University of Houston
Rice
Cougars Reclaim Bayou Bucket
8/31/2002 12:00:00 AM | Football
Aug. 1, 2002
HOUSTON (AP) - Barrick Nealy ran for one touchdown and passed for another as Houston snapped a 15-game losing streak with a 24-10 victory over Rice on Saturday night.
It was Houston's first victory since a 33-30 triple-overtime win over Memphis on Oct. 21, 2000.
Nealy ran for 99 yards on 14 carries and connected on 11 of 15 passes for 161 yards.
Joffrey Reynolds had his sixth career 100-yard rushing game for Houston, with 155 yards on 28 carries.
Rice took the opening kickoff of the second half and drove to the Houston 22, where Brennan Landry kicked a 39-yard field goal to cut the lead to 14-3.
Houston increased its lead to 17-3 on its next possession on a 41-yard field goal by Dustin Bell, then moved ahead 24-3 on a 23-yard run by Nealy with 11:23 left.
The 32-yard drive followed a fumble recovery by Mark Hopkins and took two plays.
Rice cut the deficit to 24-10 on a 9-yard run by Robbie Beck with 8:53 left but never threatened again.
Houston scored on its first possession, driving 80 yards in 11 plays. A 16-yard pass from Nealy to Bell on third-and-15 gave the Cougars a first down at the Rice 30.
One play later, Nealy ran 22 yards to the Rice 3-yard line. After a loss of a yard, Reynolds scored on a 4-yard run.
Rice drove to the Houston 5 early in the second quarter, but on first down Robbie Beck fumbled and Victor Malone recovered for Houston at the 3.
The Cougars then drove 97 yards in 10 plays to take a 14-0 lead.
Nealy passed 42 yards to Brandon Middleton for a touchdown with 9:39 remaining in the first half.
