Rice University
-1010, 43 CUSA
Houston
-119, 52 CUSA
Rice Falls Short at UH 70-63
1/31/2007 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Jan. 31, 2007
Despite not scoring a field goal in the final 7:34 of the game, the Houston Cougars held on to beat visiting Rice 70-63 in front of 6,115 fans at Hofheinz Pavilion.
Houston scored its last field goal, a trey by Robert McKiver, for a 56-49 lead at 7:34. The Cougars did make 14 of 20 free throws to finish the game.
The Owls were down 36-23 at the half as they committed 10 turnovers and only shot 37 percent from the field. In the second half, Rice rallied and a Morris Almond three-pointer brought Rice to within four at 65-61 at 3:02. Following at McKiver made free throw, the Owls' Lorenzo Williams drove and scored to cut the lead to three at 66-63 with 44 ticks on the clock. Houston's Jahmar Thorpe then made two free throws to push it back to a five-point contest.
Morris Almond led Rice (10-10, 4-3) with 21 points and 8 rebounds, while Rodney Foster scored 11 points off the bench. Greg Killings led the Owls on the glass with 12 rebounds.
UH, which received zero points from its reserves, was led by McKiver's 21 points. Dion Dowell and Jahmar Thorpe each scored 16 for Houston (11-9, 5-2).
Rice now hosts East Carolina on Saturday at 7:05 pm in Autry Court.
