http://www.chron.com/sports/rice/article/Rice-snaps-losing-streak-with-victory-over-12526724.php
Rice snaps losing streak with victory over Florida International
Updated 10:14 pm, Thursday, January 25, 2018
The Rice team begin to celebrate as the last seconds tick off the clock during action in Tudor Field House Thursday, Jan. 25, 2018, in Houston. ( Steve Gonzales / Houston Chronicle )
The Rice team begin to celebrate as the last seconds tick off the clock during action in Tudor Field House Thursday, Jan. 25, 2018, in Houston. ( Steve Gonzales / Houston Chronicle )
Rice forward Austin Meyer (30) dunks in the first half over Florida International center Elhadji Dieng (22) during action in Tudor Field House Thursday, Jan. 25, 2018, in Houston. ( Steve Gonzales / Houston Chronicle )
lessRice forward Austin Meyer (30) dunks in the first half over Florida International center Elhadji Dieng (22) during action in Tudor Field House Thursday, Jan. 25, 2018, in Houston. ( Steve Gonzales / Houston
... moreRice Head Coach Scott Pera barks instructions to his team during second-half action in Tudor Field House Thursday, Jan. 25, 2018, in Houston. ( Steve Gonzales / Houston Chronicle )
Rice Head Coach Scott Pera barks instructions to his team during second-half action in Tudor Field House Thursday, Jan. 25, 2018, in Houston. ( Steve Gonzales / Houston Chronicle )
Rice forward Austin Meyer (30) sores over Florida International center Elhadji Dieng (22) and guard Trejon Jacob (3) during action in Tudor Field House Thursday, Jan. 25, 2018, in Houston. ( Steve Gonzales / Houston Chronicle )
lessRice forward Austin Meyer (30) sores over Florida International center Elhadji Dieng (22) and guard Trejon Jacob (3) during action in Tudor Field House Thursday, Jan. 25, 2018, in Houston. ( Steve Gonzales /
... moreRice guard Connor Cashaw (0) scores in the first half during action in Tudor Field House Thursday, Jan. 25, 2018, in Houston. ( Steve Gonzales / Houston Chronicle )
Rice guard Connor Cashaw (0) scores in the first half during action in Tudor Field House Thursday, Jan. 25, 2018, in Houston. ( Steve Gonzales / Houston Chronicle )
Rice forward Robert Martin (10) scores even under pressure from three Florida International players in the second-half action in Tudor Field House Thursday, Jan. 25, 2018, in Houston. ( Steve Gonzales / Houston Chronicle )
lessRice forward Robert Martin (10) scores even under pressure from three Florida International players in the second-half action in Tudor Field House Thursday, Jan. 25, 2018, in Houston. ( Steve Gonzales / Houston
... moreRice forward Malik Osborne (center) smiles at his teammates after winning the game against Florida International in Tudor Field House Thursday, Jan. 25, 2018, in Houston. ( Steve Gonzales / Houston Chronicle )
Rice forward Malik Osborne (center) smiles at his teammates after winning the game against Florida International in Tudor Field House Thursday, Jan. 25, 2018, in Houston. ( Steve Gonzales / Houston Chronicle )
Rice forward Tim Harrison (35) scores under pressure from Florida International forward Osasumwen Osaghae (34) during action in Tudor Field House Thursday, Jan. 25, 2018, in Houston. ( Steve Gonzales / Houston Chronicle )
lessRice forward Tim Harrison (35) scores under pressure from Florida International forward Osasumwen Osaghae (34) during action in Tudor Field House Thursday, Jan. 25, 2018, in Houston. ( Steve Gonzales / Houston
... moreRice guard Connor Cashaw (0) drives past Florida International guard Trejon Jacob (3) during second half action in Tudor Field House Thursday, Jan. 25, 2018, in Houston. ( Steve Gonzales / Houston Chronicle )
Rice guard Connor Cashaw (0) drives past Florida International guard Trejon Jacob (3) during second half action in Tudor Field House Thursday, Jan. 25, 2018, in Houston. ( Steve Gonzales / Houston Chronicle )
Rice forward Robert Martin (10) stopped Florida International guard Brian Beard Jr. (4) during second-half action in Tudor Field House Thursday, Jan. 25, 2018, in Houston. ( Steve Gonzales / Houston Chronicle )
Rice forward Robert Martin (10) stopped Florida International guard Brian Beard Jr. (4) during second-half action in Tudor Field House Thursday, Jan. 25, 2018, in Houston. ( Steve Gonzales / Houston Chronicle )
Rice guard Connor Cashaw (0) passes under pressure from Florida International guard Trejon Jacob (3) during action in Tudor Field House Thursday, Jan. 25, 2018, in Houston. ( Steve Gonzales / Houston Chronicle )
lessRice guard Connor Cashaw (0) passes under pressure from Florida International guard Trejon Jacob (3) during action in Tudor Field House Thursday, Jan. 25, 2018, in Houston. ( Steve Gonzales / Houston
... moreRice guard Miles Lester (11) drives as team Austin Meyer (30) stops Florida International guard Brian Beard Jr. (4) during action in Tudor Field House Thursday, Jan. 25, 2018, in Houston. ( Steve Gonzales / Houston Chronicle )
lessRice guard Miles Lester (11) drives as team Austin Meyer (30) stops Florida International guard Brian Beard Jr. (4) during action in Tudor Field House Thursday, Jan. 25, 2018, in Houston. ( Steve Gonzales /
... moreRice guard Bishop Mency (15) shoots over Florida International guard Isaiah Banks (1) during action in Tudor Field House Thursday, Jan. 25, 2018, in Houston. ( Steve Gonzales / Houston Chronicle )
Rice guard Bishop Mency (15) shoots over Florida International guard Isaiah Banks (1) during action in Tudor Field House Thursday, Jan. 25, 2018, in Houston. ( Steve Gonzales / Houston Chronicle )
Florida International forward Osasumwen Osaghae (34) blocks Rice guard Ako Adams (3) during action in Tudor Field House Thursday, Jan. 25, 2018, in Houston. ( Steve Gonzales / Houston Chronicle )
Florida International forward Osasumwen Osaghae (34) blocks Rice guard Ako Adams (3) during action in Tudor Field House Thursday, Jan. 25, 2018, in Houston. ( Steve Gonzales / Houston Chronicle )
Florida International guard Trejon Jacob (3) gets more ball while trying to bring in a rebound during action in Tudor Field House Thursday, Jan. 25, 2018, in Houston. ( Steve Gonzales / Houston Chronicle )
Florida International guard Trejon Jacob (3) gets more ball while trying to bring in a rebound during action in Tudor Field House Thursday, Jan. 25, 2018, in Houston. ( Steve Gonzales / Houston Chronicle )
Rice Head Coach Scott Pera hugs Rice forward Malik Osborne after defeating Florida International in Tudor Field House Thursday, Jan. 25, 2018, in Houston. ( Steve Gonzales / Houston Chronicle )
Rice Head Coach Scott Pera hugs Rice forward Malik Osborne after defeating Florida International in Tudor Field House Thursday, Jan. 25, 2018, in Houston. ( Steve Gonzales / Houston Chronicle )
With a minute remaining, Rice led 64-58, but the Owls had hardly secured the win having surrendered tight games down the stretch throughout the season.
Senior Bishop Mency bucked that trend on Thursday, pumping his right fist after sinking a game-sealing three-pointer. The Owls (5-16, 2-6) netted most of their free throws in the final minute and secured their second conference win of the season with a 73-64 victory over Florida International at Tudor Fieldhouse.
"We knew that we were progressing through those rough patches but now it's starting to show in the record. We got one win a couple of games ago and now we just got another one," forward Malik Osborne said. "It's just great motivation heading into the next game because we see our progress paying off."
After playing opponents to increasingly tighter finishes midway through the Conference USA schedule, the Owls got their first conference victory earlier this month against Charlotte. Since then, a hopeful momentum was replaced by a three-game losing streak.
Rice looks to regain some of that momentum after snapping that streak against the Panthers (9-12, 3-5).
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The Owls turned an early six-point deficit into a small advantage through an evenly played first half. They took a 32-28 lead into the half after an Austin Meyers layup at the buzzer.
Rice emerged from the locker room looking to shoot. Osborne hit back-to-back threes to mount a 43-35 lead four minutes into the half.
But the Panthers recaptured that lead minutes later as Rice's defense softened. The teams exchanged the advantage, tying again at 55 before Osborne hit from downtown once more.
"You're seeing it before your eyes. He's really taken to coaching better," Pera said of Osborne. "Now the game is slowing down a little bit for him."
The freshman has found his rhythm a little more than halfway through the season, helping to pick up the scoring slack when Rice guards go cold. He scored 16 points.
It was a balanced effort altogether with four Owls scoring in double-digits.
"Coach P has been stressing that all of us need to bring it, not just one person one night. Everyone in their own way has the ability to score the ball, it's just about being able to gel that night and do it on a consistent basis," forward Robert Martin said. "Overall, I thought everyone assumed their role and did what they had to do."
Guards Ako Adams and Mency recorded 12 points. Connor Cashaw added 12 plus a career high 14 rebounds to lead all players. Two Panthers, Brian Beard Jr. and Trejon Jacob, each scored 22 points.
Rice will next host Florida Atlantic (9-10, 3-4) on Saturday.
