Over 3,400 fans at The Super Pit were expecting a great game between North Texas and Rice. When these two Texas teams get together the games seem to be close, exciting and that is exactly what the fans got. North Texas opened the game with man-to-man defense, used soft pressure for most of the game, used full court pressure late in the second half and almost exclusively with a couple of minutes left. The full court pressure worked and it helped get the turnovers North Texas needed to secure a win.

Rice employed a 2-3 defense which gave North Texas fits most of the game. With North Texas not able shoot over the defense and not able to hit three-point shots, they went to going inside to solve the those problems. North Texas missed all of their three point shots in the first half and did not get one until Tristan Thompson finally hit several in the second half. Until then, North Texas did not hit a three since overtime against Texas Tech.

North Texas took a 7-4 lead after the first timeout as a result of George Odufuwa hitting two free throws. Rice's next possession found Thompson putting the pressure on which allowed Josh White to get the steal and his first points of the game on a layup. Rice hit for two and Thompson answered the challenge. When Kedrick Hogans blocked the Rice shot into the tunnel the fans roared with approval. Rice then tied the game at 11-11 when they buried a three. With 11:51 left in the half a time-out was called with the game tied.

Rice had the ball coming out of the time-out but a steal by White resulted in Jacob Holmen giving North Texas a 13-11 lead. After a turnover, White hit a jumper pushing North Texas ahead 15-11. Rice answered with a three to close to 15-14, then took the lead with a basket. Dominique Johnson hit for two and North Texas was up 17-16. Rice re-took the lead as a result of a basket and a foul shot. North Texas fans were concerned when Odufuwa went up for an offensive rebound and had his legs cut out from under him. He landed hard on his side and a time-out was called with 7:54 left in the half and Rice up 19-17.

North Texas threw the ball in but could not score on several attempts. Rice got the ball, went down the court and hit a three pushing their lead to 22-17. After several missed shots by both teams, Johnson cut into the Rice lead with a basket making it a 22-19 game. Holmen brought North Texas closer when he slammed the ball through bringing the crowd to its feet. However, he was called for a technical foul because he hung on the rim. Rice called a timeout.

Rice hit the technical free through making it a 23-21 game with 5:45 left in the half.

Thompson tied the game at 23-23 with a layup but Rice responded with a three. North Texas could not get the ball to go in on several shots and after a turnover a timeout was called with a little over 3 minutes left in the half.

With 3:01 left in the half another timeout was called with Rice up 26-23 and North Texas with the ball.

Rice fouled putting North Texas in the bonus. Odufuwa at the line hit the first free throw but missed the second. On the next possession he got the defensive rebound and at the other end of the court he got the pass and the put in. Rice hit for two and then called a time-out with a little over 2 minutes left and the Owls up 29-25.

After the timeout, Rice hit for another two extending their lead to 31-25 which was the half-time score.

Going into the half, North Texas was 0-21 on three-point shots. They had not hit a three since overtime in the Texas Tech game.

North Texas opened the second half with the ball and missed a three. Rice went down the court but their three went in and they opened up a nine point lead at 34-25. Shannon Shorter was fouled on his layup and made both free throws making it a 34-27 game. Odufuwa blocked a Rice shot then at the other end of the court he got an offensive rebound of a missed three point shot but got two points with a lay-up. After missed shots and blocks by both teams a timeout was called with 15:59 left and Rice up 34-29.

Finally, Thompson hit the first three of the game and North Texas pulled closer to Rice at 34-32. Rice then called a timeout with 14:26 left in the game.

Coming out of the timeout, Rice missed a three point shot which was brought down by White and at the other end of the court Thompson tied the game at 34-34. Rice tried a three but missed, Thompson tried a three and hit, North Texas was up 37-34. Rice hit for two ending the 12-0 North Texas run. Thompson hit another three and a timeout was called by Rice with 12:30 left in the game and North Texas up 40-36.

Rice scored to close the gap to 40-38 but Odufuwa responded with a turnaround jumper. A timeout was called with 11:35 left in the game and North Texas holding a 42-38 lead.

Rice then closed the gap by putting in a two point shot. Hogans responded with a put back of a missed three and North Texas up 44-40. Rice hit a three before Thompson was fouled. After hitting both free throws North Texas was up by three at 46-43. Rice hit for two before Odufuwa hit another turnaround jumper making the score 48-45. Rice tied the game after hitting a three point shot then took the lead after hitting a two and a free throw. Holman was fouled, missed the first free throw but got the second to fall. With 7:36 left in the game, Rice was up 51-49 and a timeout was called.

Rice added to their lead by scoring twice. Johnson was fouled and went to the line where he hit the first free throw but missed the second. After misses by both teams Rice fouled Alonzo Edwards where he hit both free throws and North Texas was down 55-51. Rice was fouled and hit their first free throw but missed their second. Johnson was then fouled at the other end of the court and after hitting both free throws North Texas was down 56-53. Rice hit for three to go up by six. With 3:49 left in the game a timeout was called with North Texas trailing 59-53 and Thompson at the charity stripe.

Thompson hit both free throws for a 59-55 Rice lead. Hogan on pass from Odufuwa closed the score to 59-57 game. Rice responded with a basket. Thompson to a Hogans pass resulted in a basket and North Texas was down by two 61-59. After a steal by Thompson, he was fouled and at the line he put in both his shots to tie the game at 61-61. Rice missed their shot which was rebounded by North Texas and Thompson was intentional fouled. He missed the first free throw but got the second to go and North Texas was up 62-61 with 1:16 left in the game.

North Texas rebounded a Rice missed three point shot and it resulted in Hogans hitting for two giving North Texas a 64-61 lead. North Texas called a time-out with 30 seconds left.

Rice then hit for two making it a 64-63 game. Shorter was immediately fouled and he hit both his free throws. Rice hit a basket and immediately fouled Shorter again. With ten seconds left he hit both free throws making it a 68-65 game. Rice tried to shoot a three but missed and the rebound was gathered in by Odufuwa to end the game.