Houston 35, Rice 14

Published Sep. 29, 2012 9:29 p.m. ET

foxsports

Charles Sims ran for three touchdowns as Houston defeated Rice 35-14 for its first win of the season Saturday afternoon in Reliant Stadium.

Sims scored on a 3-yard run and a 47-yard run that put the Cougars up 28-0 in the third quarter. He would later make a 16-yard run for his third touchdown. David Piland was 26 of 43 for 361 yards and two touchdowns, including a 31-yard pass to Daniel Spencer and a 25-yard pass to Larry McDuffey.

Rice scored in the third quarter when Sam McGuffie caught a 24-yard pass from Driphus Jackson. The two connected again for a touchdown on an 88-yard pass.

Houston (1-3, 1-0) opened its final season of Conference USA play before moving to the Big East.

Rice (1-4, 0-2) had hoped to rebound from an overtime loss to Marshall.

The win keeps the Bayou Bucket in Houston.