Sears and UT Martin host Rice

UT Martin Skyhawks (5-2) at Rice Owls (1-5)

Houston; Thursday, 8 p.m. EST

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BOTTOM LINE: UT Martin visits the Rice Owls after Jordan Sears scored 27 points in UT Martin’s 94-71 win against the Chicago State Cougars.

The Owls have gone 1-1 at home. Rice is third in the AAC with 14.7 assists per game led by Max Fiedler averaging 4.7.

The Skyhawks are 2-1 on the road. UT Martin ranks sixth in college basketball with 42.6 rebounds per game led by Jacob Crews averaging 9.7.

Rice’s average of 7.8 made 3-pointers per game is 2.1 fewer made shots on average than the 9.9 per game UT Martin allows. UT Martin’s 45.3% shooting percentage from the field this season is 5.0 percentage points lower than Rice has given up to its opponents (50.3%).

TOP PERFORMERS: Travis Evee is shooting 29.0% from beyond the arc with 1.5 made 3-pointers per game for the Owls, while averaging 14.8 points. Mekhi Mason is shooting 44.8% and averaging 12.5 points for Rice.

Sears is averaging 22.3 points and 3.9 assists for the Skyhawks. Crews is averaging 16.3 points for UT Martin.