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American Conference foes are going to clash on Friday night. At 7:00 p.m. EDT in Yuengling Center, the Rice Owls (6-9; 5-9-0 ATS) are scheduled to face the South Florida (USF) Bulls (8-5; 7-5-1 ATS) in Tampa. It'll mark the first meeting between these schools as conference rivals. Who will draw first blood in this new biannual series? The world will find out on Friday.
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Rice enters this game amid a three-game losing streak, including their first two tries at an American Conference win. KenPom has this team rated as the conference's second-worst team, and they're proving the ratings right so far. Back on the road, the Owls will try to snap a three-game streak of allowing more than 80 points. Their defense is giving up 75.5 points per game this season on 45.4% shooting. They limit foes to 15.5 free throws per game but also allow a conference-worst 36.1% clip on three-pointers. The team is nearly even in rebounding and turnovers. Stopping opponents has been a struggle all season for the Owls.
Scoring hasn't been any easier, as Rice puts up 73.4 points per game. The team is only shoo ting 30.1% from deep and 43.6% overall. At the free throw line, the Owls hit 71.5% of their attempts. On the road, Rice's numbers dip to 59.5 points per game, 38.3% shooting, and a 24.5% mark on three-pointers. Travis Evee (16.9 ppg) and company have a lot to figure out moving forward.