Arsalan Kazemi scored 15 points and pulled down 15 rebounds, and Rice wrapped up a perfect season-opening homestand Tuesday night with a 75-59 victory over Florida A&M in a South Padre Invitational game.
Kazemi added three assists, three steals and three blocks. He's scored in double figures in each of the Owls' (4-0) first four games. Connor Frizzelle had 13 points and four assists.
Avery Moore led Florida A&M (0-3) with 17 points, and Jeremy Dean scored 11. The Rattlers struggled in the first half, hitting just 7 of 26 shots (27 percent). Rice wasn't much better, going 8 for 24 (33 percent), but the Owls took a 28-18 lead into halftime.
Rice shot 15 for 29 (52 percent) in the second half and stretched its lead to as many as 23. The Owls got a lot of help, scoring 27 points off 22 Florida A&M turnovers for the game.
