Houston uses free throws to clip Rice

Houston uses free throws to clip Rice

Published Mar. 3, 2012 8:52 p.m. ET

HOUSTON (AP) -- Darian Thibodeaux scored 21 points and his pair of free throws with two seconds remaining was the difference in Houston's 76-75 win over Rice on Saturday night.

Thibodeaux was sent to the free-throw line because Rice (17-14, 8-8 C-USA) was issued a technical for calling a timeout they did not have not have with 2.7 seconds left.

Houston (15-14, 7-9 C-USA) surrendered a 13-point second-half lead to trail 74-73 with 16 seconds remaining on a layup by Arsalan Kazemi, who led Rice with 19 points, capping a 19-7 run by the Owls. Both teams traded a free throw before Thibodeaux's heroics.

Houston jumped out to an 8-0 lead in the game's first four minutes, but trailed by four at the first half's 8:14 mark. The Cougars concluded the half with six unanswered points to lead 39-34 at the break.

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