Rice charges back to beat W. Kentucky 83-73

HOUSTON (AP) Marquez Letcher-Ellis and Connor Cashaw scored 20 points apiece as Rice closed with a 20-3 run to come from behind and beat Western Kentucky 83-73 on Thursday night.

Letcher-Ellis hit 5 of 6 field goal attempts and made 10 of 14 from the line. Cashaw was 7 of 12 from the floor and grabbed six rebounds for Rice (6-11, 1-3 Conference USA), which had lost five straight before charging back to beat Western Kentucky.

Trailing 70-66, Cashaw hit a jump shot with 3:29 left to start the run and take the lead for good. The Owls held Western Kentucky to three points in the final 2:09.

Western Kentucky had a 35-34 lead at the half and pushed that to 65-57 midway through the second period.

Aaron Cosby had 23 points and Marlon Hunter added 12 for the Hilltoppers (9-8, 1-3).