Rice University
3-3
Utah
4-1
Rice Outlasts Utah 96-94 in Triple Overtime
12/3/2005 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Dec. 3, 2005
Houston -- Rice outscored Utah 6-4 in the third overtime to come away with a 96-94 victory in front of 1,964 fans at Autry Court. The win evens the Owls' record to 3-3, while Utah loses for the first time this season and is now 4-1.
Though Rice was outrebounded 60 to 34, the Owls made 32 of 47 free throws and shot 50 percent from the field. Utah, meanwhile, made 37 field goals (42.5 percent), eight more than Rice, but only converted 14 of 23 free throws. Each team made six three pointers.
The Owls took control in the first half as Morris Almond made two free throws to give Rice 22-19 lead. Rice was able to outscore the Utes 22 to 16 following a 15-15 tie (9:51). Utah battled back in the second half was able to tie it at 54-54 with 8 minutes remaining, but Almond swished in a three-pointer to give a 57-54 cushion. Near the end of regulation, the Owls' Jamaal Moore made one of two free throws to give Rice a 69-67 lead with 16 ticks on the clock. Utah's Luke Nevill, who finished with 19 points dunked a feed from Johnnie Bryant to force the first overtime.
In overtime number one, Rice was ahead 78-75 as Lorenzo Williams made two free throws with 31 seconds remaining. Nevill answered with another dunk from Bryant to make it 78-77. Williams was then fouled and proceeded to make one of two free throws to give Rice a 79-77 lead with 19 seconds left. Utah's Bryant drove and score on a lay-up with nine seconds left to tie it, but he then fouls Williams on the inbounds pass. Williams missed both free throws and Bryant's last second lay-up did not fall.
In the second overtime, Rice's J.R. Harrison, who led all scorers with a career-high 27 points, gave the Owls a 88-87 lead with 59 seconds left. Utah then turns the ball over and fouls Rice freshman Cory Pflieger on the inbounds play. Pflieger made the first and missed the second free throw with 18 seconds left. Utah's Bryant Markson missed a lay-up but Nevill rebounded and put it back in to knot the score at 90 and force a third overtime.
Paulius Packevicius made two free throws to give Rice a 93-90 lead at 2:33. Utah's Jonas Langvad answered with a jumper and Lorenzo Williams then charged back and made a lay-up with 31 seconds to go in the game to the Owls a 95-92 lead. Utah's Lawrence Borha missed a three-pointer that would have tied it and J.R. Harrison was then fouled. He made the first and missed the second free throw. Marskon then scored on a dunk with 4.4 seconds remaining. The Owls' Rodney Foster was then fouled and he missed both free throws with 3 ticks left in the game. Markson rebounded the second miss and passed it to Tim Drisdom who's 25-foot three pointer missed it's mark.
Rice was led by Harrison's 27 points, while Williams tallied 23, and Almond scored 20. Harrison led Rice with 8 rebounds. In 55 minutes of action, Harrison played 52 minutes, Patrick Britton played 51 minutes, and Williams played 51 minutes. As a team, Rice only turned the ball over 11 times in the whole game.
The Owls now rest their wings and prepare for Monday's game against number-two ranked Texas at 7 pm in the Toyota Center in downtown Houston.
Markson and Neville led the Utes with 19 apiece. Nevill led all rebounders with 13.
