (Sunday)," Rice coach Willis Wilson said. "Today's early game after a very late game Saturday night, combined with the travel, showed. It was just one of those challenges we need to conquer to become a better team."

The Owls will take on the Coventry Crusaders club Monday night, their final contest in England. On Tuesday, they'll head to France for the final three games of the tour.