UTEP Miners vs Rice Owls
UTEP uses first-half run to knock off Rice in C-USA tourney
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- Dominic Artis scored 20 of his season-high 26 points, and UTEP scored 20 of the last 25, in the first half before holding off Rice for an 86-76 win in the Conference USA Tournament on Thursday.
Artis also had 10 rebounds and six assists and Omega Harris added 21 points for fourth-seeded UTEP (15-16), which will face No. 1 seed Middle Tennessee in the semifinals Friday.
Matt Willms scored six points and Artis hit a 3 during a 9-0 run to open the game and the Miners never trailed. Egor Koulechov hit two free throws to pull Rice (22-11) within five with 6:25 left in the half, but the Owls missed nine of their last 10 first-half shots as UTEP took a 49-29 lead into the break.
Marcus Evans scored 10 points in row -- including a 4-point play -- for Rice to trim its deficit to 72-63 with 4:33 to play, but the Owls would get no closer.
Evans finished with 21 points and Connor Cashaw added 17 with seven rebounds and a career-high six assists for fifth-seeded Rice.
Game Information
Birmingham, AL
Referee:Hal Lusk
Referee:Zelton Steed
Referee:Kelly Self
2025-26 Standings
| American Conference | CONF | GB | OVR |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Florida | 15-3 | - | 25-9 |
| Tulsa | 13-5 | 2 | 30-8 |
| Wichita State | 13-5 | 2 | 24-12 |
| UAB | 11-7 | 4 | 20-12 |
| North Texas | 9-9 | 6 | 19-14 |
| Florida Atlantic | 9-9 | 6 | 18-15 |
| Charlotte | 9-9 | 6 | 17-17 |
| Tulane | 8-10 | 7 | 18-15 |
| Temple | 8-10 | 7 | 16-16 |
| Memphis | 8-10 | 7 | 13-19 |
| Rice | 7-11 | 8 | 13-18 |
| East Carolina | 6-12 | 9 | 11-20 |
| UTSA | 1-17 | 14 | 5-25 |
| Conference USA | CONF | GB | OVR |
|---|---|---|---|
| Liberty | 17-3 | - | 26-8 |
| Sam Houston | 13-7 | 4 | 22-12 |
| Louisiana Tech | 11-9 | 6 | 20-14 |
| Western Kentucky | 11-9 | 6 | 18-14 |
| Middle Tennessee | 11-9 | 6 | 17-15 |
| Kennesaw State | 10-10 | 7 | 21-14 |
| Jacksonville State | 10-10 | 7 | 15-17 |
| New Mexico State | 8-12 | 9 | 16-16 |
| Missouri State | 8-12 | 9 | 16-18 |
| Florida International | 8-12 | 9 | 15-17 |
| UTEP | 7-13 | 10 | 11-20 |
| Delaware | 6-14 | 11 | 10-21 |
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