Box Score LITTLE ROCK, Ark. ? Four players scored in double figures as Rice knocked off the UALR men's basketball team, 79-72, on Sunday afternoon. The Owls (5-7) trailed 34-31 at the half but outrebounded the Trojans (8-4) by 12 over the final 20 minutes while shooting 55.6 percent from the field.
“You've got to give credit to Rice. We knew they were a very talented team coming in. We prepared for these guys just as we did for Memphis, Arkansas State, or any other team on our schedule,” said UALR head coach Steve Shields. “They were a tough basketball team and had an edge about themselves today.”
UALR senior John Fowler led all scorers with a career-high 23 points in the loss, going 8-of-13 from the field. The Blytheville, Ark.-native added five rebounds and three assists, but was unable to fend off the Owls despite scoring 18 of his 23 points in the second half.
Rodney Foster and Lawrence Ghoram paced the Owls with 16 points a piece, while Lucas Kuipers added 15 to give Rice its first road win of the year. Foster was a perfect 8-of-8 at the foul line and added six assists, four rebounds and two steals in the win.
After shooting 39.3 percent in the first half, the Owls connected on 15-of-27 attempts (55.6 percent) in the second half while outrebounding the Trojans 21-to-9 ? with nine offensive boards.
“We got kicked on the glass tonight,” added Shields. “They did a good job on the offensive glass. Defensive rebounding has been a strength of ours, but we didn't get it done tonight. But that's on me. That's not on the guys in the locker room.”
The Trojans led 46-44 after a pair of foul shots from Fowler with 13:39 to play, but the Owls answered with a quick 7-0 run to take their first lead since it was a 2-0 contest at the start of the game. With the game tied at 53-all, Trey Stanton gave Rice the lead for good with a short jumper to make it a 55-53 ballgame with 7:09 to go. Stanton's jumper marked the first of 15-consecutive possessions in which Rice would come away with points.
Holding a slim 60-59 lead, Ghoram delivered a clutch three pointer and Stanton got an uncontested dunk to extend the Owls' lead to six points, 65-59, with 3:55 remaining. Sophomore Matt Mouzy answered with a three pointer on the other end to bring the Trojans within three, 65-62, but Foster was awarded a trip to the line after senior Shane Edwards tried to draw a charge on a drive to the hoop.
Foster sank both foul shots to put Rice ahead 67-62, then came up with a crucial steal on UALR's ensuing possession. Foster's steal led to a jumper by Ghoram which gave the Owls a seven-point lead with 1:46 to go, 69-62, and dashed any hopes of a Trojan rally.
UALR committed just nine turnovers on the night, but the Owls outshot the Trojans 47.3 percent to 43.3 percent and outscored the home team at the foul line, 21-to-13.
The Trojans return to action Wednesday, Dec. 31 when they welcome ULM to the Jack Stephens Center at 4:30 p.m.
