Broussard, Chamberlain help Rice beat UAB 28-24

HOUSTON -- — Ari Broussard ran for two touchdowns, Treshawn Chamberlain scored on a fumble return and Rice beat UAB 28-24 Saturday night.

Broussard scored from the 1 in the first quarter and from the 3 with 8:01 left in the third quarter before Chamberlain's return gave Rice (3-2, 1-0 Conference USA) a 21-17 lead 18 seconds later. Dylan Hopkins threw a 28-yard touchdown pass to Trea Shropshire to cap UAB's ensuing possession but the Owls responded with a 14-play, 82-yard drive that took 8 1/2 minutes off the clock and culminated when TJ McMahon threw a 6-yard touchdown pass to Dean Connors to cap the scoring with 9:02 left in the game.

DeWayne McBride ran for 23 yards to near midfield on the next play from scrimmage and had a 4-yard run on third-and-2 before Hopkins hit Shropshire on third-and-8 for a 13-yard gain and a personal foul by Rice's Josh Pearcy gave the Blazers a first-and-10 at the 11. Ikenna Enechukwu tackled McBride for a 4-yard loss before Hopkins threw three consecutive incomplete passes — all intended for Shropshire — and Rice took possession at the 15.

Hopkins was 15-of-21 passing for 231 yards and two touchdowns with an interception and McBride finished with 121 yards rushing on 27 carries for UAB (2-2, 0-1).

------