Max Guercy and Marcus Jackson each hit three 3 pointers to lead NCAA Division I Rice to a 82-64 win over the LeTourneau University men's basketball team in an exhibition game on Saturday night in Houston.
 
LeTourneau spread its scoring among nine players in the contest. Three YellowJackets scored in double digits including Giovanny Thompson, who led LETU with 12 points. He was joined in double figures by Sam Talbert and Clark Lee, who each had 10. Kelby Schimming – who was playing nearly 40 miles from where he grew up in Friendswood - had a solid all-around game in his debut with five points, a game-high 12 rebounds, five assists and four blocks.

Guercy and Jackson finished the contest with 19 and 13 points, respectively as the Owls landed four players in double digits. The duo was joined in double digits by Seth Gearhart and Andrew Drone, who each added 12. After a pair of LETU free throws cut the Rice lead to 18-13 with 10:54, the Owls took control of the contest with a 16-6 spurt that put the home team ahead 34-19 and comfortably for the rest of the contest.
 
Feeding off the momentum of a 3 pointer from 70 feet out by Roozario Wiggins, the LETU defense clamped down the pressure in the final 20 minutes. In the second half, LETU held the Owls to 29.6% shooting and outscored them by a 39-35 margin. In his LETU head coaching debut, Dan Miller was happy with the effort of his young team. "We talked about at halftime to play with effort. We did a good  job of that. I am very proud of how the team came together."  

LeTourneau scored 24 of the final 31 points of the game including a 9-1 run to end the contest. The YellowJackets will take the momentum into its season opener on Sunday, Nov. 16 when they host Millsaps College at Solheim Arena at 3 p.m.