HOUSTON (AP) -- Shawn Witherspoon and Trey Pearson each scored 17 points and keyed a second-half rally to lead Murray State past Rice 69-63 Saturday.
Murray State (15-10) trailed 54-46 with 7:07 remaining. But Witherspoon and Pearson combined for 11 points in a 15-2 run over the next three minutes in which the Racers took the lead for good.
Michael Harris scored 17 of his 24 points in the second half for Rice (13-10). He also tied a school record with six blocked shots.
Pearson and Keith Jenifer hit six straight free throws over the final 1:01 to seal the win.
Murray State's Justin Orr added 14 points.
The Owls shot 59 percent in the first half as they led 33-30 at halftime.


