Rice University Athletics
Rice University
1-5
Louisiana-Monroe
4-4
Rice Comeback Falls Short
12/2/2007 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Dec. 1, 2007
IOWA CITY, Iowa - Louisiana-Monroe built an early double-digit lead and used a solid performance at the free-throw line to survive a late Rice run as the Warhawks posted an 80-67 win to capture the Hawkeye Challenge championship Saturday at the University of Iowa.
Rice, 1-5, fell behind early as ULM opened the game with a 21-5 run. Louisiana-Monroe improved to 3-4 following back-to-back wins over host Iowa and Rice at the weekend tournament.
The Owls would mount a second-half comeback to erase most of a 24-point deficit in the period. Rice got the margin down to as few as 11 points with less than five minutes to play but ULM answered on both occasions.
Later, a steal in the backcourt and a layup by Rodney Foster would finally cut the Warhawks' lead to single digits, 73-64 with 2:57 to play. And on ULM's next possession, Foster would steal another pass and give the Owls the ball back with 2:27 left. Rice freshman forward Scott Saunders would sink the second of two free throw attempts to cut the margin to eight, 73-65 with 2:16 to play, but ULM would not falter at the free throw line.
While Louisiana-Monroe made just one field goal over the game's final eight minutes, the Warhawks converted 13 straight free throws and 15-of-16 down the stretch to preserve the win.
For the game, ULM was 27-of-33 at the line (82 percent). All five of the Warhawks' starters, along with Jordan Payne off the bench, scored in double figures. Jonas Brown finished with a game-high 16 points while starting forwards Raphelle Turner and Afam Nweke both registered double-doubles. Turner scored 13 points and pulled down 12 rebounds while Nweke finished with 10 points and 14 boards. Payne added 15 points.
Foster led Rice with 15 points and had a career-high six steals. Senior forward Patrick Britton scored 14 points for a second straight night. Saunders scored his first career points, finishing with nine points and five rebounds. Saunders was 2-for-4 from the field and made 5-of-9 free throws in his most extensive playing time of the season (13 minutes).
Britton along with freshman point guard Jasen Williams were both named to the Hawkeye Challenge All-Tournament Team. Williams scored a career-high 20 points in the Owls' 55-49 win over Eastern Illinois on Friday. He finished with 13 points and matched a career high with five assists against Louisiana-Monroe.
Junior guard Cory Pflieger did not play Saturday after suffering an ankle injury in Friday's game against Eastern Illinois.
Rice travels to Texas State on Wednesday to close out a three-game road swing. The Owls' next home game is Saturday, Dec. 8, when they play host to Texas at the Toyota Center.
