Moore’s late layup caps Rice comeback for 82-81 win
SANTA BARBARA, Calif. -- Payton Moore drove for a contested layup with two seconds remaining as Rice overcame a 22-point deficit to knock off UC Santa Barbara 82-81 on Saturday afternoon.
Trey Murphy III drained 5 of 8 from deep to finish with 18 points and Moore totaled a career-best 16 for Rice (4-1) which trailed 47-27 at the break.
UC Santa Barbara led 81-80 before Rice's Robert Martin rebounded a Max Heidegger miss and the Owls tore downcourt. Moore took a pass and cut in from the right wing, weaving through two defenders for the winning basket.
The Owls were behind 64-42 with 12:09 left in the game. They trailed 76-63 until Murphy drained a 3 and followed with a dunk to close to 76-68 with 5:11 remaining. Chris Mullins followed with a layup, Drew Peterson dropped in two free throws and Martin had a layup to put Rice within two,76-74 with 3:16 remaining.
The Gauchos finally scored again when Amadou Sow had a layup for a 78-74 advantage with 2:19 left to play.
Heidegger had 21 points for UC Santa Barbara (1-2).
Game Information
- Referees:
- Mike Scyphers
- Jeff Ketchu
- Brady Chelette
2024-25 American Athletic Conference Standings
| Team | CONF | GB | OVR |
|---|---|---|---|
| Memphis | 7-1 | - | 17-4 |
| North Texas | 7-1 | - | 16-4 |
| UAB | 6-2 | 1 | 13-8 |
| Temple | 5-3 | 2 | 13-8 |
| Tulane | 5-3 | 2 | 11-10 |
| East Carolina | 4-4 | 3 | 12-9 |
| Florida Atlantic | 4-4 | 3 | 11-10 |
| South Florida | 4-4 | 3 | 11-10 |
| UTSA | 3-5 | 4 | 9-11 |
| Tulsa | 3-5 | 4 | 9-12 |
| Rice | 2-6 | 5 | 11-10 |
| Wichita State | 1-7 | 6 | 11-10 |
| Charlotte | 1-7 | 6 | 8-13 |
2024-25 Big West Conference Standings
| Team | CONF | GB | OVR |
|---|---|---|---|
| UC Irvine | 9-1 | - | 19-3 |
| UC San Diego | 8-2 | 1 | 18-4 |
| UC Riverside | 7-3 | 2 | 14-8 |
| Cal State Northridge | 6-4 | 3 | 14-7 |
| UC Davis | 6-4 | 3 | 12-9 |
| UC Santa Barbara | 5-5 | 4 | 13-8 |
| Hawai'i | 4-6 | 5 | 12-9 |
| Cal State Bakersfield | 4-6 | 5 | 10-12 |
| Long Beach State | 3-7 | 6 | 7-15 |
| Cal Poly | 2-8 | 7 | 8-14 |
| Cal State Fullerton | 1-9 | 8 | 6-16 |
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