Rice University
5-5
Belmont
8-4
Owls Edged By Bruins
12/28/2006 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Dec. 28, 2006
MORAGA, Calif. (AP) - Justin Hare scored nine of his 22 points, including the game-winning basket with 1.1 seconds left as Belmont overcame a 10-point deficit to defeat Rice 87-85 in the first round of the Shamrock Classic at Saint Mary's College on Thursday.
Rice's Morris Almond led all scorers with 28, and Chris Hagan contributed 16 to the losing effort. Almond also led the Owls with 8 rebounds to go with 3 assists, 2 blocks, and a steal. He is now averaging a nation-leading 29.7 points a game.
Belmont (8-4) saw a five-point halftime lead evaporate, as Rice (5-5) turned up its defensive pressure midway through the second half.
Hare scored a basket after Hagan's two free throws put Rice ahead 81-71. He then sank a 3-pointer - one of 12 by the winning Bruins - to cut the lead to five.
Andrew Preston failed on a three-point play for Belmont after Almond's basket, but Andy Wicke hit a 3-pointer after Belmont got the rebound. After a Rice miss, Preston tied the game with 1:27 to play.
Almond put Rice back on top with a 12-footer from the paint with 1:13 left before Hare tied the game with an eight-foot leaner with 36 seconds to play.
Chris Hagan lost the ball on a drive and was called for a double dribble as Belmont got the last shot. Hare connected on a 12-footer, and Rice's long inbounds attempt was knocked loose.
The Bruins shot 54 percent from the field and closed-out the last 4:13 of the game on a 16-4 run.
Boomer Herndon had 14 and Preston, who went 6-for-6 from the floor, had 13 for Belmont. Patrick Britton added 10 for Rice.
The Owls now play Western Carolina, which lost 93-82 to Saint Mary's College, in the consolation game of the Shamrock Office Solutions Classic at 7 pm (Central).
