Rice University
-89, 22 CUSA
SMU
-97, 22 CUSA
SMU Beats Rice in Overtime, 80-69
1/21/2006 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Jan. 21, 2006
Dallas -- SMU's Dez Willingham hit a desperation three-pointer from 25 feet with 1 second remaining to send the game into overtime at 67-67 and the Mustangs outscored Rice 16-5 in the extra-period for a 80-69 home win in front of 4,112 fans at Moody Coliseum.
Rice's Morris Almond led all scorers with 32 points.
Willingham's line-drive heave capped a seven-point rally in the last minute of regulation for the Mustangs.
SMU's Bryan Hopkins was called for a technical foul for elbowing Rice's Patrick Britton in the back of the head with 1:37 remaining in the game. Morris Almond sank both technical free throws to give the Owls a 62-55 lead, but Rice did not convert on the ensuing possession.
SMU then scored on three consecutive trips to cut it o 62-61. Almond was fouled and again hit both free throws to give the Owls a 64-61 lead with 13 seconds left before Willingham's miracle make that forced overtime.
The Owls were down 39-35 at the half, but Almond scored the Owls' first 11 points in the second-half to give Rice a 46-41 lead. A J.R. Harrison basket at 8:02 gave the Owls' their biggest lead of the game at 56-48.
For the game, Rice (8-8, 2-2 C-USA) shot 32 percent in the second-half after making 57 percent in the first-half and finished at 38.6 percent. SMU (9-7, 2-2 C-USA) shot 52 percent for the contest.
J.R. Harrison scored 20 points for Rice and Patrick Britton led all rebounders with 10.
Derrick Roberts led SMU with 22 points, while Bryan Hopkins added 17.
Rice now plays at Southern Miss on Wedensday, Jan. 25 at 7 pm.
