Rice University
-1115, 58 CUSA
Houston
-197, 94 CUSA
Cougars Win by Three over Rice, 74-71
3/1/2006 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
March 1, 2006
Houston, down 71-70, scored the last four points of the game to pull out a 74-71 win over the visiting Rice Owls. For the Cougars it was their first win vs. Rice after losing four consecutive games and five of the last six. Rice drops to 11-15 overall and 5-8 in Conference USA, while UH improves to 19-7 and 9-4 in the league.
Rice point guard Lorenzo Williams set a school single-season record with his third assist at the 12:23 mark in the first half on a J.R. Harrison slam dunk. Williams finished the night with six assists and now has a season total of 163. He surpasses Rashid Smith's 2004 total of 159.
Rice was down 51-48 when it rattled off 11 points and held the Cougars to zero to take a 59-51 lead with 11:42 remaining. But UH battled back and outscored the Owls 13-5 to tie it at 64-64. Houston was ahead 70-68 but Rice's Jamaal Moore made one of two free throws and Patrick Britton then converted two free throws to give Rice a 71-70 lead with 1:53 to play.
UH's Oliver Lafayette then made one of two at the line to tie it at 71-71 and Lanny Smith made a scoop lay-up to give the Cougars a 73-71 lead. After a missed jumper by the Owls' Morris Almond, Jahmar Thorpe was fouled and he made one of two at the line with 20 seconds left. Rice's Almond did have two three-pointers that missed their mark in the final six seconds.
Houston was able to take a 44-42 lead at the half as it hit 9-20 from three-point range, but then only went 1-11 in the second-half. The Owls shot 45.5 percent to UH's 37.5 from the field and they outrebounded UH 46-38.
J.R. Harrison led Rice with 22 points, while Morris Almond added 17 points. Almond is now averaging a league-high 20.9 ppg and 23.9 in C-USA action. Sophomore Patrick Britton had a nice offensive night with 12 points and 12 rebounds for his second double-double of the season. Almond also pulled down 9 rebounds for the Owls.
Oliver Lafayette led UH with 22 points and Lanny Smith scored 17 points. Jahmar Thorpe added 10 points and 12 rebounds for a double-double.
Rice will honor its senior members of the basketball program on Saturday as it hosts SMU at 6:05 pm.
