HOUSTON (AP) - Marcus Jackson scored 24 points, including the game-winning free throw in the second overtime, and Rice beat Middle Tennessee 71-68 Thursday night, handing the Blue Raiders their fourth straight loss.
Max Guercy scored 16, and Bishop Mency and Seth Gearhart scored 10 apiece for the Owls (8-15, 5-6 Conference USA).
Rice led 27-18 at halftime, but Middle Tennessee's Reggie Upshaw Jr. tied it at 53 with a layup at the end of regulation.
Marcus Tarrance hit a layup at the end of the first overtime to tie it at 66.
Upshaw's dunk put the Blue Raiders up 68-66 in the second overtime, but Guercy tied it with a jumper, then Jackson hit two free throws for a 71-68 Rice lead. Jackson blocked an attempted 3 by Jaqawn Raymond with 15 seconds left.
Raymond had 16 for Middle Tennessee (13-12, 6-6), Perrin Buford 15 and Upshaw 13.
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