Rice holds off North Texas 95-87

HOUSTON -- Marcus Evans scored 25 points, hitting all 11 of his free throws, to lift Rice to a 95-87 win over North Texas on Saturday night.

Egor Koulechov added 19 points for Rice (7-14, 2-6 Conference USA) and Marquez Letcher-Ellis had 15 with nine rebounds. Connor Cashaw and Bishop Mency contributed 11 points each for the Owls, who shot 56 percent from the field to snap a three-game skid.

Rice used a 5-2 spurt at the end of the first half to take a 40-37 advantage into the break and then hung on the rest of the way to avenge a Jan. 9 loss to North Texas. Rice's final score was a season high.

Jeremy Combs led North Texas (7-14, 2-6) with 25 points and 13 rebounds. J-Mychal Reese added 23…