HOUSTON -- Marcus Evans had 31 points on 9-of-12 shooting and a career-high eight assists, Egor Koulechov added 11 points and eight rebounds and Rice cruised to a 90-77 win over Houston Baptist on Wednesday night.

Marquez Letcher-Ellis had 12 points and Marcus Jackson scored 11, including three 3-pointers.

Koulechov and Connor Cashaw each hit 3s in a 10-2 run that put the Owls in front, 10-4, for good.

Rice (6-1) led by as many as 14 in the first half before taking a 37-29 lead into the break. Josh Ibarra hit back-to-back jumpers -- he was fouled on the latter, but missed the free throw -- to pull HBU within one with 13:08 to play but Evans answered with a 3.

Letcher-Ellis had a dunk, then a steal and a layup to cap an 11-3 run that made it 74-61 with 4:47 left and the Owls cruised from there.

Colter Lasher scored 15 for the Huskies (2-4).

Four HBU players, including three starters, fouled out and Rice attempted three times as many (33) free throws as the Huskies.