Jarelle Reischel and Arsalan Kazemi scored 20 points each for the Owls (13-10, 4-4 Conference USA), and reserve Omar Oraby contributed 11 points, eight rebounds and four blocked shots. Kazemi led Rice with nine rebounds.

The lead changed 26 times and there were 10 ties, the last with 7 seconds to play when Cedrick Lang scored for UTEP (10-12, 3-5). That was Lang's only field goal of the game.

Gabriel McCulley had 23 points and 10 rebounds for the Miners, and John Bohannon had 18 points, 12 rebounds and five blocks. Julian Washburn had 16 points and Michael Perez added 14 points for UTEP, which fell to 0-8 on the road this season.