About 300 fans came out to see the Rice University Owls of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) defeat the University of the Fraser Valley Cascades 88-62, in exhibition action Thursday night.
The victory improved the Owls’ record to 2-0 on their three-game tour of B.C. The visitors played Capilano University on Saturday and then returned to Houston, Texas.
The game was the first preseason contest for the Cascades this year.
UFV came out strong and matched their NCAA rivals in the first quarter.
Jasper Moedt, who made his return to the Cascades lineup after a year’s absence, hit two quick three pointers to give UFV the early 7-5 lead.
The Owls were relentless from three-point range, hitting 62 per cent of their long-range shots to earn a slim four point lead after the first quarter.
In the second quarter, Rice continued their hot shooting, hitting 60 per cent of their field goal attempts for the entire first half, while putting on a defensive clinic.
The visitors held UFV to 12 second-quarter points.
The Owls led by a score of 52-31 at the break.
Moedt led all Cascade scorers with 12 points at the intermission. Klaus Figueredo pulled down a team high six rebounds in the half.
The Owls were led by Keith Washington with 11 points as 12 different Rice players scored in the half. Andrew Drone led all Owls with four boards.
The second half was low scoring as the defences dominated the half. The Cascades, despite a short bench, kept up with Rice in the third quarter and held the Owls to 17 points. In the fourth, UFV started to tire as Rice freely subbed in 13 different players.
“We played hard tonight and gave Rice a good game,” said UFV Cascades head coach Adam Friesen. “I was pleased with our effort and look forward to having the full complement of players out there for our next game.”
Moedt led all Cascades with a 20-point performance and seven rebounds. Figueredo added 12 points and 13 rebounds and Kadem Wills scored 11 points in his first CIS exhibition game. UFV shot 33 per cent for the game while Rice shot 47 percent.
Washington led Rice with a game-high 23 points. Max Guercy chipped in with 13 points and Seth Gearhart round out the Owls in double figures with 12. Three different Owls pulled down five rebounds as Rice out-rebounded UFV 43-37 for the game.