Recap: Rice vs. Houston

Houston, TX (Sports Network) - Max Guercy scored 21 points for the Rice Owls, who earned their first win in Conference USA play after upsetting the Houston Cougars, 79-69, in a cross-town rivalry game at Tudor Fieldhouse.

Guercy shot 7-of-9 from the field, including 3-of-5 from beyond the arc for the Owls (5-15, 1-5), who had lost eight of their previous nine games. Tamir Jackson was just 4-of-12 from the floor but 9-of-10 from the free-throw line, scoring 18 points while adding a team-high six rebounds.

Joseph Young was the top scorer for Houston (13-7, 2-5) with 17 points while shooting 7-of-17 from the floor. TaShawn Thomas had a double-double with 15 points and 10 rebounds while also dishing out a game-high five assists. The Cougars have lost five of their last six games.

The Owls shot just 31.3 percent from the field, including 2-of-14 from 3- point range in the first half, as they trailed 33-25 at intermission.

In the second half, Rice caught fire and shot 65.2 percent from the floor while making good on 6-of-10 from beyond that arc. The Owls closed out the game on a 17-6 run to pull away.

The difference was made at the free-throw line, where Rice was 21-of-24, while Houston shot just 10-of-20.