PROVO, Utah (AP) -Cory Pflieger matched his career-high with 17 points and made two free throws with 5 seconds left as Rice held off Cal Poly 81-76 on Thursday.
The Owls (1-1) led 79-76 when Cal Poly's Lorenzo Keeler missed a 3-pointer that could have tied it. Pflieger was fouled after getting the rebound and sealed it for Rice from the line.
Keeler scored 18 of his 20 points in the final 10 minutes for Cal Poly (0-2) in the first game of a four-team invitational hosted by BYU.
Rodney Foster added 16 points and Connor Frizzelle scored 14 for Rice, which made 11 of 19 3-pointers.
Titus Shelton scored 15 points for Cal-Poly.
