Rice University
Stetson
Rice Holds Off Stetson, 66-63
12/21/2010 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Dec. 21, 2010
Final Stats
Rice vs. Stetson Game Book 
LAS VEGAS, Nev. - Going to the free throw line with 18 seconds on the clock, Tamir Jackson was 2-for-6 at the stripe. But the Rice sophomore knocked down two big ones and the Owl defense was stout on the perimeter in the final seconds to hold off Stetson for a 66-63 victory.
With the victory, Rice improved to 6-4 with its third straight victory and remained undefeated in the six-team, 2010 Las Vegas Holiday Hoops Classic being held at South Point Arena. Stetson is now 3-7.
Rice will again play early on Wednesday, taking on Miami in a game which will tip off at 2 p.m. Central Time. The game will be broadcast locally in Houston on ESPN 97.5, will be available through RiceOwls.com and there is also a link to the game promoter's web site to purchase a video feed of the contest.
Against Stetson on Tuesday, Rice never trailed in the second half. The Hatters tied the game at 38-38 with 15:03 to play before Cory Pflieger was able to bookend three-pointers around an Arsalan Kazemi dunk then Jackson scored inside to put the Owls in front, 48-38.
Stetson would narrow the Rice lead to as few as two points when Joel Naburgs scored from outside to make the score 56-54 with 3:15 to play but a tip-in by Kazemi and later a three-pointer by Trey Stanton with a minute to play had the Owls in front 63-56 with a minute to play.
Aaron Graham made two free throws for the Hatters and after a missed free throw by Pflieger, Tyshawn Patterson connected on a three-pointer to cut the Rice advantage back to two, 63-61.
Jackson was fouled seconds into the Owls' next possession but just made just the first of two to put the Owls in front, 64-61.
Naburgs would score again for Stetson before Jackson was fouled with 18 seconds to play and the Owls leading by a point, 64-63.
This time, Jackson sank both shots to put Rice up by three. At the other end, the Owls' perimeter defense held Patterson to a tough three-point shot from the corner that missed its mark.
Kazemi led Rice with his sixth double-double of the season, scoring 19 points and grabbing 12 rebounds. He was 7-for-10 from the field and 5-for-6 from the free throw line in 32 minutes of play. Stanton added 11 points for the Owls while Jackson finished with 10.
Stetson was led by Corey Walden's 15 points while Aaron Graham finished with 13 points.
Rice outrebounded the Hatters 41-34 and the Owls scored 21, second-chance points.
