Rice Defeats Florida Atlantic in AAC Matchup

Owls rally in second half to pick up conference win at home

Feb. 12, 2026 at 2:47am

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The Rice Owls men's basketball team defeated the visiting Florida Atlantic Owls 93-82 in an American Athletic Conference matchup. Rice was led by strong performances from junior guard Nick Anderson, who scored 23 points, and senior guard Trae Broadnax, who added 20 points.

Why it matters

This victory helps Rice improve its conference record and standing in the AAC, as the Owls look to make a push for the postseason. Florida Atlantic, meanwhile, has now lost five straight games and is struggling to find its footing in conference play.

The details

Rice trailed by 5 points at halftime but rallied in the second half, outscoring Florida Atlantic 55-41 over the final 20 minutes to secure the victory. The Owls shot 52% from the field and 40% from 3-point range, while holding the visiting Owls to just 42% shooting overall.

  • The game was played on February 12, 2026.
  • Rice trailed by 5 points at halftime.

The players

Nick Anderson

A junior guard for the Rice Owls who scored a team-high 23 points in the win.

Trae Broadnax

A senior guard for the Rice Owls who scored 20 points to complement Anderson's performance.

Florida Atlantic

The visiting team that suffered its fifth straight loss in the conference matchup against Rice.

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What they’re saying

“Our guys really stepped up in the second half and played with a lot of energy and focus. This was a big conference win for us.”

— Scott Pera, Rice Head Coach (Houston Chronicle)

What’s next

Rice will look to build on this victory as it continues its AAC schedule, while Florida Atlantic will try to end its losing streak in its next conference game.

The takeaway

Rice's second-half surge and balanced scoring attack proved to be the difference in this AAC matchup, as the Owls picked up an important home win over a struggling Florida Atlantic squad.