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Fanuzzi completed 15 of 24 passes for 218 yards, including touchdown passes of 32, 70, and 29 yards to Toren Dixon. He also hit Pierre Beasley on a 17-yard touchdown pass as the Owls (1-9, 1-5) climbed out of last place in Conference USA with their first win of the season.
Green Wave quarterback Ryan Griffin threw for 261 yards and three touchdowns as Tulane (3-7, 1-5) dropped its second straight game in the series against the Owls to fall to 14-17-1 against Rice.
Tulane had a chance to tie the game early in the fourth quarter, when Griffin hit Casey Robottom with a 31-yard touchdown pass. But on the point-after attempt, Green Wave holder D.J. Ponder bobbled the snap.
With less than a minute to play, the Owls iced the game when Fanuzzi connected with Dixon for another touchdown.
The Green Wave led 14-7 at the half and scored twice in the opening quarter before the Owls recorded a first down.
The Owls cut the lead in half early in the second quarter when Dixon got behind the Green Wave defense and caught a pass inside the 10.
Fanuzzi and Dixon hooked up again on the second play of the third quarter, and Rice tied the game with a 70-yard touchdown pass.
After blocking a punt on Tulane's next drive, the Owls took their first lead of the game when Fanuzzi found a wide open Beasley in the end zone for a 21-14 score.
