Rice Owls @ UC Santa Barbara Gauchos
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
Santa Barbara, CA
Referee:Mike Scyphers
Referee:Jeff Ketchu
Referee:Brady Chelette
2025-26 Standings
| American ConferenceAmerican Conference | CONF | GB | OVR |
|---|---|---|---|
| Florida Atlantic | 6-1 | - | 14-6 |
| Tulsa | 4-2 | 1.5 | 16-3 |
| South Florida | 4-2 | 1.5 | 12-7 |
| Temple | 4-2 | 1.5 | 12-7 |
| Charlotte | 4-2 | 1.5 | 10-9 |
| Memphis | 4-2 | 1.5 | 9-9 |
| Wichita State | 4-3 | 2 | 12-8 |
| North Texas | 3-3 | 2.5 | 12-7 |
| Tulane | 3-3 | 2.5 | 12-7 |
| UAB | 3-4 | 3 | 12-8 |
| Rice | 2-4 | 3.5 | 8-11 |
| East Carolina | 0-6 | 5.5 | 5-14 |
| UTSA | 0-7 | 6 | 4-15 |
| Big West ConferenceBig West Conference | CONF | GB | OVR |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hawai'i | 6-2 | - | 14-4 |
| UC Irvine | 6-2 | - | 13-7 |
| UC San Diego | 5-3 | 1 | 15-5 |
| UC Santa Barbara | 5-3 | 1 | 12-7 |
| UC Davis | 4-4 | 2 | 11-8 |
| Cal State Northridge | 4-4 | 2 | 11-9 |
| Long Beach State | 4-4 | 2 | 8-12 |
| Cal State Fullerton | 4-5 | 2.5 | 9-12 |
| Cal Poly | 3-5 | 3 | 7-13 |
| UC Riverside | 2-6 | 4 | 7-13 |
| Cal State Bakersfield | 2-7 | 4.5 | 8-13 |
Men's College Basketball News

Portland State defeats Eastern Washington 65-61
1h

Janowski puts up 21, St. Thomas takes down South Dakota State 74-69
1h

Miller's 20 lead Montana State past Idaho State 74-62
1h

