Men's Basketball: Almond Paces Owls Past Rockhurst, 82-63
2/8/2005 HOUSTON ? Morris Almond scored a career-high 19 points to lead four Rice players in double figures, pacing the Owls to a 82-63 non-conference win over Rockhurst Tuesday night at Autry Court.
Almond came off the bench to set a personal best for the second straight game. The sophomore from Powder Springs, Ga., scored 17 in the Owls' two-point loss to UT-El Paso Saturday night.
Rockhurst, a Division II school in Kansas City, Mo., took the early fight to the Owls, holding as much as a four-point lead in the opening half. Brock Gillespie put the Owls on top for good with his two free throws with 5:08 left in the period, and Rice had as much as a 10-point lead late in the half en route to a 35-27 advantage at the break.
The Hawks nipped the lead to four in the first two minutes in the second half, but Jason McKrieth scored four straight Rice points to give the Owls breathing room.
Rice built its lead to as much as 22 points (73-51 with 4:06 left) before Owls coach Willis Wilson cleared his bench.
Following Almond's 19 points, Michael Harris recorded his 14th double-double of the season with 17 points and 11 rebounds, Gillespie added 15 and McKrieth scored 13. Nine of Rice's 13 players scored in the game.
The Owls shot 56.4 percent from the field for the game, including an even 60 percent (18 of 30) in the second half. The Owls also had 23 assists, led by Jason Okrzesik's seven, equaling his career high.
Joel Sebanski led the Hawks (7-13) with 13 points, and Terrance Dopson and Joey Deas added 10 each.
Now 12-8 on the season, Rice hits the road for its next two games, beginning Saturday afternoon at Tulsa (1 pm CST). |
