Rice University
9-5
Texas
10-3
Owls Fall in Austin, 73-59
12/31/2011 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Dec. 31, 2011
AUSTIN - J'Covan Brown scored 23 points including seven of Texas' first 10, to pace the Longhorns in a 73-59 win over Rice Saturday in the Frank Erwin Center.
For Rice, the loss snapped a two-game winning streak which began before the holiday break with a victory over another Big 12 program, Texas A&M. The Owls head into next Wednesday's game at TCU with a 9-5 record and looking for their best nonconference start since the 1991-92 season. Texas improved to 10-3 on the year with the New Year's Eve victory.
Rice senior guard Connor Frizzelle scored nine straight points for the Owls - a pair of three-pointers along with a three-point play. His second trey pulled Rice to within two points, 48-46.
After a Texas timeout, Jaylen Bond was fouled and went to the line for two shots. He would miss both attempts but Jonathan Holmes came down with the offensive rebound and was fouled while converting a putback. Holmes' made the ensuing free throw for a three-point play and the Longhorns' lead was five, 51-46, with 11:16 to play.
Tamir Jackson's two free throws would later make the score 52-48 before Texas rallied for a 9-0 run with seven points coming at the free throw line.
Rice could never erase the double-digit lead.
For the game, the Owls shot just 30 percent from the field and were outrebounded 37-27.
Jackson led Rice with 19 points while Frizzelle finished with 14. Arsalan Kazemi finished with his seventh straight double-double, scoring 11 points to go with 10 rebounds. He also had three steals and a block.
Sheldon McLellan added 19 points for Texas.
Following Wednesday's game at TCU, Rice opens league play on Saturday, playing host to one of Conference USA's preseason favorites, Marshall.
