Rice University
3-18,0-8
East Carolina
8-12,2-5
Rice Downed by Pirates
2/6/2008 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Feb. 6, 2008
Box Score l Final Box in PDF Format 
GREENVILLE, N.C. -- East Carolina's James Legan came off the bench to score a game-high 17 points as the Pirates defeated Rice 64-45 here Wednesday.
With the win, ECU snapped a four-game losing streak and improved to 8-12 and 2-5 in Conference USA play. Rice continues to look for its first C-USA win as the Owls fell to 3-18 and 0-8.
Rice continues a two-game road swing Saturday, traveling to SMU.
While the Owls equaled a season low, committing just 10 turnovers, the squad struggled out of the gates shooting the ball. Rice shot 28 percent from the field, making 17-of-59 shots.
The Owls attempted only seven three-point attempts, making four. Junior guard Rodney Foster was 3-for-6 from behind the arc and led the team with 11 points and five assists.
Trailing 15-13 with less than nine minutes to play in the first half, the Owls hit a stretch in which they missed seven straight field goal attempts. At the other end of the court, Legan drilled a pair of three-pointers and hit another outside shot to spark a 12-1 run as the Pirates built a 27-14 advantage.
Foster would end the run with a bucket and also had a late, first-half three-pointer. Still, ECU owned a 33-21 lead at the break.
Rice managed a 7-0 run at one point in the second half to cut East Carolina's lead to single digits. Foster started the run with a three-pointer. Scott Saunders would score inside and Aleks Perka had a driving layin that cut the lead to 46-37 with 8:01 to play.
Jamar Abrams would score for the Pirates and after a Rice missed shot and a turnover on the Owls' next offensive possession, Legan made two free throws and the lead was back to 13, 50-37 with 6:18 to play.
East Carolina outrebounded the Owls 42-37. ECU's Gabe Blair scored nine points and had 11 rebounds.
