Nov 23, 2003

Box Score

FAIRBANKS, Alaska (AP) - Michael Harris scored 15 points, and Rice defeated Washington State 64-49 Sunday night in the championship game of the BP Top of the World Classic.

Harris was 6-of-9 from the field and led a balanced scoring attack that allowed the Owls (3-0) to pull away in the second half.

Marcus Moore scored 10 first-half points for Washington State (2-1), but was shut down in the second half until hitting a jumper with 9:28 remaining with Rice holding a 47-36 lead. Moore finished with 16 points and was named to the all-tournament team. Junior Shami Gill also earned all-tournament honors.

Washington State took a 6-0 lead, the largest by either team until Rice's Jason McKrieth hit a 20-foot jumper at the buzzer and put the Owls ahead 32-26.

Rice stretched the lead to 11 with 11:40 remaining on a put-back by McKrieth. Washington State made only three free throws and a field goal in the first nine minutes until Thomas Kelati hit a 3-pointer at 11:06.

Moore's 3-pointer with 5:32 remaining allowed the Cougars to close to 54-46, but Washington State made just one more basket - a 3-pointer by Randy Green.

McKrieth scored 13 points and pulled down six rebounds.

Harris, the tournament's MVP, had nine boards.