GAME NOTES: The William & Mary Tribe take aim at a third straight win on Saturday, as they take on the Rice Owls in non-conference action at Tudor Fieldhouse.

The Tribe faced a stern test in their season opener, challenging No. 7 Florida on the road. While they lost that contest (68-45), they have posted back-to- back wins since, topping Howard (56-49) and NAIA foe Bluefield College (100-57). They will return home to host Western Illinois next.

Rice has played two games on the young season, splitting decisions against Oregon State (67-54) and Prairie View A&M (68-64). Following this contest, they will take off for Anchorage to take part in the Great Alaska Shootout next week.

In the only previous meetings between these squads, Rice won back-to-back contests during the 1970-71 and 1971-72 seasons.

As expected, it was a one-sided affair on Thursday when William & Mary took on Bluefield. The Tribe ran away with the decision by sinking 51.6 percent of their shots from the floor, including a 14-of-24 effort from beyond the arc. They also had more than twice as many rebounds as Bluefield (50-24), while logging assists on 24 of their 32 total field goals. Daniel Dixon and Marcus Thornton each scored 18 points to lead the way.

Thornton has not been all that efficient, but he leads the team in scoring (14 ppg). Unfortunately, he is only sinking 35.3 percent of his shots from the floor, including a 5-of-19 showing from 3-point range. Dixon (10 ppg) and Omar Prewitt (10 ppg) are each averaging double figures as well, with Dixon shooting at a 43.5 percent clip and Prewitt coming in at 46.2 percent. Tom Schalk (6.5 ppg) is the next-best scoring option, but Greg Malinowski (13 points) and Connor Burchfield (10 points) were the other double-digit scorers against Bluefield.

Marcus Jackson erupted for 30 points to carry Rice over Prairie View A&M last time out. It was a career-high for Jackson, who drilled 8-of-13 shots from the floor, including 4-of-6 from 3-point range, as well as all 10 of his shots from the free-throw line. In total, the Owls connected on 48.8 percent from the field, while outscoring the opposition, 27-15, from 3-point range. The Owls led for just under 27 minutes, but did they did not have a field goal in the last two.

Jackson's efforts against Prairie View A&M were welcome, especially considering he did not score a single point in the season opener. Seth Gearhart (11 ppg) and Bishop Mency (11 ppg) have been a bit more consistent in terms of scoring early on. Mency had 11 points off the bench last time out, while Gearhart hit a pair of 3-pointers and two shots at the charity stripe to post eight points. Andre Drone went a perfect 4-of-4 from the field in the game as well and finished with 10 points.

If Jackson is on point once again, the Owls should have the upper hand in this contest, especially at home.