Rice Edges Past SMU in a Nail-Biter at Moody Coliseum

The Rice Owls and the Southern Methodist University Mustangs delivered an intense battle on the hardwood, with the Owls emerging victorious with a narrow 65-63 margin. The Owls now stand with an improved record, while the Mustangs face a setback. The final score reflects just how closely matched these two teams were throughout the contest.

At Moody Coliseum, fans witnessed a game that was as much about resilience as it was about skill. The Rice Owls started strong, outscoring the Mustangs 15-11 in the first quarter. They maintained their momentum into the second quarter by adding another 16 points to their tally against SMU's 12, showcasing their offensive capabilities early on.

The third quarter saw both teams ramp up their efforts. The Owls managed to put up 17 points but were outdone by SMU's 19 points in this period, indicating a shift in control of the game. However, undeterred by this challenge, Rice matched their third-quarter performance by again scoring 17 points in the fourth quarter and ultimately securing their win.

Key statistics for Rice included shooting at a consistent rate from both inside and outside of the arc; they achieved a field goal percentage of thirty-eight percent overall and forty percent from three-point range. Their free throw accuracy was particularly impressive at eighty-seven percent which undoubtedly contributed to their victory.

Defensively, they held firm too – recording three blocks and five steals over four quarters of play – while also dominating rebounds with thirty-nine total grabs compared to SMU's thirty-four. This tenacity on defense translated into seventeen crucial points off turnovers.

Offensively speaking for SMU, they matched Rice's energy but fell short despite having six blocks and eight steals themselves; they shot thirty-nine percent from both field goals and two-point attempts but struggled slightly more at free throws with sixty-seven percent accuracy.

As for individual performances that stood out: players from both sides fought hard for every point but it was ultimately teamwork that shone through for Rice as thirteen assists were distributed among teammates during critical moments of play.

Looking ahead after this gripping encounter between conference rivals: fans can look forward to seeing if Rice can carry forward this winning momentum when they host Charlotte 49ers at Tudor Fieldhouse located in Houston on January 11th at 8 PM Eastern Time (7 PM Central). Supporters eager not to miss any action can catch live coverage of what promises to be another exciting matchup.