Final Score: Rice 72, Houston 57
Houston, TX (Sports Network) - Lucas Kuipers scored 15 points to lead the Rice Owls to a 72-57 triumph over the Houston Cougars in a Conference USA matchup.
Arsalan Kazemi and Tamir Jackson both tallied 13 points for Rice (13-17, 5-11 C-USA), which got 12 points from Connor Frizzelle.
Zamal Nixon scored 18 points in defeat for Houston (12-17, 4-12), which received 12 points apiece from Alandise Harris and Darian Thibodeaux.
Rice led 40-27 at intermission after holding Houston to 33.3 percent shooting from the floor in the first half.
Over the final 20 minutes, the Owls scored nine points from the foul line to seal the win.
Rice committed just five turnovers in the clash and earned a 35-29 rebounding advantage.