GAME NOTES: The Rice Owls will look to win their third game in a row when they challenge the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs on Saturday night in Conference USA action at Tudor Fieldhouse.

Louisiana Tech saw it's six-game winning streak snapped on Thursday when it fell to North Texas, 73-66. The Bulldogs now hold a league record of 5-1 and an overall mark of 14-5.

After dropping three straight, Rice has won back to back games, with the most recent victory being a 58-56 win over Southern Miss on Thursday night. The wins have bumped Rice's league mark to 3-3, and overall record to 6-11.

This will be the 15th meeting between these teams on the hardwood, with Louisiana Tech leading the series 9-5. The programs last met on March 6, when the Bulldogs dominated the Owls, 70-48.

Louisiana Tech allowed North Texas to connect on 72 percent of its first half field goal attempts, while the Bulldogs converted just 37.1 percent of their tries from the field in the opening period, leading to a 49-28 deficit for Louisiana Tech going into halftime. Although the Bulldogs limited North Texas to a 27.6 shooting percentage in the final period, they could only connect on 42.4 percent of their second half shot attempts, and saw their undefeated conference record come to an end. Tech was outrebounded 43-33. Alex Hamilton (27 points) and Erik McCree (17 points) led the Bulldogs in scoring.

Raheem Appleby is the Bulldogs' top scorer with 17 ppg (third in C-USA) and Hamilton is right behind him at 16.8 ppg (fourth in C-USA). Louisiana Tech is the top scoring offense in C-USA with 75.1 ppg and ranks third in field goal percentage (.451) and second in 3-point field goal percentage (.360). The Bulldogs are allowing their opponents to score 66.4 ppg and convert 42.7 percent of their field goal attempts. The team also leads the conference in total steals (155). Louisiana Tech ranks last in C-USA for rebounding margin (-6.5) but first in turnover margin (+4.95).

Rice knocked down 45.5 percent of its field-goal attempts against Southern Miss, and held the Golden Eagles to a 44.9 shooting percentage. The game was tied with five seconds remaining until Marcus Jackson converted two free throws to seal the victory for the Owls. Rice outrebounded Southern Miss 32-23. Jackson (19 points) and Seth Gearhart (16 points) both netted double figures for the Owls in the victory.

Jackson leads the Owls in scoring with 14.9 ppg (ninth in C-USA) while Gearhart ranks second with 13.8 ppg. Rice ranks near the bottom in C-USA for scoring offense (62.6 ppg) and field-goal percentage (.406). Defensively, the Owls allow opponents to score 64.8 ppg and convert 43.2 percent of their field goal attempts. Rice also ranks near the bottom in C-USA for 3-point field goal defense (.373). The Owls are in the red for rebounding margin (-0.8) and are second to last in the conference for turnover margin (-1.59).

Prior to their loss to North Texas, the Bulldogs had scored at least 74 points in five out of their six victories during their recent winning streak. Louisiana Tech will likely have too much offense for Rice to handle.