Rice University
-1110, 24 CUSA
Memphis
-146, 51 CUSA
Owls Fall in Memphis, 73-51
1/25/2012 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Jan. 25, 2012
Final Stats
Rice v Memphis Book 
MEMPHIS, Tenn. - Rice shot better than 50 percent from the field in the second half but could not overcome 10 turnovers in the period as Memphis claimed a 73-51 win over the Owls Wednesday in FedEx Forum.
Rice scored the first two points of the second period to get a 35-23 Memphis halftime lead down to 10 before Tiger guard Chris Crawford sparked a 10-2 run that extended the U of M's lead to 45-27. Crawford scored 13 of his game-high 15 points in the second half. For the game, he was 6-for-11 from the field to go along with seven rebounds, two assists, a block and a steal.
Antonio Barton and Tarik Black added 11 and 10 points, respectively for Memphis.
Rice, which fell to 11-10 and 2-4 in Conference USA play, never led in the game. Memphis improved to 14-6 and 5-1 in winning its second straight game.
Memphis jumped out to a quick 7-0 lead. The Owls did not make a field goal until Ahmad Ibrahim knocked down a three-pointer with 12:35 to play in the period. Ibrahim's trey cut the Tigers' lead to 9-6. After the U of M's start, Rice would get the advantage down to one point on a tip-in by Omar Oraby followed by an Arsalan Kazemi layup.
After a pair of missed Memphis free throws, Rice would have an opportunity to take the lead but Ibrahim missed jumper and Dylan Ennis also could not convert on shot following an offensive rebound
Afterward, Barton made a three-pointer and a Rice turnover led to a Ferrakohn Hall jumper. Barton's three-pointer with 7:43 to play gave Memphis a 19-10 lead. Rice would once again answer with back-to-back three-pointers by Connor Frizzelle and Ibrahim but three points would be as close as the Owls would get.
Memphis' largest lead of the first half was 14 in the final minute but Tamir Jackson drove inside for a layin with four seconds to play in the half.
Jackson was one of three Rice players to score 10 points, going 3-for-5 from the field and converting on all four of his free throw attempts. Frizzelle and Omar Oraby each also scored 10 points. Oraby also had four blocks in the game.
Kazemi returned to the starting lineup after missing the Tulsa game with a knee injury and scored four points and grabbed eight rebounds.
Jackson left the game with 7:21 to play after he was whistled for a flagrant foul on a drive to the basket by Memphis' Joe Jackson. The Tigers' Jackson had stolen the ball and was going up for a fast-break scoring attempt when the Rice junior fouled him hard.
Memphis' Will Barton, Trey Draper and Black were all ejected from the game for coming off the bench following the play. Memphis' Jackson was also called for a technical foul.
Rice shot 52 percent in the second half after a 30 percent first half. The Owls could not overcome 18 turnovers which led to 21 Memphis points. The Tigers also scored 11 second-chance points.
The Owls will look to put their second straight double-digit loss behind them on Saturday when the team plays host to Tulane. Memphis will play host to Marshall to concluded a three-game home stand.
