Can Rice Owls Maintain Momentum After Narrow Victory at Liacouras Center?

In a closely contested battle at the Liacouras Center, the Rice Owls edged out Temple Owls with a final score of 69-66. The victory improved the Rice Owls' record, while Temple's record took a hit. The game was marked by several lead changes and times when the score was tied, indicating a tightly matched contest.

The Rice Owls showcased their offensive skills by scoring 41 points in the first half of the game. Their performance from beyond the arc was notable as they made nine three-pointers at a 35 percent success rate. Inside, they were equally effective with 24 points coming from within the paint. The team's free throw shooting was solid, converting 16 out of 23 attempts for an accuracy rate of approximately 70 percent.

Defensively, the Rice Owls managed to block three shots and steal twice from their opponents. They dominated on rebounds with a total count of 41 compared to Temple's 31; this included pulling down an impressive number of defensive rebounds which stood at 28. Their ball handling resulted in an assist-turnover ratio of about one and half.

Temple Owls put up a resilient fight despite falling short on their home court. They were more successful in fast break situations than their counterparts, scoring eight fast break points and stealing eight times throughout the game which led to them scoring eleven points off turnovers. Their two-point field goal percentage slightly edged out that of Rice at around 48 percent.

The upcoming schedule sees another challenge for Rice as they prepare to host Florida Atlantic University (FAU) at Tudor Fieldhouse in Houston on January 24th at eight o'clock PM Eastern Time (7:00 PM Central). Fans can catch all action live via ESPN+ internet broadcast network.