Houston, TX (Sports Network) – Arsalan Kazemi recorded a double-double with 19 points and a game-high 17 rebounds as the Rice Owls posted a 74-68 win over the LSU Tigers in non-conference play at Tudor Fieldhouse.
Tamir Jackson added 16 points and Connor Frizzelle 13, although the latter shot just 2-of-11 from the floor for the Owls (7-6) as they snapped a two-game slide.
The Tigers (8-6), losers of three of the last four outings, were paced by Andre Stringer with 19 points before fouling out. Matt Derenbecker chipped in 17 points off the bench and Ralston Turner accounted for 14 points even though he shot a mere 4-of-18 from the field.
LSU led by as many as three points in the first half, but missing all five opportunities at the free-throw line in the period left the visitors trailing at the break, 31-26.
The Owls shot 57.9 percent from the floor in the second half and also made good on 20-of-26 at the charity stripe to secure the six-point victory.
Rice, which shot only 2-of-10 behind the three-point line on the night, outscored LSU at the free-throw line by a huge 32-12 margin.