Feb. 17, 2007

Box Score in PDF Format

Box Score

HOUSTON (AP) -Josh Peppers scored 18 points to lead UCF to a 74-63 win over Rice on Saturday night in front of 1,074 fans at Autry Court.

Lavell Payne and Dave Noel added 16 points each for the Golden Knights (19-7, 8-4 Conference USA), who scored 17 consecutive points from the free-throw line during a 7-minute stretch of the second half. The Golden Knights missed one attempt from the line during that run, extending a six-point lead to 11.

Rice made 24 field goals to UCF's 22, but the Golden Knights shot 31 free throws, including 20 in the second half, and made 24 of them to pull out the road win. The Owls went to the line 14 times and converted on 12.

Morris Almond was held to 13 points - 15 below his season average - and scored only two points in the second half for Rice (13-12, 7-5). Lorenzo Williams scored a team-high 16 points and Chris Hagan finished with 11.

UCF led 41-31 at halftime, thanks to 12 points apiece from Payne and Peppers. The Golden Knights led by as many as 15 points before the break.