Rice University
5-5
Texas Southern
2-9
Owls Thump Texas Southern 81-65
12/21/2005 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Dec. 21, 2005
Houston - Morris Almond carved up Texas Southern with a career-high 39 points to lead Rice over the Tigers 81-65 in front of 2,072 fans at historic Autry Court. Almond outscored TSU 22 to 20 in the first half, as the Owls poured in 49 points.
For the game the smooth shooter shot 14-20 from the field and 4-7 from three-point range. He was 8-11 in the first half (3-4 from three-point range) and 6-9 in the second half. Almond also contributed 6 rebounds, 2 blocks, and a steal in 35 minutes of action.
Almond's 39 points are tied with Ricky Pierce for the ninth most points scored in a game by a Rice Owl. Pierce scored 39 at Santa Clara on Dec. 21, 1981. It is also the first time an Owl has scored 30 or more since Michael Harris scored 30 last year against Hawaii on senior night.
The Owls were able to lead 49-20 at the half on 58 percent shooting (18-31), while also canning 8 of 13 three-pointers. Meanwhile, Texas Southern shot just 28.6 percent (6-21) with 13 turnovers.
TSU did outscore Rice in the first 8:19 in the second half 22 to 5 to cut Rice's lead to just 12 points (54-42). But, back-to-back buckets by Rice's J.R. Harrison and Almond squelched the Tigers' momentum. Those two field goals aided the Owls in outscoring TSU 16-10 to go up 70-54 with 4:39 to play.
Also in double-figures for the Owls were J.R. Harrison with 11 points and a team-high 9 rebounds and Lorenzo Williams notched his first-ever double-double with 11 points and a career-high 11 assists. Williams' 11 assists is one shy of Rashid Smith's school-record of 12 which he accomplished twice.
For the game Rice made 9 three-pointers, which is the most since Owls made 10 last year at Tulsa, and made 50 percent of its shots (29-58). Rice (5-5) will next be in action on Dec. 30 at Murray State with a 7:30 pm (CST) tip. The Owls' next home game will be on Mon., Jan. 2 vs. Yale.
