DENTON, Texas (AP) — Tristan Thompson scored 26 points and George Odufuwa added 11 points and 16 rebounds as North Texas rallied late to beat Rice 68-65 Tuesday night.
The Mean Green (3-1) trailed by six with 4 minutes to play before putting together a 9-2 run to take the lead for good.
Arsalan Kazemi recorded his fourth double-double of the season with 11 points and 12 rebounds, Tamir Jackson had 15 points and Lucas Kuipers added 13 for the Owls (3-2).
Thompson’s free throw with 1:37 to play gave North Texas a 62-61 advantage, and Kedrick Hogans extended the lead to three with a layup just over a minute later. Rice pulled to within one twice in the final 19 seconds, but Shannon Shorter hit four free throws to secure the win.
The Owls led 31-25 at halftime and by as many as nine in the second half before the Mean Green’s comeback.