Rice survives UTEP rally, prevails in OT
EL PASO — Mekhi Mason scored 19 points and Quincy Olivari added five in overtime as Rice beat UTEP 72-67 on Saturday at Don Haskins Center.
Mason added five rebounds and four steals for the Owls (11-3, 2-1 Conference USA).
Max Fiedler scored 14 points and added 15 rebounds. Olivari finished with 13 points.
The Miners (8-6, 1-2) were led by Mario McKinney Jr., who recorded 17 points. UTEP also got 12 points, eight rebounds and six assists from Shamar Givance.
IOWA STATE 77 NO. 12 BAYLOR 62
Gabe Kalscheur and Caleb Grill combined for 41 points as the Cyclones (10-2, 1-0) toppled the Bears (10-3, 0-1) in a Big 12 opener.
Kalscheur finished with 23 points, including a 3-pointer to give the Cyclones a commanding 69-54 lead with 5:22 left to play.
Grill added 18 points and grabbed seven rebounds while making four assists.
Adam Flagler led Baylor with 20 points, with 18 coming in the first half.
NO. 18 TCU 67 TEXAS TECH 61
Mike Miles Jr. scored 23 points, and the host Horned Frogs (12-1, 1-0) rallied in the second half for a win over the Red Raiders (10-3, 0-1) in the Big 12 opener for both teams and its 10th consecutive victory.
The Horned Frogs took their first lead since early in the first half when Miles hit a driving layup to put TCU up 59-58 with 3:37 remaining. Miles then gave the Frogs their biggest lead to that point with a three-point play on another driving bucket after De'Vion Harmon's 3-point attempt in front of the Texas Tech bench was blocked.
Red Raiders freshman Pop Isaacs scored 14 of his 17 points in the second half, including several 3s that helped hold off the TCU rally. Harmon scored 13, and Daniel Batcho had nine rebounds and five blocks.
MCNEESE 81, LAMAR 62
Trae English scored 14 points as the visiting Cowboys beat the Cardinals in a Southland Conference opener.
English added five assists and five steals for the Cowboys (5-10). Harwin Francois scored 12 points, shooting 4 for 8 from beyond the arc. Zach Scott shot 5 for 12, including 2 for 7 from beyond the arc to finish with 12 points, while adding three steals.
Jakevion Buckley led the Cardinals (4-10) in scoring, finishing with 13 points and four assists. Chris Pryor added 11 points and two steals for Lamar. In addition, Yuto Yamanouchi-Williams had nine points and six rebounds.
SAM HOUSTON 75
NEW MEXICO STATE 62
Qua Grant scored 17 points and Donte Powers added 14 as the visiting Bearkats (11-3, 1-1) used a strong first half to win their first Western Athletic Conference game of the season.
Powers scored five points in a 7-0 run that put the Bearkats up 19-7 about six minutes into the game and they padded the margin to take a 13-point advantage at intermission, 38-25.
Xavier Pinson and DaJuan Gordon each scored 13 points for New Mexico State (7-7, 0-2).
STEPHEN F. AUSTIN 66 UT ARLINGTON 62
Latrell Jossell had 12 points for the ‘Jacks in Arlington.
Jossell added six rebounds and five assists for the 'Jacks (10-5, 2-0 Western Athletic Conference). Derrick Tezeno scored 11 points and added eight rebounds. Nigel Hawkins had 10 points.
Shemar Wilson finished with 16 points, 13 rebounds and three blocks for the Mavericks (5-10, 0-2).
ABILENE CHRISTIAN 69 TARLETON STATE 63
Airion Simmons scored 16 points for the host Wildcats.
Simmons also had five rebounds, four steals, and three blocks for the Wildcats (9-6, 1-1 Western Athletic).
The Texans (7-7, 1-1) were led in scoring by Tiger Booker, who finished with 19 points and two steals.
UAB 90, UTSA 67
Jordan Walker's 31 points led the host Blazers.
Walker shot 12 for 21, including 7 for 12 from beyond the arc for the Blazers (12-2, 3-0 Conference USA).
The Roadrunners (6-8, 0-3) were led in scoring by Japhet Medor, who finished with 21 points and six assists.
TROY 55, TEXAS STATE 52
Kieffer Punter scored 16 points for the visiting Trojans.
Punter was 5 of 9 shooting, including 2 for 6 from distance, and went 4 for 5 from the line for the Trojans (9-6, 1-1 Sun Belt, 0-2).
Zay Williams scored 11 points and added five rebounds.
The Bobcats (7-8, 0-2) were led by Mason Harrell, who recorded 16 points and two steals.
SOUTHERN UTAH 94 UTRGV 88 (OT)
Tevian Jones had 21 points for the host Thunderbirds.
Jones shot 5 for 7 from 3-point range for Southern Utah (10-5, 2-0 Western Athletic Conference).
Will Johnston led the way for the Vaqueros (8-6, 0-2) with 31 points.