HOUSTON (AP) Marcus Evans scored 20 points to lead six players in double figures as Rice picked up its first victory with a 92-84 win over Lamar on Wednesday night.
Connor Cashaw had 16 points and six rebounds for the Owls (1-4). Max Guercy and Egor Koulechov had 15 points apiece and Andrew Drone and Marquez Letcher-Ellis added 12 apiece.
A pair of 3-pointers by Koulechov and another by Cashaw early in the first half gave Rice a 16-6 advantage on its way to a 49-40 lead at the break.
The Owls dropped behind 53-52 as Lamar's Kevin Booze and Lincoln Davis combined for four 3-pointers to open the second half but went back on top 54-53 on an Evans jumper 40 seconds later and stretched their lead to 80-74 on a Drone layup with 5:47 to play.
Booze led the Cardinals (2-2) with 25 points, five rebounds and five assists.
